This study explores the historical interplay between thermalism and agriculture in the Euganean area, focusing on the use of thermal-mineral waters for hemp processing during the time of the Venetian Republic. Cannabis sativa, a versatile plant cultivated since antiquity for fiber, oil and medicinal purposes, was widely grown in Roman and medieval northern Italy, particularly in the Po Valley and Veneto region. Archaeological, palynological and epigraphic evidence confirms its cultivation and local use, especially for ropes, textiles and mixed fabrics. During the time of the Serenissima hemp production expanded to meet the demands of Venice’s naval industry, with retting and fiber processing supported by natural water sources. In the Euganean Hills thermal springs were exploited to accelerate hemp retting, reducing processing time while benefiting from the chemical and thermal properties of the waters. Similar practices were recorded elsewhere in Italy, including Lazio, Piedmont, Trentino, Romagna and the Phlegraean area, demonstrating a broader historical pattern of using thermal waters to optimize fiber processing. The research highlights the multifaceted role of thermal water in agriculture, combining economic, technological and environmental functions, and documents the persistence of hemp cultivation and small-scale self-production in northern Italy up to the early 20th century.
Paola Zanovello (Thu,) studied this question.