BATTAGLIA TERME, urban district, Venetia, Italy, prov ince of Padua, I'm. S.S.W. from Padua. Population (1931) of the commune 2,423. It is on the eastern edge of the volcanic Euganean hills, and its warm saline springs and natural vapour grotto led the 17th-century owner, Marchese Selvatico-Estense, to build a Palladian palace. Near by is the Cattaio (Ital. for Cathay) palace (1573), of Pio Enea Obizzi, inventor of the shell (Ital. obice, Fr. obus), after the summer palace of the Chinese court as described by Marco Polo.