Summer in the DolomiteS with SportS, emotion,

nature anD relaxation

DOLOMITI BELLUNESIUniche al Mondo

English Version

Monthly · Supplement to number 3, year 1 · July 2010

Dolomiti Bellunesi, Uniche al MondoNoema edition Monthly · Supplement to number 3, year 1 · July 2010

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A special thank you to Luigi Guglielmi, Giacomo Mazzorana and Gianpaolo Sasso for their precious collaboration in writing the Walk of the Dolomites and the Road of Cheese and Flavours of the Belluno Dolomites.

∙ SOVEREIGN NATURE∙ ART AND NATURE TRAILS∙ THE SPORT QUEEN∙ BETWEEN PELMO AND ANTELAO∙ ON THE ROOF OF THE DOLOMITES∙ mount CIVETTA WITH THOUSANDS OF COLOURS∙ IN THE HEART OF THE DOLOMITES∙ CLOSE MOUNTAINS∙ SUMMER MIRROR ∙ ALTE VIE - HIGH WAYS

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ContentS

The Dolomites entered UNESCO’s natural heritage of Humanity

On 26th June 2009, the Dolomites entered UNESCO’s natural heritage of humanity, an extraordinary recognition that awards and protects the peerless characteristics of a unique region in the world. In the province of Belluno, there is the greatest number of Dolomites peaks, according to UNESCO’s Natural Heritage of Humanity, with legend-ary peaks such as Marmolada, Tofane, Ante-lao, Pelmo, Civetta, Pale di San Lucano, Schiara and Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

The Walk of the Dolomites

There is only one way to discover the se-crets and wonders hidden in the province of Belluno. It is the Walk of the Dolomites: an extraordinary itinerary that winds across the most beautiful and suggestive places of the Belluno Dolomites. Along its paths, its silent white roads and the numerous con-nections at a high altitude, travellers can know a peerless land, rich in ancient natural treasures as well as history, art and spiritual-ity. Along the 500 kilometres of trail divided into thirty stops, it is possible to visit the untouched villages, speak with local people and admire the century-old landmarks left by faith, art and religion, all while being sur-rounded by extraordinary panoramas. From the sanctuary of Saints Vittore and Corona to the Ladin valleys, from the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites to the remains of the Andraz Castle, passing by Lake Misurina and the springs of the Piave River; the Walk of the Dolomites offers the opportunity to closely admire all the faces of the Belluno region. The simplicity of its paths makes the Walk accessible to everybody, whether in groups or as a family, who can walk across the forest listening to the rustling of trees and the sweet sound of streams. Listening to your own heartbeat, as well nature’s, will help you to discover what truly is important in your life.

Piave DOP, Montasio DOP, Cansiglio Bio, Morlacco del Grappa, Bastardo del Grap-pa, Frontin, Lentiai, Comelico, Gresal, Focobon, Agner, Binatega, Renaz, Con-trin, Fodom, Cherz, Dolomiti and natually the excellent Schiz from Belluno - these are just a few of the protagonists on the Road of Cheeses and the Flavours of the Belluno Dolomites. It’s an unforgettable journey among taste, nature and culture that accompanies the visitor in the heart of the Belluno province. It’s a trip with mountains, pastures, cottages, mountain huts, small dairies, cows, stables, haylofts, farmers, along which it is possible to vis-it and know places and people that have been celebrating the rites and traditions linked to cheese production for hundreds of years. The itinerary was established by the Chamber of Commerce and the Prov-ince of Belluno and with the support of the Veneto Region, and the financing of the European Union. The Road of Cheeses and the Flavours of the Belluno Dolomites is a true “machine of taste” that boasts great hospitality and high cuisine that valorise the regional food and wine offered as well as the traditions. By tasting

the area cheeses and other local products, such as beans from Lamon IGP, honey from the Dolomites, Lamb from Alpago, Pastin (typical only in the province of Belluno), Potato from Cesiomaggiore, walnuts and “Chestnuts” from Feltre, the Prussian Apple, Pumpkin and the wines from the vineyards of the Dolomites IGT, the lucky visitors can really “taste” a piece of the Dolomites, discovering the most an-cient identity of a unique land and trying magical and unrepeatable experiences.

The Road of Cheeses and the Flavours of Belluno Dolomites

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SOVEREIGNnatureComelico and Sappada

From the Piave River to the Visdende ValleyThe main characteristic of the Comelico and Sappada areas are people’s hospitality and extraordinary views. The Piave River which is born in the Sesis Valley at 1830 mtrs, flows across these suggestive lands and crosses Sappada for about six kilo-metres. The source of the “nation’s sacred river” is a wonderful naturalistic area where there are still fortresses and trench-es which were the scenes of bloody fight-ing during World War One. The trail climb is marked by steep hairpin bends, forests, meadows and suggestive water falls. Along this trial visitors can stop in cottages and refuges, one of them rising exactly on the source pool of the Piave River. For those who are interested in excursions, there are corners of untouched nature rich in alp-ine fauna and flora and also countless op-portunities for walks and excursions which can start from there. From Sappada and every village of the Comelico valley start countless walks which pass along streams and brooks and enter wonderful fir tree woods. It is the “paradise” of the Visdende Valley whose name comes from Latin “val-lis videnda” which means “the valley which must be seen”, an untouched oasis of six thousand hectares of conifer forests. In these enchanting places they organise guided excursions on foot or by mountain bike or horseback, which the youngest par-ticularly appreciate. The “road of the cot-tage” is a traditional high trail which leads the visitor to discover grazing and milking. Don’t forget to visit the untouched natural oasis of Danta di Cadore. Where nature reigns.

Along "The Walk"

The trail crosses the meadows and forests of the “green Comelico". From the Pass of Sant’Antonio with its panorama over the Marmarole, we reach the Conca di Padola and through the "troi di mistieri" to Dosoledo where the parish church boasts the Altare dell'Addolorata painted by An-drea Brustolon. After the Visdende Val-ley, a real natural scene, and the Peralba mount where the Piave River rises, we ar-rive in Sappada with its characteristic little wooden houses and churches.

The “Dairies”

The dairy industry is at its most excellent and gives its best

with the cheeses from Comelico and Sappada.

In Sappada they offer a local cheese rich in scents and flavours which remind us of the hay and flowers of the valley.

In Comelico, par-ticularly in the area of

Padola, the sweet taste of Comelico Cheese, a

product with a long trad-ition, a guaranteed pleasure

to the palate and reminds us of the area it comes from in its name.

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art anD nature trailSCadore, auronzo and misurina

From the Tre Cime di Lavaredo to Tiziano’s birth homeCadore is the land of the great Renais-sance painter Tiziano, of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, of the pure and healthy air of the Dolomites, and of the quiet and cura-tive Lake Misurina. There, also in the sum-mer, you can cross the whole valley in com-plete relaxation, taking pleasant walks, excursions or riding in the greenery. For families, the Auronzo riding trail is the ideal path to enjoy a wonderful panorama without exerting too much. Most experts will find the Traversata del Centro Cadore irresistible which connects Auronzo to Caralte di Perarolo di Cadore and crosses theme trails. Those who like being chal-lenged and look for more adventure will appreciate the Fun Bob descent for cross-ing Mount Agudo skiing runs: three kilo-metres of pure fun that can be covered on board of a fast sledge. Of course, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo remains the not-to-

miss destination during a holiday on the Dolomites: they can be reached on foot or by car, along a toll road that starts at Lake Misurina. They have been the most famous Dolomites group in the world since 1869, the year in which the Austrian alpinist Paul Grohmann and the Alpine Guides Alpine Franz Innerkofler and Paul Salcher conquered it. Those who like bike riding can enjoy the Dolomites bike riding trail: the itinerary follows the route of the old railway which goes from Calalzo directly to Cortina. Among na-ture and trails, there is also a hidden oasis of wellbeing and culture, known since ancient times: it’s the area of the Lagole hot springs, which the ancients associated with a “healing” god identified with Apol-lo, an archaeological site with finds dating back to the Paleo-Venetian (2,500 b. C) and Roman periods.

On the Road of Cheeses in this area one can taste several specialities such as the cheese made from goat’s milk of Antelao or the cheese to be grilled from Misurina made by genuine and artisanal skills in the cottage overlooking the lake…

Along "The Walk"

In the house of his birth, with his portrait in the church, Tiziano Vecellio welcomes you to Pieve. Vigo, defined as the Athens of Cadore where art still reminds us of the Middle Ages when small churches such as St. Margherita di Salagona, della Difesa and Sant' Orsola were built. Auronzo and Misurina are dominated by beautiful na-ture in the lake and the “Tre Cime”, Three Tops, which are admired universally.

When one mentions the Cadore region, one automatically associates it to a very special food: speck. Dressed on the trad-itional wooden tray, it is an excellent starter or to provide enrichment for substantial continental breakfasts.

Very special speck and cheese from the Cadore region

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the SportQUEENCortina

Discovering the wonders

of Ampezzana Valley

When the snow melts and ski and snow-boards are hung up, the Queen of the Dolomites shows all its summer beauty. The ski runs become green meadows, the woods a fresh shelter from the heat, the tops sculpured by time become the ideal places to touch the sky. During this season, the ideal means by which you can explore the Ampezzo Val-ley are mountain bikes. That is why, with inspiration from the concept of winter Ski Resort, the “Cortina Bike Resort” was born; this project joins all the best trails of the region and all structures and facilities for bikes; from passes to climb by cable cars and bus (the Bike and Trekking pass and the Bike n’ Bus), the Bike Hotels, the refreshment points with specific menus and equipped with all the tools required to maintain and repair bikes, the Bike Hub, the starting point for all the trails which is in the centre of

the town and contains four rental points with unique fees. To

explore the valley safely, besides the traditional

maps, there are also road books and GPS tracks which can be down-loaded from the Internet as well as expert instruct-ors and qualified guides. This is pre-

cisely everything you need to face

about five hundred kilometres by moun-

tain bike, from the easiest routes suitable for the whole

family to the most challenging routes. Be-sides this news, Cortina offers the best of all the mountain sports such as walks cov-ering three hundred kilometres of trails. Amongst the most suggestive ones are the “Montanelli trail” from Pié Tofana, the Fanes falls, the Vie Ferrate to be faced together with an alpine guide. And finally for the most adventurous activities; canoe-ing and the adventure park.

Red turnips and honey, two specialities from Cortina

Almost by a natural spell, the Queen of the Dolomites is rich in flavours and products of the land. It is impossible to number them all in few lines. The forest gives excel-lent mushrooms and delicious blackberries; the land is well known for potatoes. But a pair of products attract great attention: the red turnip which is a "must have" ingredi-ent for filling the traditional casunziei all’ampezzana served with grated smoked ri-cotta cheese, and then wild flower honey and rhododendron honey which are excellent ways to guarantee energy before hav-ing an excursion to the moun-tains of the Cortina Valley.

Along "The Walk"

When somebody says “Cortina d’Ampezzo,” he does not need to say anything else. The most famous Dolomites and the dramat-ic panoramas are here, one of the most charming tourist places in the Alps and in the world. There, there is also history linked to the Great War, an ethnic and lin-guistic identity proudly preserved by the Ladins and a precious witness of architec-ture and art. The Walk of the Dolomites passes through this rich heritage and ap-proaches it respectfully in search of au-thentic things.

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BETWEEN PELMOanD antelaoValboite and Alto Cadore

Along the riding trail

of the Dolomites with the whole

family

Admiring enchanted lakes, visiting cottages, having walks and riding bikes. And all of that in a wonderful natural setting. These are the areas of Valboite and Alto Cadore, which offer a pleasant and healthy stay filled with sports and movement. First, there is the “Dolomites riding trail,” a 37 kilometer path that connects Calalzo di Cadore to Cortina d’Ampezzo and covers old train tracks of an old narrow gauge railway line that was aban-doned in 1964. The bike riding trail allows guests to know the peculiarities of the val-ley villages, their churches and workshops and old railways stations scattered along the whole trail. Among them, there is the sug-gestive ex-railway station of San Vito; now it houses a museum and has two areas dedi-cated to the history of the white and blue train of the Dolomites with the exhibition of the original technical materials and service documents. The beauty of the landscape and the panoramas between Pelmo and Antelao up to the great majesty of Sorapiss give many opportunities to have fun.

Transportation service for people and bikes, equipped with a carriage able to carry more than thirty bikes, makes the trail activities more manageable. But there isn’t only bike riding to see these mountains. You can also go, for example, to San Vito, Borca, Vodo and Cibiana, the principal towns of the Boiate Valley. They are pleasant tourist destinations surrounded by nature and late Gothic churches rich in wonderful frescoes. The remains of the Wall of Giau (on the road from Pocol to Passo Giau) is worth a visit: this imposing wall dating back to the 18th century was built in San Vito by orders of the commissaries of the Republic of Ven-ice and Hapsburg Empire to solve bound-ary controversies. An excursion should be paid to the palaeontologic site of Pelmetto, where it is possible to see the famous “dino-saur’s prints” probably left more than 230 million years ago and the archaeological site of Mondeval, between Mount Pelmo and the “Lastoi de Formìn” where they found a tomb dating back 7000 years.

The cabbage from Vinigo

Besides the forest fruits and the cottage cheese which visitors can taste whilst won-dering across grazing meadows and mounts close to the Boite valley, there is a wonder-ful specialty in this corner of the Cadore re-gion. In the village of Vinigo, in the hamlet of Vodo di Cadore, a real delicacy is known. It is a large sized cabbage, cultivated loving-ly in the hamlet, which gives special sensa-tions and a unique taste which make this variety unique and delicious.

Along "The Walk"

Digression H of the Dolomites Walk takes you to discover the open and sunny Boite Valley. We are in the Alto Cadore region between two huge Dolomites mountains like Pelmo and Antelao, which dominate the entire pathway and coincide largely with the Long Way of the Dolomites. The villages have an ancient hist-ory as the religious places prove. Listen to the Ladin dialect and take notice how they use ciasa for house or cian for dog and the female plurals ending with a final s.

the SportQUEENCortina

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Trails, Vie Ferrate (“iron road” routes fitted with cables, iron steps, etc.), riding events … Framed by the tops of the Sella Group and Marmolada, this area in the province of Belluno offers untouched and breath-taking panoramas and is a natural open air gymnasium. Located in the centre of the Livinallongo Valley and a popular tour-ist centre for the summer sports, Arabba stands at the foot of the Sella Group. There are lots of paths which wind through forests immersed in a luxuriant nature: among the most charming ones there is the trail of Col di Lana, which combines history, nature and breathtaking panoramas of the Dolo-mites. Furthermore, the spectacular trail of Viel del Pan, known also as Bindelweg or Bindelsteig, in honour of the German alpinist Karl Bindel who made the trail ac-cessable again at the beginning of the last century. The area of Arabba offers a wide se-lection of trails for those who like trekking; the paths cross the whole valley and arrive on the Piz Boè at 3.152 m, without forget-

ON THE ROOF OF THE DOLOMITESArabba and the Marmolada

From Col di Lana

to Marmolada, walking

between history

and nature

In the land of Fodom cheese and barley soup

Along the Road of Cheese and Flavours of the Belluno Dolomites, a fundamental destination in the land of the cheese, is Renaz, a village located in the region of Arabba and Livinallongo. One of these cheeses is Fo-dom, medium seasoned, able to join all aromas present in the pasture of the surrounding meadows. The Ladin area is also known for an-other delicatessen: barley. The barley from Belluno is par-ticularly suitable for genuine soups with a delicate flavour and is easy to digest.

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of the south-west face of the Queen of the Dolomites; other destinations can be the trails Col da Daut – Col Toront, which are rich in remains of the Great War. The Ser-rai di Sottoguda is another natural beauty; this narrow ravine can be covered on foot or by a tourist train, now the area is a Nat-ural Reservation. Along the trail, by about

two kilometres, on the 30th July, the Fourth Night Edition of Serrai di Sottoguda will take place, where it is possible to admire the water leaps which descent from the cliffs before throwing themselves into the Pettorina Stream: along the trail there is also the cave of the Madonna, the crucifix and the small St. Anthony’s church.

ting the Via Ferrata of the Trenches and the climb to the Falesia of the Andraz Castle. The selection of events for bikers is really wide: the Tour of the Sella Mount, Dolo-mites Stars Long Distance race, the Chrono-climbing of the Pordoi Pass, the Sellaronda Bike Day and the Dolomites Marathon. A few kilometres from Arabba, within the Mu-nicipality of Livinallongo of Col di Lana, the Military Memorial of Pian di Salesei is well worth a visit; the imposing mausoleum was built in 1938 and dedicated to those who died in World War One. The Pettorina Valley area and the imposing glacier of the Marmolada, which can be reached by a fast cable car, are a few of the most desired des-tinations for those who desire to be in direct contact with the real mountain. Those who like climbing can choose amongst various itineraries such as the Via Ferrata of Sass de Rocia to the famous routes on the south face of the Marmolada, which can be faced only by experts. The trails crossing the Ombretta Valley are also interesting as they offer views

ON THE ROOF OF THE DOLOMITESArabba and the Marmolada

Along "The Walk"

Stop 12 of the Walk of the Dolomites of-fers a dramatic terrace on the Marmolada, the biggest glacier of the Eastern Alps. The climb starts at Pieve di Livinallongo on the slopes of Col di Lana and continues towards the austere Andraz Castle. Built before 1000 AD on the top of a huge cliff, its stones mingle with the rock. It was the seat of the furnaces of the mines of Fursìl and inspired legends (maybe the fairy tale Snow White). Nicolò Cusano lived there.

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MOUNT CIVETTA WITH THOUSANDS OF COLOURSAlleghe and Val di Zoldo

From the peace of

Lake Alleghe to trails for bold bikers

Mount Civetta, one of the most charming mountains of the Dolomites, is known all over the world for its north-east face: a large wall which at sunset gets differ-ent hues of red, orange, yellow, with a scenery of colours which is able to move everybody; it is also a desired destination for alpinists all over the world. The area of Mount Civetta includes the towns of Selva di Cadore, Colle Santa Lucia, Zoldo and Alleghe where the lake with the same

name is located. In the waters of Lake Al-leghe, it is possible to practise canoeing, kayaking or relaxing on board of the trad-itional rowing boats or a more modern pedalo. In any case relaxation is the key word. For those who love riding a moun-tain bike and a racing bike there are lots of opportunities: from itineraries to be covered in complete peace surrounded by the view of untouched nature, to hard-er and more challenging trials suitable

Along "The Walk"

After the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Gra-zie, on whose façade the artist Augusto Murer represented life and death, we meet Alleghe dominated by the imposing Civetta mount which reflects itself on the lake. A deviation of the Walk leads to Val di Zoldo where nature and art triumph: Pelmo and Moiazza Mounts and the extraordinary wooden masterpieces which Andrea Brustolon and the Besarels left in many churches of the Valley.

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MOUNT CIVETTA WITH THOUSANDS OF COLOURSAlleghe and Val di Zoldo

for those who want to discover the wild-est side of the Dolomites. The area is the ideal place above all for bikers, thanks to specific proposals designed exactly for them, such as daily passes including bike transportation, mountain bike schools, bike rental and repairs, scheduled tours together with expert mountain bike rid-ers. For those who like trekking there is a large selection of opportunities such as the complete tour of Mount Civetta start-ing from Pass Staulanza which provides the opportunity to admire the beauty of the solitary Mount Pelmo. For those who want to discover the Val di Zoldo, they have programmed the Zoldano ring, a six stop tour which discovers the principal mountain groups of the valley: Mezzodì, Pramper, San Sebastiano-Tamer, Moiazza, Civetta, Pelmo and Bosconero. It takes from four to seven and a half hours. The best period for the tour is from mid-June to the end of August when the ref-uges are open and visitors can stay over-night. Experiences which are able to give

days full of emotions and thrills, for ex-ample the stop from the refuge of Sora in Sass Angelini which leads to Prampèr Val-ley. The itinerary follows a flat path which leads to the southern end of the pla-teau from which you descend to a deep canyon with rock cliffs equipped with metal ropes and then through screes, in less than an hour, you reach the val-ley floor in cor-respondence with Pian de la Fopa (1.210 m). Fun is guaran-teed for everyone, even the youngest. For example, “Setti-mana Verde del bam-bino”, Children’s Green Week, with entertainment for the whole family every week throughout July and August. Once again the Dolomites are for everybody.

From the Zoldano area, the excellent pastin

The Pastin from Belluno is a salty mixture of pork and beef meat enriched

with aromas and spices and is prepared in various

versions according to the traditional pro-cedures of each val-ley or even of each village. Pastin is cooked in a pan or grilled. Served raw, it is a specialty for gour-

mets. The Pastin from Zoldo stands

apart for its long trad-ition and for its genuine

ingredients. It is as successful as cheeses

from cottages which are scattered in the meadows between the Pelmo and the Civetta Mounts.

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in the heart OF THE DOLOMITESBiois Valley and Conca Agordina

Culture, sport, tradition and faith.

A complete holiday

The Biois Valley and Conca Agordina are two of the most characteristic areas of the Belluno Dolomites; these are lands where culture, art and traditions come together perfectly with the beauty of surrounding nature. The Biois Valley is known as the “Valley with saints at the windows” be-cause of the characteristic votive frescoes that decorate the house fronts. A trail of art and life winds across the villages of Cencenighe, Vallada Agordina, Canale d’Agordo and Falcade. The latest one is the valley’s most popular tourist destina-tion. It is also the place where you can see the original ancient custom of welcoming the cattle with “Se desmonteghea” as they return to the valley after the summer pas-ture in the mountains. Cows, calves and

shepherds enter the centre of Fal-cade, wearing flower crowns

and cow bells, they are welcomed with dancing

and folklorist songs. The Conca Agordina is surrounded and lovingly protected by “its” Unesco peaks: Mounts Tàmer and Agner, the wonderful Pale di San Lucano

and the group of Moiazza. The focus-

ing point is the little town of Agordo, which

is internationally famous among mountaineers.

The mine centre of Imperina Valley is worth visiting; this area has a historic, architectonic and social value. The visitor can relive five centuries of history in the area related to the extraction of minerals with equipment to crush, grind and wash minerals, the tunnels, the power station and the ancient furnaces for the refine-ment of copper. The Biois Valley and Conca Agordina do not only offer culture and tradition. You can enjoy long and re-laxing walks in the forest or ride a moun-tain bike. Or you can climb, go on excur-sions, ride a horse and have a lot of fun with your children at amusement parks, picnic areas and sports fishing locations. Canale d’Agordo is also the birthplace of Pope Lucani, a corner of spirituality, faith and beauty.

At the top with Agordino cheese: Focobon and Malga

The Agordino area and in particular the Biois Valley are the land of dairies. In Canale d’Agordo don Antonio Della Lucia estab-lished the first milk consortium in 1872. One of the best spe-cialties amongst the large selection of cheeses is Focobon a good and full-flavoured cheese whose name reminds us of the mountains with the same name. Another popular cheese is Agordino made in the cot-tage and the result of cow’s milk obtained from cows which graze in high mountain meadows amongst which the rich fields of the Valles area stand apart.

Along "The Walk"

The Biois Valley conserves the memory of Pope Luciani in Canale d'Agordo and one of the most beautiful painting cycle by Paris Bordon in the church of San Simon di Vallada. The Valley of San Lu-cano offers charming memories of spirit-ual hermitages. Agordo is an elegant town with its gardens, the Crotta palace and the 19th century Archpriest’s Church where the architect from Feltre Giu-seppe Segusini, the painter Giovanni De Min and the sculptor Valentino Panciera Besarel worked together.

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in the heart OF THE DOLOMITESBiois Valley and Conca Agordina

Along "The Walk"

The Dolomites Walk starts at the Sanctu-ary of Saints Vittore and Corona, estab-lished in about 1000 AD, and returns here once completing a ring path of five hun-dred kilometres. In the last section (stops 28, 29 and 30), the walker descends from Nevegàl, seeing all of Valbelluna and Felt-rino at his feet. Looking North, one will see the most famous Dolomites mountains. Belluno and Feltre, pre-Roman centres, are worth a long visit to discover some important pieces of history and art.

From the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites to the art cities

ing a bike, there are countless opportunities such as the piedmont trail. The riding lovers can not miss a stop in Cesiomaggiore at the museum of the bike “Toni Bevilacqua”, an Italian cyclist and track cyclist. For those who love horse riding, the opportunities are end-less. There are countless paths which cross the pre- alpine ridge such as the naturalistic ring on Grappa Mount, the “Sentiero nat-ura dei Fojaroi” and the itineraries in the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites. For those who prefer the sky, they can try the thrill of flying by a hang glider or glider on Avena Mount, whilst those who love water and water sports can enjoy the Corlo Lake, at the border with Valsugana and Grappa Mount. The Valbelluna region is an ideal land for healthy walks and excur-sions: “the wild pro-file of the impeding mountains increases the feeling of loneli-ness, legend, patriarchal life, ancient time, mystery”, writes Dino Buzzati about these

Piave DOP and the King Bean from the Feltrino and Valbelluna regions

Amongst the mountains and hills of the Feltrino and Valbelluna regions one can find a mine of traditional flavours which

create a wide selection of oppor-tunities. The list of excellent

products is rich but two products really represent

the quality suitable for entering the Road of Cheeses and Flavours, one is the Piave DOP, born in Busche and prepared with dif-ferent seasoning per-iods. The cheese has

just been recognized at European level. And

then the bean from La-mon and from the IGP

Belluno Valley, known for its very thin peel which is the protag-

onist of delicious soups and peerless salads.

CloSe mountainSFeltrino and Valbelluna

wonderful places. The Belluno Province has dedicated a series of initiatives to this writer and trails which are designed to bring to life the valley and the places told by the great novelist. The High Ways 1-2-3 and 8 and the rock gyms from Soverzene to Soccher up to Bruna Valley are very interesting.Amongst the mountains and valleys, by foot,

bike or horseback, lost amongst the colours and perfumes of the Veneto region. This is Feltrino and Valbelluna, lands which are even more precious by the presence of the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites and a part of a landscape which has an extraordin-ary natural importance. A paradise, where it is not difficult to discover rare species and an exceptional variety of environments, along the trails of the Great War set amongst an-cient hamlets and breathtaking landscapes. Besides healthy walks for those who love rid-

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Summer mirroralpago

Between the blue of Lake Santa Croce and the green of the Forest of Cansiglio

There are thousands of athletes who choose to spend their summer holidays in Alpago. That is because the region, which includes the villages of Chies, Farra, Pieve, Puos and Tambre, boasts a number of opportunities for tourists. The excursionists and nature lovers can have adventures among the won-derful beech and fir forests of Cansiglio, or the trails of Alte Vie (High Ways) by admir-ing the karst phenomena and the presence of dolines and glacial cirques, which charac-terize this region. Those who practise water sports will find the ideal environment in Lake Santa Croce. A green-blue descent of over 750 hectares, famous all over Europe for the constant presence of wind where it is possible to practise sailing, wind-surfing and kite-surfing. The presence in the lake of a lot of fish, including perch and core-gonus, make the Alpago region even the ideal tourist destination for those who like fishing. For those who want a little more ad-venture, there is the experience of high alti-tudes on board a paraglider or a glider; the boldest ones will find a thrill in admiring the extraordinary panorama of the dell, among the lake, sky and mountains. Assured fun for those who play golf in the heart of the Forest of Cansiglio, 1000 m above the sea level, where there is an 18-hole golf course considered to be one of the most beauti-ful in Europe. Finally, there are trails and opportunities for those who prefer riding a mountain bike and having horse riding excursions.

NevegàlKnown as “The terrace on the Dolomites” for the extraordinary view it offers on clear days, Alpe del Nevegàl is the ideal destination for those who dream of sports and nature holidays. More than 100 kilo-metres of trails, which can be covered on foot or by mountain bike, make Nevegàl a real paradise for those who love ex-cursions. Among the places to visit, we recommend the Integral Reservation of Mount Faverghera where there is the Botanic Garden of the Eastern Alps, the 5th Refuge Artiglieria Alpina, located on the top of the Nevegàl at 1764 m, the last refuge of Alta Via (High Way) number 1 and a stop on the long way which leads to Venice from Munich.

Alpago triumphs with lamb and organic Cansiglio cheese

On grassy pastures of the Forest of Cansi-glio and the Alpago hills, the excellent cuisine of the local restaurants use two special ingredients which link gastronomy to breeding. A delicate dish based on the very soft lamb from Alpago which is bred most of the year in a wild or semi-wild state. Other important cheeses representing the best of the “Road of Cheeses” are made in the Cansiglio area where they also produce an organic cheese as it is made with cow’s milk which are fed with the fresh grass of the plateau for six months.

Along "The Walk"

Leave Longarone, where the dam is cap-tured in the modern church by Miche-lucci and Fortogna where more than 2000 victims of the Vajont disaster rest, and follow the Piave River until Ponte nelle Alpi with the fourteenth century church of Santa Caterina where the raft men stopped. And here you are, in the Alpago region with its wonderful lake, the mountains and the imposing forest of Cansiglio and Nevegal Mount with its forests and Sanctuary which seems to protect the nearby city of Belluno.

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ALTE VIE - HIGH WAYSWalking two steps from the sky

Eight High Trails to discover the truest mountainSilence reigns here, broken only by the rust-ling of leaves moved by the wind. Nature dominates everything; it’s a temple where “scents, sounds and colours speak to one another,” singing “the rapture of spirit and senses.” Here, in the middle of the stateli-ness of high peaks, steep ridges, and deep valleys, man lives and enjoys his empathy with the universe. We are on the Belluno Dolomites, along the Alte Vie, eight itiner-aries that wind among the most suggestive peaks and the most charming Groups of the Dolomites and allow one to completely enjoy this mountain “heritage.” Backpack on your shoulder, boots, a map, great en-thusiasm and some prudence: these are the main ingredients to enjoy a wonder-ful holiday along the Alte Vie of the Dolo-mites, built by the paths marked by the Ital-ian Alpine Club. You begin your journey from Alta Via number 1, the Classic Way, which starts from Lake Braies and, along

a twelve day itinerary, reaches Belluno, crossing the Groups of the Tofane, Pelmo, Civetta and Antelao Mountains. Alta Via number 3, the Chamois’s Way, starts from Villabassa-Niederdorf and finishes in Lon-garone, which was hit by the Disaster of Vajont on 9th October 1963, passing the Cristallo and Sorapiss Mountains. Then there is Alta Via number 4, Grohmann’s Way, which connects San Candido to Pieve di Cadore; number 5, Titian’s Way joins Sesto di Pusteria to Pieve di Cadore, the birthplace of the famous painter. Toward Croda dei Toni, Marmarole and Antelao, there is Alta Via number 7, Patera Way, that crosses the Belluni Pre-Alps and Alpago. Alta Via number 8 joins Feltre to Bassano and winds along the ridges of Mount Grap-pa. A special mention should be given to Alta Via number 2, the Way of Legends, which goes from Bressanone to Feltre, and Alta Via number 6, the Way of Si-

lence, which connects Comelico-Sappada to Vittorio Veneto: these two itineraries are included within the European Trails, the transnational trails that continue on into the Austrian territory. The last Alta Via is the Bellunesi High Way, a dramat-ic itinerary that winds around the group of Schiara and enters the National Park of Belluno Dolomites. Along all the Alte Vie, apart from the charming historical and naturalistic landmarks, there is a rich amount of refuges, bivouacs and refresh-ment places scattered across this imposing “diffuse Museum.” Moreover, the Alte Vie offer a few equipped and charming alpine trails that can be covered by anybody with a little training and experience, provided that they want to know the mountain. As the famous mountaineer Walter Bonatti once said, “From up here, the world of man only seems mad, greyness enclosed within itself”.

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P. so Giau

THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO

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