ANCIENT STRADA REGIA

From San Vito di Cadore to Venas di Cadore

2 h 50'

Altitude difference 300 m

23,5 km

Off-road 6,5 km

The route starts in the centre of San Vito, in the square behind the parish church. Having taken the Dolomites cycle path, in the direction of Borca, we leave it after only 500 metres to cross the main road and proceed downhill along Via San Marco, following the sign indicating ‘Serdes’. After crossing the bridge, a short ascent begins on the left, to be followed for about 400 metres until we turn left again along via Villanova. We now descend to the right, crossing a spectacular clearing from which to admire the Antelao on one side of the valley, and the Pelmo on the other. We continue downhill for over a kilometre to the hamlet of Villanova in the municipality of Borca. We pass via O. Sala and, having reached a fork in the road near the Hotel Villa Ines, we turn left, comforted by a sign indicating the Strada Regia.

Past the village of Borca, passing the church of SS. Simone and Giuda Taddeo on the right, past the church of S. Rocco, to the Antelao hotel. We now flank the state road for a few stretches. About 6 kilometres have been covered so far. It is time to leave the asphalt. The first few metres of off-road track begin near a barn. further on a depression requires you to get off your bike, a short descent on foot, and an ascent of about fifty metres up the opposite slope to get back on your bike on a meadow where the route is once again clearly visible. We then pedal under a pylon, leaving an isolated house on the left. The track becomes more uncertain for a few dozen metres before becoming visible again in the meadow next to the carriageway.

Shortly before reaching the village of Vodo the route narrows, so it is prudent for the less experienced or the very young to walk it. The asphalt road, and a flower nursery on the right, welcome us to Vodo, a village into which we penetrate as far as the main square, where a large sign with the route of the Antica Strada Regia is displayed. Having passed the small church, the itinerary, here well signposted, continues again along a pleasant grassy road to Peaio. The crucifix and the bench we encounter along the path should be left to the right.
Then again a bridge and the little village church (the signs for the Strada Regia are always clearly visible). The subsequent dirt track is very pleasant. We again enter the undergrowth and, when we reach the fork, we keep to the right. A modern bridge allows us to cross the Ru Vinian stream and to continue the route on a slight slope through the forest (due to the numerous roots emerging from the ground, we advise you to proceed with the utmost caution and at low speed).

The very spectacular stretch ends by intersecting the carriageway that joins Cibiana with Venas di Cadore. Once on the asphalt road we climb for 900 metres until we cross the Long Dolomite Road. Turning left onto the cycle track, a comfortable return to San Vito awaits us.