Cibiana di Cadore
In Cibiana di Cadore, a small, almost hidden village of 450 inhabitants at 985 metres above sea level, located along the road from Venas to the Cibiana Pass and then in the Zoldano area, protected by its peaks and far from the more commercial and mundane tourism, you can still breathe the air of a real place, of simple people, where the passion for mountain life has not waned. Consisting of old houses, some of which date back to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, its cobblestone streets climb the slopes on which the village stands, a small pearl that conceals many riches.
Today’s Cibiana offers its guests family-run accommodation, such as flats, rooms to rent, refuges and cosy mountain huts, where they can delight in excellent cuisine.
The nearby Cibiana Pass is an ideal starting point for wonderful hikes. A visit to the old mines of Vallinferna, Ronzei and Ciarsies, which bear witness to the ancient mining activity of the population, is also worthwhile. Mount Rite, which towers above the village, offers breathtaking 360° views of the nearby mountains, the Boite Valley and beyond, from Cortina to Laggio. To reach the summit on foot, you can either walk along the dirt road from Passo Cibiana, or take the shortcut known as ‘troi d’Orlando’. In summer, a shuttle service is available that takes you to just a few metres below the refuge. On the opposite side, as wild as it is fascinating, soar the Sassolungo and Sfornioi, which also offer wonderful views of the valleys behind. The Alta Via route no. 3 of the Dolomites, which starts from Villabassa in Pusteria and arrives in Longarone, passes by Monte Rite, the Re Mauro refuge at Passo Cibiana and Forcella Bella below Sassolungo. During the winter season, Cibiana offers all its guests one of the most scenic cross-country skiing trails in the area.
One of the main reasons that attracts tourists to Cibiana are its murals, which identify it as the ‘Land of Murals’. These paintings, executed by renowned artists not only from Italy but also from Japan and the former USSR, are scattered on the walls of houses and tell their story. The walls of the village speak to passers-by about arts, crafts, festivals, legends and the life of the past, they serve as a collective memory and embellish the village as was the case in medieval Italian towns. Since 1980, an open-air museum has been formed, boasting no less than 50 frescoes that create a unique artistic itinerary. On the summit of Monte Rite, next to the refuge, a wartime fort has been refurbished and now houses the highest museum in Europe: the Messner Mountain Museum Dolomites or Museum in the Clouds. Here, a wealth of artefacts, photos, studies and works of art tell the story of exploration and mountaineering in the Dolomites.
Some of best hikes from Cibiana di Cadore.
