Valle di Cadore
Coming from the south, not far from Venice, one of the first places one encounters in the Boite Valley is Valle di Cadore, a municipality of about 2,000 inhabitants that is part of the Belluno Dolomites. Valle is situated along a gentle meadowy shore, at an altitude of 851 m above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Antelao, and faces the majestic Duranno group.
The village is a happy blend of the ancient and the modern, and offers interesting attractions for both sports enthusiasts and lovers of history and culture.
The “Lunga Via delle Dolomiti” crosses the village in the upper part and becomes a pleasant walk both in winter and summer, as well as a popular destination for Italian and foreign cyclists. Along the route, there is a multifunctional centre with bar service, benches and tables, where one can refresh oneself in the sun. Valle also has a sports facilities area that includes a football pitch and tennis court.
In Valle di Cadore, a town with very ancient origins, we find traces of a remote past, dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. The road called “della Greola”, today known as the Cavallera road, which started out from Perarolo di Cadore and passed through Valle, was part of the ancient Strada Regia and the Via Claudia Augusta Altinate, which continued through the centre of Cadore as far as the Monte Croce Comelico Pass.
There are interesting archaeological testimonies, votive artefacts of Roman and pre-Roman origin, still preserved today in the Archaeological Museum of the Magnifica Comunità di Pieve di Cadore.
One of the beauties and peculiarities is hidden in the centre of the town and is the ancient hamlet of Costa, where Venetian-style buildings, with residential structures dating back to the first centuries AD, coexist with traditional Cadore mountain houses. Every summer, this hamlet hosts the event ‘Viaggio nel Passato‘, an animated exhibition of arts, crafts and customs of the past with demonstrations on site.
On the ruins of a castle of Roman origin, stands one of the most spectacular churches in Cadore: the 18th-century “Chiesa di San Martino”, which was closed for safety reasons but reopened to the public on 1 May 2023, thanks to the work that was carried out. Worthy of mention are the paintings by Antonio Lazzarini and the altarpiece by Francesco da Milano, which can be found inside.
In the hamlet of Damos, which can be reached by crossing the characteristic covered bridge of Rualan, there is a church dedicated to Saints Andrew and John, where a 14th-century fresco of considerable interest is preserved, one of the oldest in the Cadore area, which has the crucifixion of Christ as its theme.
Above the village of Venas are the remains of several military constructions. The Pian del Landro fortifications were erected between 1911 and 1914 by the Italian Army Corps of Engineers to prevent enemies from arriving from the Boite Valley and the Cibiana Pass. Continuing along the road of forts, we find the Sant’Anna barracks, which were built in the early 20th century on top of the hill of the same name.