Belluno

Lakes, valleys and mountains: the beauty of Belluno

We begin exploring the Belluno province in the town of Belluno, its capital — home to the Renaissance Palazzo dei Rettori, the Civic Tower belonging to the ancient castle of the bishop-counts, and a cathedral with a 68-metre-high bell tower. Piazza dei Martiri, or Campedèl, is the heart of the city. The oldest part of the town covers from Porta Dojona to the medieval Piazza del Mercato. 20 kilometres from the city stands Zumelle Castle, originally built in Roman times, rebuilt in the 12th century.

Thanks to the variety of landscapes in the shadow of the Dolomites, the area boasts striking green valleys, Alpine lakes, small villages and adrenaline-fuelled ski slopes. The most beautiful lakes include Lake Sorapis, with its turquoise waters, Lake Misurina, which glistens at sunset, and Lake Alleghe, which laps the shores of its namesake village. Nearby is the Serrai di Sottoguda nature reserve.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the Cadore region, offers 120 kilometres of ski slopes, 60 kilometres for cross-country skiing, a snow park, 37 ski lifts, a children’s fun park and toboggan runs. Near Cortina, you can hike the Tour of the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, starting from the Auronzo refuge.

In the southern part of the Belluno province lies Valbelluna, a valley carved by the Piave river nestled within the Belluno Dolomites National Park. Don’t miss the Vette Feltrine mountain range, the Brent de l’Art canyon and the Grotta Azzurra cave. In the evening, you can drive to Pedavena to enjoy a beer at the historic brewery.