Rocca Pietore

Orange Flag of the Italian Touring Club

Few villages can boast, like Rocca Pietore, of being nestled among some of the most impressive and important peaks of the Dolomites (UNESCO World Natural Heritage), such as Marmolada and Civetta. You can enjoy this extraordinary landscape and natural asset both in winter and in summer, with excursions (for example, in the Ombretta Valley or the Fedaia Pass - Padon Refuge - Portabiscovo - Lake Fedaia Round Tour), a wide choice of sporting activities (skiing, ice-climbing, mountaineering) and trails for all, on foot, by bike or on motorbike, for example, through the forests of Malga Ciapelaand villages of Laste as far as the historic Bramezza.

Don't miss a visit to the village of Sottoguda, with the characteristic tabièi, wooden barns symbolic of an ancient tradition, and the church of Saints Fabiano, Sebastiano and Rocco (1486). The Museum of the Great War in Marmolada is the highest in Europe, at 2950 metres, while in the village of Laste, the Church of San Gottardo is located in a panoramic position of unique beauty from where much of the upper Cordevole valley can be seen. Also worth a visit is the church of Santa Maria Maddalena, built in 1442 in the Gothic style and declared a national monument.

The culinary and artisanal traditions are still well preserved and promoted. Skilled hands work with iron and wood, transforming them into unique objects in craft workshops (for example, Artigianlegno and Bottega La Fosina). In the kitchen, they follow the Ladin tradition of simplicity and authenticity, using malga cheeses for recipes such as casunziei or bale, while among the desserts, theflorostide or tortiei da pom (apple fritters)stand out. Ladin culture and traditions are also preserved, protected and rediscovered by young people, as with the Grop de Bal Marmolèda, which stages typical balls and dances.

Many of the most significant events are linked to the wonderful natural setting that the region offers, such as the 'Marcia L. Barbana' in Laste, a sporting event on the 15th August, 'Alba dalla Regina', to watch the sunrise on the Marmolada, and the 'Sbriseda', a skiing re-enactment in historical dress open to all, the highest (3265 metres) and longest vintage gathering in Italy (on the 12 km Bellunese slope, the longest in the Dolomites).