BELLUNO: THE PROVINCE
The Province of Belluno borders with:
- the Provinces of Bolzano and with Austria to the north;
- the Province of Udine to the east;
- the Province of Treviso to the south; and
- the Province of Trento to the west.
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GEOGRAPHY
The territory of the Province of Belluno is mostly mountainous from the Pre-Alps of Belluno to the Dolomite Mountains and the Carniche Alps. The Province can be subdivided into the zones described below.
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THE CONCA BELLUNESE
The Conca Bellunese is a basin that is surrounded by the Pre-Alps of Belluno which culminate with Col Visentin (1761 m) and by the first line of the Dolomite Alps with the group of mountains known as the Schiara (2563 m).
At the heart of this pleasant valley, which opens to the Piave River, we find Belluno City, protected by the mountains, which look onto the plain on one side, and on the other at a vast, slightly rolling plateau.
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THE FELTRINO
The Feltrino is a fertile and hilly area that extends to the south east of the Conca of Belluno with the summits of the Feltrine Mountains, which culminate in Monte Pavione (2563 m).
In the middle of this pleasant basin rises the City of Feltre with the Feltrine Dolomite Mountains serving as a backdrop. This is a beautiful and industrious city which was founded by the Veneti about 1000 BC. This flourishing Roman town was destroyed and rebuilt several times. It fought fiercely to maintain its independence and fell to the Serenissima (the Republic of Venice) after its last destruction in 1509. Following this came a period of great prosperity. It is rich in monuments that commemorate the its Venetian domination.
Not too far away from Feltre is Pedavena, famous for its beer and its incomparable belvedere of Col Melon.
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L’AGORDINO
The Agordino is to the northwest of Belluno City and is distinguished by the variety in its geography. It is inhabited by an industrious people that speak a dialect, which is a mixture of a Latin base mixed with Veneto. It is comprised of numerous valleys and also by the very long valley of the Cordevole Torrent, rich in pastures and forests. Large boulders, rocky peaks and cliffs, which are intersected by smaller valleys from which white water descends, surround this valley.
The tallest peaks include the Agner (2,871 m), Mount Civetta (3,218 m), the Marmolada (3,342 m) and Sella (3,151 m).
There are numerous and renowned holiday centers such as Agordo, Frassenè, Cencenighe, Falcade, and Alleghe.
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THE ALPAGO
The Alpago area is a vast basin to the north east of Belluno City. Here we find the Lake of Santa Croce surrounded by very high mountain peaks, which culminate with Monte Cavallo (2,250 m). It is also known as the “Garden of the Dolomites” for the serenity of its picturesque scenery. The darkness of the great forest of the Cansiglio and the sky blue of the lake completes the welcoming beauty. It is in the forest that most of the inhabitants find work. Besides harvesting many species of wood such as red and white fir, larch and beech, there are hundreds of tonnes of mushrooms that are collected, transported and sold down in the valley.
From this thousand-year-old forest, the Republic of Venice selected trees to build its ships that sailed to conquer the markets of the Orient.
Pieve di Alpago and Ponte nelle Alpi are the more famous vacation sites of this area.
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THE ZOLDANO
The Zoldano, or the valley of Zoldo, is situated between the Cadore (see below) and the Agordino. It combines the beauty of both these zones. The valley is narrow at first between vertical slopes and then opens to vast green fields surrounded by forests and dominated by the peaks of Monte Civetta (3,218 m) and Monte Pelmo (3,168 m). It is a scene of sweet serenity, almost romantic. Mount Pelmo is known to the locals as the “Caregon del Signor” or the “chair of the Lord” because of its majestic size and armchair-like form.
To the east of the valley we find Longarone, site of the terrible disaster of October 1963. An enormous rockslide fell into the artificial lake of the Vaiont creating an enormous wave, which spilled over the dam and crashed into the valley below destroying in short order the towns found in its path. The reconstruction and bright future of this area are testimony to the fervent love that the people have for their land.
Well known are Forno di Zoldo, where at one time iron found in the valley was worked and Selva di Cadore, a renowned centre for summer and winter stopover.
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THE CADORE
The Cadore is another marvelous alpine region, perhaps the most enchanting for its grandiosity and beautiful scenery. This land has a particular fascination, also because it is famous in history for the battles that were fought here, for its art and for the genius of Tiziano Vecellio, one of the greatest painters of all time. The Cadore boasts of splendid chains of Dolomite Mountains as well as several of the most beautiful alpine lakes. Among these lakes is the stupendous Lake of Misurina, which seems to have been set, by miracle, between the mountains.
This region is surrounded by the bold peaks of the dolomite mountains, strange looking pinnacles, spires and towers that rise above splendid valleys. The Cadore offers every type of tourist activity: hunting, fishing and comfortable alpine lodges, which allow for unforgettable hiking and excursions.
The following are some of the more famous places of the Cadore.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, a centre which attracts many tourists, it is situated in the largest and most beautiful sun drenched valleys of the Dolomites. The purity of its climate and its attractive panorama have given it international fame and the nickname of “Regina delle Dolomiti” or Queen of the Dolomites”.
Pieve di Cadore is the historic, artistic and cultural centre of this area. Pieve is rightly glorified as the homeland of Tiziano Vecellio. One can find the birthplace of this artist and a monument erected in his honour in the Piazza that bears his name.
San Vito di Cadore is situated in a splendid place with its hotels and villas in the middle of a beautiful amphitheater of mountains.
Auronzo is a well-visited vacation spot in both summer and winter.
Santo Stefano di Cadore is the capital or the Comelico, that is of Upper Cadore. Among the tallest and better known peaks of the Cadore we find: the Antelao (3,263 m), the Sorapis (3,205 m), the Tofane (3,242 m), the Cristallo (3,221 m) and the Popera (3,405 m).
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FAMOUS PEOPLE FROM THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO
Vittorino da Feltre (1378 – 1446): Pedagogue and Educator.
Panfilo Castaldi, from Feltre (1398 – 1479): Doctor and Literary.
Cornelio Castaldi, from Feltre (1463 – 1537): Jurist and Literary.
Tiziano Vecellio, from Pieve di Cadore (1477 – 1576): One of the more important Italian painters.
Andrea Brustolon, from Belluno City (1662 – 1732): Wood Sculptor, the “Michelangelo of wood sculpting”
Aristide Gabelli, (1830 – 1891): Famous Pedagogue
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BELLUNO CITY, CAPITAL OF THE PROVINCE
Belluno City is situated on a great spur of rock on the confluence of the Ardo Torrent and the Piave River. It is a gracious city which preserves in many streets and in many fortified homes its ancient and proud medieval aspect.
From various parts of the city, one can admire the panorama of a beautiful crown of mountains, which announce to the tourist the enchantment of an area, that is one of the most fascinating of all of Italy.
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THE HISTORY OF BELLUNO CITY
The origins of Belluno City are very old. It existed before the Romans conquered the Veneto.
With the fall of the Roman Empire, “Bellunum” was invaded by the Eruli, the Ostrogoti, the Longobardi and the Franchi.
In 1176, it frees itself from the German Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa and becomes part of the Lega Lombarda.
From 1288 and onward, the City is successively occupied by Ezzelino da Romano, the Carraresi, the Scaglieri, Carlo do Boemia, Lodovico il Bavaro, Carlo IV, the Dukes of Austria and the Viscounts.
In 1404, the City voluntarily submits itself to Venice which ruled uninterrupted up to 1797, the year in which it was occupied by Napoleon and then by the Austrians. In 1866, it was liberated and joined to the Realm of Italy.
During the First World War, Belluno falls once more under Austrian occupation in 1917 until November 1, 1918. For its great resistance against invasion, the flag of Belluno bears the Cross of War. For its valour during the last World War, it was given the Gold Medal for Military Valour.
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PRINCIPLE MONUMENTS AND BUILDINGS
Among its many monuments, there are the following of note:
- The church of San Rocco, constructed in 1530 and found in the city centre.
- Through the Porta Dante, there is the monumental centre of Belluno where one can see the most artistic buildings of the City:
- The Palazzo Comunale
- The Palazzo del Tribunale
- The Duomo from the 16th Century which houses many works of sculpture and painting
- The small church of Madonna delle Grazie from the 15th Century, now the baptistery
- The Civic Museum, with its collection of paintings from the Scuola Veneta
- The Palazzo dei Vescovi, with its very modern Auditorium
- The Palazzo dei Rettori, elegant building from the Renaissance
- The Torre Civica from the 12th Century.
- As well, one cannot miss Saint Stephen’s, a gothic style church with many works of art inside.