Val di Zoldo
In the north-eastern part of the country, and precisely in the Veneto Region, there is the Val di Zoldo, an area situated in the province of Belluno and destination of many visitors all the month of the year.
Geographically, the valley begins where the torrent Maè flows into the Piave, of which it is – in fact – the right tributary.
This first stretch is called Canal del Maè, and is the least accessible area of the entire Val di Zoldo.
The landscape looks very wild and characterized by very steep slopes: not by chance, ever since, this first part of the Valley has never been very suitable for human settlements, excluding some villages such as Igne and Soffranco.
After the lake of Pontesei begins the Val di Zoldo, the real one.
It is here that you can admire the nature of the place in all its splendor, with the wonderful harmony that brings these populations to coexist with the local wildlife, characterized mainly by roe deers and deers.
The Val di Zoldo preserves important wooded expanses, surrounded and dominated by Dolomite massifs, which almost serve as ‘protection’ for the whole valley.
By approaching these mountains, with caution and ‘respect’, it’s possible to come across wide openings or enter into clefts between close and grand rocks.
Many are the important peaks worth mentioning: the Civetta and the Pelmo exceed 3000 meters, while Moiazza is slightly lower (2878). Also worth highlighting is the Cima di San Sebastiano, which is almost 2500 meters high.
It is right at the foot of the Civetta and Pelmo that the valley ends its imposing extension. The first – whose name should derive from the Latin “civitas” – is called “the wall of walls” and clearly on it there are many climbing tracks.
The Pelmo – from the word “Pelf”, wooded – is instead renamed in dialect of Belluno “El Caregon de’l Padreterno”, or rather the throne of God Almighty, as its vast glacial circle looks much like a royal chair.
It was the first summit of the Dolomites to be climbed: Englishman John Ball was successful on 19th September 1857.
The Val di Zoldo is a popular destination both in summer and winter.
In the warmer months, you can venture on high altitude hikes on the places described above: worth mentioning the climb at the foot of Pelmetto where you can admire the footprints of dinosaurs dating back about 250 million years ago.
In the winter time, however, the Val di Zoldo is assaulted by enthusiasts of downhill skiing, mountaineering, cross-country skiing and even biathlon, but it is also ideal for all those who love ‘snowshoeing’.
Not to forget the refuges of the area and the villages of this valley, such as Bragarezza, Dont and Fornesighe.