Agordino e Marmolada

Exactly at the crossroads between Alto Adige, Trentino and Veneto, here we are in the area we call ‘Alto Agordino’. In other words, here we are going to talk to you about the towns and villages that start from Agordo and go as far as Arabba, including the Valli del Biois (Falcade) and Val Pettorina (Rocca Pietore).

The marvellous views, the villages nestled between Marmolada, Civetta and Pelmo, uncontaminated valleys, gorges, excellent craftsmanship… we will not fail to reveal to you the beauties of the Agordo Dolomites!

TOP 5 NOT TO BE MISSED

Walking on Sass Pordoi

Visit Rocca Pietore and Serrai di Sottoguda

Skiing in Arabba

Climb the Marmolada

Immerse yourself in the Ombretta Valley

LIVINALLONGO DEL COL DI LANA

Livinallongo (“Fodom” in Ladin) is a scattered municipality that lies between Val di Fassa (Trentino) and Alta Badia (Alto Adige) and includes numerous hamlets, the best known of which is Arabba.

At the centre of the Dolomiti Superski and a compulsory part of the Sellaronda, Arabba is certainly one of the most sought-after winter destinations: from Porta Vescovo choose the turn you prefer, clockwise or anticlockwise, and throw yourself onto 40 kilometres of slopes surrounded by the most spectacular peaks in the world. Arabba is also connected to the Marmolada, the Dolomite glacier that dominates all the surrounding peaks from an altitude of 3269 metres.

In summer, the resort fills up with tourists, trekkers, cyclists, but also bikers who can enjoy unparalleled views over the famous Campolongo and Pordoi passes.

As far as history and culture are concerned, Livinallongo del Col di Lana (together with the neighbouring municipality of Colle Santa Lucia) is the only municipality in the Agordino area that can rightfully claim to be a Ladin municipality, as it was part of the Tyrol (Austro-Hungarian Empire) until the end of the Great War. The most evident aspects of the ancient belonging to the Germanic nation can still be seen today in the local dialect, the Fodom dialect, in the local architecture and in many cultural aspects linked to this world, as well as by a certain prolific collaboration with the nearby South Tyrolean town of Corvara in Val Badia. For a dive into Ladin culture, we recommend the Museum of Uses, Customs, History and Traditions of the Ladin People, in the municipal headquarters of Pieve di Livinallongo in the Dolomites Centre “Cesa de la Cultura Fodom”.

In the locality of Castello stands the magnificent Andraz Castle, a Tyrolean bastion of considerable strategic importance for the control of trade routes with the Republic of Venice, including the “Strada da la Vena”. The castle has a thousand-year history that is intertwined with the events of the Bishopric of Bressanone and a long series of illustrious guests, including the famous astronomer, theologian and philosopher Nicolò Cusano.

Foto © Iain Simpson

Foto © Giuliano Riga

ALLEGHE

The picturesque town of Alleghe lies in the Cordevole valley, where the river of the same name flows into the lake formed at the end of the 18th century by a landslide. Mount Civetta guards the town.

Piazza Kennedy is the small but charming centre of Alleghe. Just a few steps from the lake, it is characterised by many hotels, shops and ski rentals and pleasant bars. In the square there is also the beautiful church of San Biagio, a small but suggestive mountain church in Gothic-Alpine style and characterized by the representation of the saint painted on the bell tower.

We know you’re wondering: where can I do sport? No problem, Alleghe is part of the Civetta Ski area for endless skiing in winter and endless excursions in summer!

AGORDO

Is it Àgordo or Agòrdo? If you’ve ever had any doubts, we’ll tell you that the accent goes on the A.

But apart from the doubts about pronunciation, this wonderful village is really a nice discovery if you are looking for a quiet destination, far from the busiest places.

The main centre of Agordino is a town of about 5 thousand inhabitants that lies between Mount Agner, Moiazza and the Pale di San Lucano.

The centre is characterised by the ancient porticoes that surround the main square, in the centre of which there is a fountain with the lion of San Marco.

The archdeaconry church of Santa Maria Nascente was built in 1513 and renovated between 1836 and 1852. Inside you can admire works by painters of the Titian school, an organ by Cipriani and the statue of Pope John Paul I, who was a chaplain in this church. Santa Maria Nascente is enriched by the presence of two bell towers with clocks, surmounted by copper domes.

The history of Agordo is intertwined with that of the eyewear industry, which took its first steps here, to become a veritable empire for the national industry. If you are a lover of the genre, then take a trip to the former stables of Villa Crotta de’ Manzoni, where the “Ottiche e Occhiali” (Optics and Glasses) collection contains one of the most complete collections of antique objects in the field of optics.

VALLADA AGORDINO

Vallada Agordino is the result of the union between the various hamlets, the strengths of the territory. There are numerous tabià and rural buildings that can be found over a height difference of 200m, from the lowest Mas to Cogùl, the highest.

Noteworthy is the Church of San Simon, dating back to 1148, which from the outside of its churchyard offers the viewer a breathtaking view of the Biois Valley, but the interior of the sacred temple is a treasure trove of beauty, with one of the most beautiful fresco cycles in the whole of the Alps by Paris Bordone. It also has a well-preserved polyptych (Flügelaltar) of great value and an organ by Gaetano Callido (1802).

The villages of Canale d’Agordo, Falcade and Vallada Agordina are also nicknamed ‘The Valley with Saints in the Windows’, as in all three municipalities we find beautiful devotional frescoes painted on the main façades of many houses.

ROCCA PIETORE

“La Rocia”, as the Ladins call it, is an enchanting municipality, nestled in the Val Pettorina between Canazei, Colle di Santa Lucia and Falcade. The advice is to enter from Trentino, passing through the Fedaia Pass, where there is an artificial lake of the same name in which the queen of the Dolomites is reflected: the Marmolada, the largest glacier in the Dolomites.

At Malga Ciapela you can take the cableway to the 3,269 metres of Punta Rocca, the highest point on the Marmolada. Don’t miss a trip to the roof of the Dolomites, from where you can admire the spectacle of the Dolomite peaks and why not? Throw yourself down on skis towards the Fedaia.

If you are the quiet type, don’t miss the Great War Museum, at the second station of the “Punta Serauta” cable car: an intense itinerary that shows how the area, and above all the Marmolada glacier, was an important theatre of war in those years. Many finds have been unearthed, as well as the incredible underground city that the soldiers dug out of the ice to defend themselves from enemy attacks.

Sottoguda has recently become one of the “Most beautiful villages in Italy” and is a little gem just after Malga Ciapela. Sottoguda is an ancient village whose written records date back to 1260. It is characterised by the numerous tabièi, wooden barns widespread in the Dolomite area of Ladin culture, used by farmers to store hay and shelter livestock and agricultural tools.

What you cannot miss, however, is a trip to the Serrai di Sottoguda, a route through the gorge carved out by the Pettorina stream, about two kilometres long, now a Park of regional interest, which reaches the Malga Ciapela basin at the foot of the Marmolada.

Foto © Enrico Bassi

Foto © Giuliano Riga

FALCADE

Falcade is the main centre of the Biois valley and lies between Marmolada (to the north) and the Pale di San Martino (to the south).

The basin was shaped by the Biois torrent, which in ancient times formed a large lake here and which dried up to make way for the Falcade Plain.

A popular summer and winter destination, Falcade is part of the San Pellegrino ski carousel, where the pass of the same name connects with the Val di Fassa. To the south, it is possible to reach the Passo Rolle area via the provincial road 81.

CANALE D’AGORDO

The village of Canale d’Agordo is immersed in the beautiful Garés Valley with its waterfalls of the same name and offers a peaceful and tranquil place to spend a pleasant holiday. Located on an ancient alluvial terrace at the confluence of the Biois and Liera streams, it is known for being the birthplace of the last Italian Pope John Paul I, to whom a museum is also dedicated. In Canale d’Agordo we can find pearls of history, such as the many typical barns, the beautiful Casa delle Regole, a frescoed building dating back to 1640, and the 14th century church of San Giovanni Battista.

Do you want to know a curiosity? Well, in Canale d’Agordo, the first brewery in Italy opened in 1847 and in 1872 the first Cooperative Dairy! Curious, isn’t it?

Also very interesting is the local carnival of Zinghenésta, where the “Queen of the feast” is elected, the most beautiful girl in the village (the only female character in Alpine carnivals).

This locality offers holiday proposals both in summer with its numerous excursions, and in winter: at the bottom there is the Valle di Garés, where you can find a large ring-shaped track, ideal for cross-country skiing lovers!

Foto © Luisella Tomassoni

CURIOSITIES

In Rocca Pietore there is an ancient and artistic tradition of incomparable beauty: ironworking. From the smallest items, such as paperweights or hangers, to large statues, all rigorously hot-hammered by the skilful hands of the De Biasio family, who have been carrying on this fascinating activity for generations. Absolutely worth seeing!

HOTELS SELECTED BY PASSIONE DOLOMITI

Alto Agordino

Active Hotel Malita

WINTER ACTIVITIES

We have counted no less than 4 ski resorts. Do you still have something to say?

Of course you do, because if you don’t like downhill skiing or snowboarding, this is the area to try your hand at a thousand other winter sports. Have you ever thought about hockey? In Alleghe you can try it in the ice stadium.

If you are looking for adrenaline, you can find plenty here: climbing icefalls, ski mountaineering, freeriding. If, on the other hand, you are looking for something quieter, then go winter trekking, snowshoeing or skating. The choice is yours!

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

f in winter you think there are too many, then you should try coming here in summer: a paradise for trekkers, but also for those who want to measure themselves against the heights, the roughness and the coldness of the mountains.

There are countless via ferratas, such as those in the Marmolada area, or challenging treks for adrenaline lovers. But there are also gentle slopes and easy routes where you can admire crazy landscapes and exhaust the memory of your phone, such as the Serrai di Sottoguda.

Don’t underestimate then the possibility to have fun with the many water courses that are present in this area: canoying, rafting or simply a boat trip on Alleghe lake.

SKI / HIKING AREAS

SELLARONDA

The Sellaronda, again! But how big is it? From Passo Campolongo or Passo Pordoi you can reach the Alto Agordino in Arabba. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a ski tour around the Sella Group. You can choose the direction (clockwise/counter-clockwise) and access from Arabba is via Porta Vescovo. To enjoy the Sellaronda the ski pass you need to buy is necessarily the Dolomiti SuperSki.

In summer the Sellaronda area becomes a paradise for lovers of trekking and vie ferrate. What we recommend you do is definitely go up to the Pordoi Pass from Arabba and from there reach Sass Pordoi via the homonymous pass. Behind you, the marvellous Marmolada.

The landscape of Sass Pordoi is unique: some people define it as lunar, with its grey almost white colour. We advise you to go as far as the Capanna Fassa Refuge, the highest point of the massif: from there you have a beautiful view of the surrounding peaks, but also overhanging Arabba. Enjoy!

As far as vie ferrate are concerned, not to be missed are the Andraz and the Cesare Piazzetta: a bit of effort, but it pays off!

For those who have puppies to carry, we recommend the family route to the Andraz Castle.

CIVETTA SKI

A little further to the south west, Civetta Ski promises great moments of fun in the shadow of the mountain of the same name. With 1100 metres of altitude difference, 80 kilometres of perfectly groomed slopes, 23 modern ski lifts, 15 restaurants directly on the slopes, 285 snow guns.

In summer the Civetta area is transformed, leaving space for large green meadows with numerous paths for your more or less demanding excursions. The ski lifts allow you to take your mountain bike up to the top and from there you can take several MTB routes.

In addition to the easier routes, we would like to point out a beautiful via ferrata, which is quite challenging and long, but if you are looking for a bit of adrenaline, you cannot miss it: the Alleghesi ferrata.

ARABBA / MARMOLADA

The Arabba-Marmolada ski area is perhaps one of the most scenic there is: it is connected to the Sellaronda and from Porta Vescovo you can ski over 60 kilometres, served by 22 state-of-the-art lifts. The Arabba funslope is equipped for skiing or snowboarding.

The advice is to get to the Marmolada and launch yourself from Punta Rocca, but not before admiring the view from the Queen of the Dolomites.

In summer this area is perfect for spending time outdoors with numerous walks of all kinds. If you are the type for superhuman efforts, then we recommend one of the most rewarding via ferrata routes in the Dolomites: the Brigata Cadore ferrata is also known as the ‘eternal via ferrata’ due to its length and technical passages.

For something simpler, you can start in Arabba and go up to Sass Pordoi, Bec de Roces or Monte Pore, via the Alta Via dell’Orso.

SKI AREA SAN PELLEGRINO

The San Pellegrino Ski Area is one of the best equipped and is located in the heart of the Dolomites.

Winter sports enthusiasts have at their disposal 60 km of downhill slopes of varying length and difficulty, 1 snowpark with three lines, 3 school camps where they can take their first steps on skis, 37 km of cross-country ski trails and many itineraries for snowshoeing and ski mountaineering.

Falcade and Passo San Pellegrino are two tourist resorts situated between 1000 and 2500 metres above sea level in the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the starting point for numerous walks in the valley floor and high altitude excursions that lead to the discovery of the beautiful surrounding peaks: the Focobon Group, the Cime dell’Auta, the Pale di San Martino, Col Margherita and the Creste di Costabella.

Your sporting soul will be spoilt for choice with geological paths, vie ferrate, cycling and mountain bike trails, surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

Children will have fun in the open air among meadows, streams, alpine lakes, theme trails, playgrounds and mountain pastures where they can watch milk being processed and meet grazing animals.

TIPS

If you are looking for heavenly corners, wild nature and easy walks, then don’t miss the Ombretta Valley, at the foot of the imposing Marmolada.

From Malga Ciapela continue in the direction of the Falier Refuge and immerse yourself in the verdant valley which welcomes all types of hikers: from the most experienced to those just starting out. A breath of fresh air surrounded by unspoilt nature!