General information regarding History, Culture and local Traditions

Belluno
The last three routes, the most wild and challenging of the Alta Via n.1 routes, cross the mountain range which forms the surrounding background of the 'Città Capoluogo' (capital town).
In the Italian Encyclopedia we read:
"Città dei Veneti (Bellunum), it was a roman town written in the papiria tribes. It flanked the longobardo reign for its immunity of its bishops. It became a borough only in the thirtheenth 13th century, as expression of the various factions of vassels of episcopals and the noble people then from Treviso,da Romano, and da Camino it passed to the Venetians in 1404 and remained until 1797. After the Napoleonic events, it was joined to Lombardo - Veneto, it was united to the 'Regno D'Italia' in 1866; during the first world and from October 1917 to November 1918, it was occupied by the Austrians. The diocese, certified in the VI century, was united to Feltre in 1197, separeted in 1462 and then once again in 1818 by intercession of the Venetians (it depended first from Aquileia and from 1751 the archbishopric of Udine); in 1846 Cadore was united, taken from Udine".
It includes five 'Consigli di Circoscrizione' (district councils): Castionese, Oltrardo, Bolzano Bellnese including Tisòi, consequently Sois with Mièr-Bes-Salce. Oltrardo is the smallest area with approximately 13,500 inhabitants. The important ridge of Nevegàl gravitates on Castiòn. A welcoming, bright, clean town with approximately 35,000 inhabitants. The oldest part of the town is embellished by numerous monuments with pre-roman and roman, medi-eval (middle-ages)and renaissance memories. squares and parks give a becoming aspect of optimum living conditions which in reality it enjoys. The valley of Piave (called incorrectly Val Belluna) is green and pleasant, dominated by a circle of mounts which it unique, especially for 'sua' (its own) mountain the Schiàra, then the apparently humble Monte Serve (which is colosal and dominating); the Duranno which closes to the north; the bare and solitary Monti del Sol with difficult summits and the sharp spires of Pizzocco and towards Feltre the Vette (peaks). the long pre- alpe range from Visentìn slopes down on the basin-valley of Belluno with soft green undulating hills, giving a relaxing, serene, harmonious panorama. This gives us a particularly favourable climate for holidays and walking trips.
After the long walks on the Alta Via routes, excursionists should not miss visiting Belluno, feasible in a morning or afternoon trip. To visit: the Piazzza del Duomo with the Palazzo dei Rettori from the XV century (now the Prefettura), the Municipio (Town Hall) in venetian style (called Palazzo Rosso) the Duomo with its great barocian bell tower, 68 meters in height, by Filippo Juvarra and finished in 1743. The Museo Civico is open in the morning (no charge) and contains pre-roman and roman memorials, other important historical works of art of painters, sculptors and engravers from Belluno of various periods. One of the most characterisical medi-eval and rinasciemental corners of Belluno is the Piazza del Mercato with typical fountains and the nearby historical Porta Dojona. Another beautiful monument worth a visit is the Chiesa (church) di Santo Stefano, finished 1486, a very noble example of Italian gothic style, beside the saracophagus of the roman officer Flavio Ostilio with a very significant engraving and act of love for the alpine nature; the motto, which is in Greek says: 'always remember the mounts'. The Piazza dei Martiri, the famous Campedèl with its beautiful gardens, is the thriving heart of the city, especially during the quiet hours of evening walks.