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| THE DOLOMITES | BELLUNO'S SITES |  |
| VENETO.ORG LINKS | ||
With its contribution of spectacular views of mountains, valleys, and wooded areas, Belluno and its surroundings complete the multifaceted scenic reality of the Veneto. And, as is true for all of the Veneto, Belluno and its encompassing province offer a combination of tradition and beautiful architecture firmly steeped in ancient history. The confluence of the Piave River with the stream known as the Ardo gives birth to the flood plain which hosts Belluno: a sort of "pennisula" from which we can enjoy dramatic views first of the waters and then of the mountains. The oldest settlement is marked by the radical innovations implemented by "la Serenissima" (the Republic of Venice) during the Middle Ages: Renaissance buildings brimming with fantasy were in some cases erected upon the older Gothic structures. As a result, the Venetian imprint is a source of amazement even greater than that experienced elsewhere because of the delightful contrast with the Alpine atmosphere integral to Belluno. As we thread our way through age-old squares - from the lively Piazza dei Martiri to the Piazza del Duomo with its exquisite painted tableaus to the picturesque Piazza delle Erbe - we climb and descend streets which sometimes intersect with the beautiful Via Mezzaterra. While admiring charming arcades and ancient fountains the Paleovenetian and Roman epochs; stone tablets and works of art from medieval times; the picture gallery; and the Palazzo dei Rettori, a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture, a building designed to host the municipal authorities of Venice. The plateau of Alpago, dotted with tiny towns full of original and unimpaired architecture; the bright and sprawling Val Belluna; Cadore, the birthplace of Titian, an area whose peaks are among the most breathtaking of the Italian Alps - these are enticing parts of the province's whole, places where restful vacations may also become "learned" stays through the discovery of fascinating historical and artistic patrimonies. Remarkable concentration of the latter can be found in Feltre, a town reconstructed almost completely and in record time (1509-1510) by La Serenissima after the devastation worked upon Feltre by the imperial armies. As a result, the town walls, streets, squares, buildings and monuments bear almost everywhere the unmistakable imprint of Venice. One may thus be tempted to overlook the very long history of Feltre itself, a town which sprang to life in a paleovenetian era and developed through the centuries, assuming important roles in both the Roman epoch and the Middle Ages. In Val Belluna, by following the left bank of the Piave, we will find Lentiai, Mel, Trichiana, Limana and Ponte nelle Alpi, villages typical of the region where we may study important evidence of an illustrious past; on the right bank of the Piave, we will come upon Sedico and its marvelous Venetian villas, Sospirolo with its 12th century Certosa di Vedana. And stops at the Castello di Zumelle, the Roman miltary road Claudia Augusta Attinate, and the medieval town of Cesana will provide us with echoes of the battles.