Val Fiorentina (Dolomiti)

Val Fiorentina

Selva di Cadore, Colle Santa Lucia

The Val Fiorentina is one of the 7 wonderful valleys of the Agordino area in the Province of Belluno, Veneto Region, located in a central position within the context of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.

There are many versions regarding the origin of the term “Fiorentina”, some of which are very interesting and amusing: among the most accredited, “Fiorentina” refers to the mining past of the valley, more specifically to charcoal production; but we romantics at agordinodolomiti.it prefer the more emotional version, which sees the origin of the name in a beautiful noblewoman from Cadore who supposedly lived here in the fourteenth century.

The Val Fiorentina tourist brand currently denotes, in broad terms, the territory of the Municipality of Selva di Cadore and part of that of the adjacent Municipality of Colle Santa Lucia, including, for reasons of proximity and without malice, some outskirts belonging to the neighboring Cadore Municipalities of San Vito di Cadore and Borca di Cadore.

Val Fiorentina Dolomiti — Church of San Lorenzo and Monte Pelmo

Val Fiorentina | The territory

The Val Fiorentina is one of the seven valleys that make up the Agordino territory; it is defined by the course of the Fiorentina Torrent which flows into the Cordevole at the town of Caprile (Municipality of Alleghe).

The Val Fiorentina is surrounded by some of the most famous peaks of the UNESCO Dolomites: Monte Pelmo, a wonderful Dolomite peak and symbol of the valley (as well as the adjacent Val di Zoldo and the Cadore municipalities that arise around the massif), which bounds the valley from the south (the reference UNESCO Dolomites system is number 1, “Pelmo – Croda da Lago”). The Monte Civetta closes the valley to the east (UNESCO Dolomites system no. 3 Pale di San Martino), and the group of Monte Cernera, Verdal, Mondeval, and Piz del Corvo enclose it, separating it from the Mondeval Plateau (in the UNESCO Dolomites System no. 1 “Pelmo – Croda da Lago”).

Where is Val Fiorentina in the Dolomites — Position of the Val Fiorentina in the Agordino territory

The Val Fiorentina is therefore located in a wonderful natural setting straddling systems 1 and 3 of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. In the distance, the majestic Marmolada (UNESCO Dolomites System no. 2 Marmolada) and the peaks of the Northern Dolomites (UNESCO Dolomites system no. 5) dominate the horizon.

The beautiful alpine pass Passo Staulanza connects the Val Fiorentina to the locality of Palafavera in the nearby Val di Zoldo. Val Fiorentina, Val Cordevole, and Val di Zoldo surround the Ski Civetta ski area, one of the ski areas of the Dolomiti Superski consortium. The wonderful Passo Giau connects the Val Fiorentina to the renowned tourist resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Belluno province.

Val Fiorentina | Historical and Cultural Attractions

The “Vile” of Selva and the village of Colle – Beyond the beauty of the landscape, rich in UNESCO Dolomite peaks, green slopes, and pleasant watercourses, the Val Fiorentina is famous for the traces of the past it holds. The most populated center of the Val Fiorentina is Selva di Cadore, a spectacular and welcoming Agordino Municipality composed of several charming Dolomite settlements (the “vile”) lying in a sunny and pleasant position along the valley. On the northern side of the valley, the Codalonga Torrent separates Selva di Cadore from the other wonderful Agordino Municipality of the valley, namely Colle Santa Lucia.

The village of Colle Santa Lucia certainly needs no introduction, being one of the most beloved (and photographed!) settlements in the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. A truly unique place that must absolutely be visited!

Another wonderful tourist, historical, and cultural attraction of the Val Fiorentina is constituted by the aforementioned historic “vile” of Somaselva, which has been the subject of recent enhancement works.

These are ancient (and very charming) Veneto-Cadore settlements, almost intact, among which visitors have the opportunity to wander freely; mills (including the splendid Mulino dei Padre, which can be visited and is operational > for information, consult the events calendar), small churches and shrines, ancient houses, stables, and barns are clearly visible along a mapped and described route of 40 stages. A wonderful place for a half-day with the family discovering human history among the imposing Dolomite peaks, absolutely not to be missed.

To learn more, visit Somaselva (click here).

Val Fiorentina History and Culture of the Dolomites — Somaselva

The dinosaur footprints at Monte Pelmetto – Guests of the Val Fiorentina have at their disposal, in addition to a wonderful valley and a beautiful ski area, many attractions of historical and cultural interest.

For example, among those most loved by families, there are certainly the over 200 dinosaur footprints at the foot of Monte Pelmetto. The large boulder, reachable with a nice excursion, bears witness to the passage of many small dinosaurs on the shoreline many millions of years ago. A place that must absolutely be visited!

And for less athletic guests, or those with mobility difficulties, the cast of the boulder’s surface is exhibited, together with many other curiosities and finds, in the interesting Val Fiorentina Civic Museum “Vittorino Cazzetta”.

Val Fiorentina, dinosaur footprints — The rock with the dinosaur footprints at Pelmetto

Prehistoric hunters and unique landscapes – Archaeology and paleontology enthusiasts will find some of the most interesting sites and finds of the UNESCO Dolomites in Val Fiorentina.

The highlight is the remains of the so-called “Om de Mondeval“, later renamed Valmo: this is the body and burial kit of a hunter-gatherer buried 7,500 years ago in the spectacular location of Mondeval de Sora. While the body and the burial kit are exhibited in the Cazzetta Museum, the burial place of our Ancestor is a very valid excursion destination which, in addition to great archaeological interest, offers some of the most suggestive and representative landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.

A beautiful excursion from the villages of Somaselva leads guests to the Neolithic site of Mandriz, another interesting site of archaeological interest in the Val Fiorentina. This is a Neolithic shelter from which some finds have been recovered; an information panel on site explains its history exhaustively, while to deepen the subject one can participate in an excursion to the Mandriz Site organized by the Pro Loco Val Fiorentina (only in summer; consult the events calendar) and naturally visit the Val Fiorentina Civic Museum “Vittorino Cazzetta”.

Val Fiorentina archaeology — Neolithic site of Mandriz

A museum not to be missed! – In Selva di Cadore, it is possible to visit with guided tours organized by the Pro Loco Val Fiorentina (for information, consult the events calendar) the Medieval Tunnel of Solator, an ancient connecting tunnel of the manor that once stood here. An unmissable opportunity to take a dip into the Middle Ages of the Dolomites!

Everywhere, this wonderful Dolomite valley gives us precious testimonies of the past of the UNESCO Dolomites, a responsibility that the prestigious Val Fiorentina Civic Museum “Vittorino Cazzetta” has assumed for years with great dedication and excellent results. It is one of the most important museums in the UNESCO Dolomites, absolutely worth visiting.

To learn more, visit Val Fiorentina Civic Museum “Vittorino Cazzetta” (click here).

Val Fiorentina history — Val Fiorentina Civic Museum “Vittorino Cazzetta”

The most coveted Iron – At Colle Santa Lucia, the Fursil Mines can be visited, one of the most important mining centers of the UNESCO Dolomites. The area of the ancient Iron of the Lamb quarries has very recently been the subject of important enhancement and recovery works, while the management is taken care of by the Pro Loco Colle Santa Lucia and the Istitut Ladin Cultural Cesa de Jan. A visit absolutely not to be missed for both enthusiasts and simple curious people!

Val Fiorentina | Sport & Tourism

The Val Fiorentina is a Dolomite locality of primary importance, whose wealth of peaks is its first and most valid business card. A transit point for the famous Alta Via 1 of the Dolomites Braies – Belluno, the Val Fiorentina is rich in wonderful hiking trails, mountaineering resources, and incredible panoramas (think for example of the Passo Giau).

Val Fiorentina and Passo Giau — Ra Gusela, symbol of Passo Giau

The very limited human impact on the area ensures a full and intimate enjoyment of the Dolomite asset, a characteristic common to the Belluno areas of the Dolomites and their strong point. Alpine refuges, alpine dairies (malghe), huts (casere), and cabins, and trails suitable for Dolomite mountain biking complete a summer offer of primary importance.

Malga Pien de Vacia with Pelmo in the background

Sport & fun for the whole family – The Sports Areas in Santa Fosca are one of the most beloved places by families who want to spend a quiet day surrounded by greenery in a safe and fun place; photography and social media enthusiasts can indulge themselves with Passo Giau and the much-loved Lago delle Baste, the splendid historic center of Colle Santa Lucia, the alpine church of Santa Fosca, the impressive Passo Staulanza, and many other splendid Dolomite attractions.

Skiing in the heart of the Dolomites – The winter season in the valley is instead dominated by alpine skiing: the beautiful ski area of Ski Civetta (Dolomiti Superski) and the Great War Ski Tour 1915-18 attracts a dynamic and varied flow of European skiers and beyond to the valley. The ski lifts of Val Fiorentina are also usually open from June to September, easily allowing families and mountain bike lovers access to the high altitude area of the ski area effortlessly and in a few minutes.