The Vatican (Il Vaticano) in San Tomaso Agordino (Dolomites)

The Vatican in San Tomaso Agordino

Historical Gem of Val Cordevole

The so-called “Vatican” (“Vaticano” in Italian) is a large historic building of the Dolomites UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site located a few steps from the square of the municipal hamlet of Celàt in the Municipality of San Tomaso Agordino, in the Province of Belluno, Veneto Region. The Vatican dates back to the early Eighteenth Century and is preserved in excellent condition and currently inhabited.

The building bears this name due to its considerable size (by the standards of historical Dolomite architecture, of course); however, it is not the official name but a popular nickname, which has since extended by custom in recent times also to historical and tourist publications.

It is a building to which other residential units were subsequently added, aggregating them to the original structure to house the new family units of the same family. Although this practice was quite common in the Dolomite areas subject to the Serenissima, few buildings have ever reached such a size, hence the current tourist interest in the building.

The Vatican is not open to the public, being currently inhabited and divided among several owners; however, the exterior can be admired by visitors without much effort. In the square of Celàt, about 100 meters from the Vatican, there are several parking spaces and the Municipality of San Tomaso Agordino has great tourist potential and a marked vocation for welcoming visitors, who are therefore more than welcome. Also a few steps from the Vatican, visitors can admire the historic Church of San Tommaso Apostolo, the experimental potato and barley farms managed by the Municipality, the imposing Monte Civetta that dominates the panorama along with the peaks of the Marmolada Group (Piz Zorlet and Cime di Pezza), the “Emigranti” Astronomical Center, and the arrival station of the fun Zip Line Civetta.

As we have often said on the blog, San Tomaso Agordino is a little-known village in the Dolomites UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site but rich in historical gems and hidden treasures, of which the Vatican is just one example. It is worth coming to this village and taking the time of at least a day to visit it thoroughly, with a nice tour of all its many hamlets located in incredible and very panoramic positions, in the heart of the Pale Mountains.

Tourist information:

Pro Loco San Tomaso Agordino
Tel. +39 0437 598390
proloco.santomasoagordino@gmail.com

Go to: Historical Attractions in Agordino

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