All the roads of Belluno seem to lead to Piazza Duomo, square in which to find the city's most important buildings: Palazzo dei Giuristi, Palazzo dei Rettori, the Torre Civica and the Cathedral of San Martino. Having explored all of these, visitors should be sure to take a look at Belluno's Piazza del Mercato, Piazza dei Martiri and the Gothic Church of Santo Stefano before heading to the nearby National Park of the Belluno Dolomites.
The town of Mas, lying in the narrow valley between the Monti del Sole and Schiera mountain ranges, is the first town we meet. Near to Mas, there is the 15th century Charthouse of Vedana, now a convent. As we travel onwards, the two hundred or so villas scattered across the mountain landscape indicate that we are between Pedavena and Feltre. From here, proceeding in the direction of Lake Mis, we arrive at the Cadini del Breton, where to observe the spectacular rock formations known as the Marmitte dei Giganti. Another of mother nature's marvellous creations, the Soffia waterfalls owe their name to the bursts of cold air regularly emitted from the rock face.
Agordo, like Belluno, boasts a stunning central piazza around which fascinating edifices such as the Palazzo Crotta-Manzoni can be seen. Not far from Agordo we find the interesting mining village of Val Imperina, which has obtained UNESCO world heritage status. From here we move towards the San Lucano Valley where to admire the Inferno waterfalls. The 19th century sculptor Augusto Murer's museum-studio is just one good reason to visit the town of Falcade.
We make our next stop at Alleghe, from where to commence a journey, first by cable car and then by chairlift, so as to arrive at Col dei Baldi and a breathtaking view of the Civetta and Pelmo mountains. Another trip by cableway takes visitors from Malga Ciapela to the summit of the Marmolada.
Nestling amidst the Civetta and Pelmo mountains, the Zoldo valley is home to the river Maè, the 15th century Church of San Floriano and Lake Pontesei. Just a few steps away from the Cibiana mountain pass, lies the attractive little town of Fornesighe, known for its Museum dedicated to the ancient craft of in-laying. The hike to the summit of Mount Rita is an absolute must, as is the visit to Cibiana, where to admire the many impressive wall murals which recount the history of the town.
Via the Staulanza pass, we enter the Fiorentina Valley and the Mount Pelmo Nature Reserve. From here we proceed to Colle di Santa Lucia and Arabba, from where to board the cableway to Porta Vescovo and the Marmolada glacier.
The elegant Cortina d'Ampezzo, is a true paradise for shopaholics, its streets lined with luxurious boutiques and designer shops. In addition, the town is home to any number of beautiful old buildings, such as the Baroque Church of Saints Filippo and Giacomo and the houses in the wonderfully conserved 18th century district of Col. From Cortina d'Ampezzo, we travel on and upwards via the Tre Croci pass to Lake Misurina and the Auronzo refuge, where to admire the Tre Cime di Lavardeo. Our journey draws to a close at Pieve di Cadore, birth town of Tiziano Vecellio, better known as Titian.
