The best traffic-free bike rides around Lake del Restello

The Bacalenc are a famous group of local sculptors originally from Valmorel (a hamlet of Limana, BL). Born for the village festivals, they have transformed this village in the Belluno Prealps into a true open-air museum dedicated to local identity and the works of the writer Dino Buzzati. Their work is divided into several installations in the village: Piazza di Valmorel: Four large larch wood statues watch over the four corners of the main square. I Miracoli di Val Morel: On the facade of the former Turnaria Dairy, eleven wooden bas-reliefs inspired by the fantastic ex-votos of the same name by Dino Buzzati are displayed. Forest paths: Along the paths towards Malga Van, Malga Montegal, and Malga Canal del Gat, the group has installed over fifty sculptures depicting fairy tales, legendary figures, and ancient crafts. You can learn more about the details of these works by visiting the page dedicated to the Wooden Sculptures of Valmorel.

In the center of Valmorel, a street transformed over time into a square has become the main meeting place of the hamlet. It is the highest square in the municipality and overlooks the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, the Al Vejò Nature and Culture Center, the Locanda Valmorel, the Indian Village Museum, and the Epi-Hub of the Elserino Piol Foundation, testifying to the cultural vocation of the village. Named after the martyrs Valentino Andreani and Ruggero Fiabane, who distinguished themselves during the Resistance, the square preserves the memory of a community that paid a high price in human lives between February and March 1945. A commemorative plaque recalls their sacrifice and includes Valmorel in the "Itinerary of Memory" project. At the four corners of the square are the larch wood statues created by the group "I Bacalenc", placed at the convergence of the four roads leading to it: a choice designed to symbolically welcome those arriving at the square.

Located on the summit of Colle di Giano, the Castle of Conegliano is the historical emblem of the city and a privileged sentinel over the Venetian plain. Of the ancient medieval complex, the strategic heart of the village since the 12th century, the Bell Tower stands out today, the only surviving element along with part of the walls and the Guard Tower. Inside, the Civic Museum houses a precious collection ranging from archaeological finds to important pictorial works. From the top of the tower, the view is breathtaking: on clear days, the gaze sweeps from the rooftops of the historic center, adorned by the frescoed facades of via XX Settembre, to the crests of the Prealps and the Prosecco vineyards. Reachable via charming cobbled streets or staircases immersed in greenery, the castle is not just a monument, but a meeting place where history blends with the beauty of the Treviso landscape.

Nice little road, great for gravel bikes.

On May 25, 1964, a fire completely destroyed the first and second floors, rendering them unusable. The efforts of firefighters and artillerymen who rushed to the scene in force managed to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to the nearby building. Despite the negative opinion of the Military Engineering Corps regarding restoration work, public opinion and the Belluno CAI Section pushed for yet another reconstruction, finding valid support in Gen. Pietro Torrazzo. This recommenced under the supervision of the 6th Mountain Artillery Regiment of Belluno. The inauguration ceremony was held on August 31, 1968. The seventies still saw the race to "conquer" a spot for television antennas, both military and civilian. The most imposing one, belonging to RAI, was placed a few meters from the refuge, on the north side, and is still there today. A new period of closure and management uncertainties followed. In 1988, the COMILITER of Padua decided on its renovation, which concluded in 1992. In 1993, the State Technical Office proposed a rental fee, and on May 1, 1994, after five years, the refuge reopened under new management. In 1995, the agreement, still in force, was signed. Today, this place represents an act of gratitude for the survival of a heritage entirely belonging to Belluno.

The idea to erect the first refuge of the CAI section of Belluno was taken during the board meeting of May 20, 1898, and formalized in July 1899. Its function was to support hikers from Belluno and Treviso. The refuge was inaugurated on September 23, 1900, and dedicated to Richard Henry Budden, one of the pioneering figures of mountaineering, proponent of numerous reforestation projects to safeguard the mountain environment, and a sincere friend of the province of Belluno. The construction was built on land donated by the De’ Bertoldi family. After difficult management, also due to the debt situation, during World War I the refuge was set on fire, making it unusable as a shelter. Reconstruction began in September 1938, when a detachment of the 24th battery of the 5th Alpine Artillery Regiment encamped on Col Visentin for the initial excavation operations. It was reopened on August 15, 1946. Based on the project by architect Alfarè, the current small tower was built, adapted into a chapel-shrine for the Fallen of the 5th Mountain Division, a votive tomb that held the lighthouse donated by the Navy and contains the list of brothers fallen in Libya, on Ortigara, on the Carso, on Sabotino, those on the arid Ethiopian plains, and finally those who remained on the fields of Albania, in the Montenegrin gorges, and in the desolate immensity of the Russian steppe.

Located at an altitude of 1764 meters, Rifugio Col Visentin offers one of the widest and most evocative panoramas of the Veneto Prealps. From here, the view stretches from the Adriatic Sea to Monte Grappa, from Montello to the Dolomites, with spectacular glimpses of iconic peaks such as Pelmo, Civetta, Antelao, Cimon della Pala, Croda Rossa, and the Marmarole. On the clearest days, you can even make out the Croatian coast to the East, and to the West, the gaze extends beyond the Berici Mountains. The refuge is a reference point for summer and winter tourism in Veneto, frequented by hikers, snowshoers, cyclists, and nature lovers in every season. It offers accommodation with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is open daily from May to September and on weekends during the rest of the year. Inside the refuge, you will find the highest meteorological station in the Veneto Prealps, as well as three webcams offering real-time images of the landscape. www.rifugiocolvisentin.net

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