VAL CORDEVOLE

The broader of the two valleys is the Val Cordevole, which begins just to the south of Passo Falzarego near the ancient Adraz Castle and run down past Alleghe to reach Agordo on its sunny valley floor. The Val Fiorentina-Zoldo starts instead at Selva di Cadore to the east ofthe Val Cordevole, and reaches down to join the River Piave Valley at Longarone, a town rebuilt after it was devastated in 1963 when a huge landslide caused the lake to wash over its dam and flood the whole valley.

The Val Cordevole, and Fiorentina-Zoldo are known for their peace and quiet.

Local handicrafts are very much alive here, and are based on wood carving and iron work, activities which have also left their mark on the place names such as Fusine, and Forno.

The sounds of the artisans sawing, drilling, chiselling and hammering in their workshops do not frighten the woodland animals: in fact it's not rare to spot a deer or fox that has come down to the village boundaries.

To see chamois, marmots and grouse, you should go up higher, perhaps to the small lake of Bosco Nero with the refuge of the same name. The Val Fiorentina is connected to the north by the tight bends of the beautiful and rugged Passo Giau, while to the south it joins with the Val di Zoldo and the Forcella Staulanza.

The first village on this trip is Selva di Cadore, known at the turn of the century as Selva Bellunese.

It's well worth stopping to visit the 15th century gothic church of San Lorenzo with its frescoes.

From all these places you can see the "monte Pelmo" (in these images). Near Passo Staulanza you can go to a big rock with dinosaurs prints.