Cesiomaggiore between Dolomite Culture and Mountain Landscapes

Cesiomaggiore between Dolomite Culture and Mountain Landscapes

Cesiomaggiore can be explored through two clearly distinct travel interests: cultural history and mountain nature. The Museo Etnografico Dolomiti is dedicated to traditional crafts, domestic activities, religious practices, clothing, migration and primary activities. Its time frame extends from the 18th to the 21st century. Historical buildings and route connections provide additional access to earlier eras, while Lago della Stua and I Piani Eterni draw attention to the landscape of the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi.

Historical Traces in the Church and Villa

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore was founded in 1184 and rebuilt and extended between 1785 and 1791. It contains a baptismal font dated 1483 and later works of art. The Villa Tauro detta “delle Centenère” is one of the early examples of a Bellunese manor house from the 17th century. It contains a milestone of the Via Claudia Augusta Altinate, discovered in 1786 in the parish church of Cesio. Cesiomaggiore is home to one of the two milestones of the Via Claudia Augusta that have survived to the present day.

The Museo Etnografico Dolomiti

The Museo Etnografico Dolomiti is housed in a 19th-century country villa that formerly belonged to the Counts Avogadro degli Azzoni. The museum is surrounded by an area of more than 4 hectares comprising meadows, woodland and fields. An audio archive contains thousands of recordings featuring fairy tales, legends, songs and oral testimonies about wet nurses, migration, shepherds, alpine pasture farming, craft activities and food traditions. The material can be consulted on request.

Lago della Stua and the Nature of the National Park

Lago della Stua is an artificial lake with an easy circular trail along the shore. Rare plants can be found in the area around Lago della Stua; with a little luck, deer and mouflon can be spotted there. The lake in the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi is also a starting point for hikes at higher elevations to the Vette Feltrine and the Cimonega Group, which belong to Group 3 of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.

Hike to I Piani Eterni

I Piani Eterni are an extensive karst plateau in the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi, offering great natural diversity and opportunities to observe wildlife. The hike there begins at the former Albergo Alpino Boz in Val Canzoi near Cesiomaggiore, at an elevation of 660 metres, initially leading to Lago della Stua and then continuing along CAI Trail 802 via a forest road that is steep at first, followed by a woodland path.

Different Focuses for Your Trip

Another perspective is provided by the 655-kilometre Ciclovia Claudia Augusta. It runs from Altino in the Province of Venice to Donauwörth on the Danube in Germany. This gives you historical sites, collections and routes alongside the lake, plateau and wildlife-watching opportunities when planning your trip. When choosing accommodation for your journey, you can weigh the focus on cultural history against the natural destinations of Lago della Stua and I Piani Eterni, without reducing culture and landscape to a single experience.

More Destinations for Your Trip to Italy

Rocca Pietore, Soccher, Chies D'alpago, Santo Stefano Di Cadore, Trichiana, Pieve D'alpago, Malga Ciapela, San Vito Di Cadore

For the higher-level travel overview: Belluno.