Vodo Cadore between the Dolomites, local history and old routes

Vodo di Cadore lies in the valley of the Torrente Boite at an elevation of 910 metres, between the Pelmo and Antelao Dolomite massifs. Vodo Cadore therefore offers different points of interest for planning your trip: water and mountains, historic churches, agricultural traditions and the route of a former Dolomite railway.

Landscape between lake, valley and Pelmo

Lago di Vodo lies immediately below the town. The artificial reservoir was created by a dam on the Boite. The Vodo Dam is a more than 40-metre-high arch dam shaped like a quarter of a sphere, creating a striking technical feature in the landscape.

Hiking on historic mountain trails

A particularly direct connection with the mountains leads to Rifugio Venezia. The mountain refuge is located at Campi di Rutorto on the southeastern slopes of Pelmo, in the municipality of Vodo di Cadore. It was inaugurated in 1892 as the first mountain refuge built on Italian soil in the Dolomites. From the Vodo di Cadore–Forcella De Cuze starting point, Rifugio Venezia can be reached via trails 493 and 471 in approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes.

The Lunga Via delle Dolomiti

The Lunga Via delle Dolomiti passes through Vodo. In its described sequence of routes, it connects Calalzo di Cadore, Pieve, Valle, Vodo, Borca and San Vito di Cadore. The section passing through Vodo is completely closed to traffic, paved and has steady, manageable gradients. The route follows the track of the former Ferrovia delle Dolomiti, which was built during the First World War and closed in 1964.

The history of this railway includes stations or station buildings in Peaio and Vodo. The last train ran on 17 May 1964; the Ferrovia delle Dolomiti was then closed. Those interested in the connection between landscape and transport history will therefore find in Vodo not only a present-day route, but also the course of a former railway.

Churches and regional heritage

The town's history is also reflected in several churches. The existence of a church dedicated to Saint Lucy has been documented in Vodo since the 13th century. The Church of Santa Lucia is recognisable by its distinctive bell tower with a crenellated top. The Church of San Giovanni Battista in Vodo was founded on 25 June 1493. In Vinigo, the present-day church was rebuilt between the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Another historical trace leads to Peaio. Italo Marchioni (1868–1954), regarded in Vodo as the inventor of the ice cream cone, was born in Peaio on 21 December 1868. A commemorative artwork dedicated to him was installed there in 2003. Alongside the religious buildings, local history thus also has a personal and everyday connection.

Agriculture and an old mill

The region's character also includes Vodo's first officially established Latteria Sociale. It was founded on 16 November 1881; the following day, butter, cheese and ricotta were produced there. At Azienda Agricola Talamini De La Tela, the connection between agriculture and visitor experiences continues to this day in the form of a Fattoria Didattica: it is certified as a Fattoria Didattica and gives visitors insights into milk production and agricultural practices.

The old mill can be reached from Vinigo via a simple, level road. Together with the churches, the traces of Italo Marchioni and the Latteria Sociale, this creates a multifaceted picture of the town, where mountain landscapes, history and regional production stand closely alongside one another.

Discover more destinations

If you would like to continue planning your trip beyond Vodo Cadore, you can find more destinations here: Dosoledo, Cherz, Cencenighe Agordino, Cortina D'ampezzo, Colle Santa Lucia, Quero, Garna and Cesiomaggiore.

For the higher-level travel overview: Belluno.