San Martino di Castrozza

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

First taste of snow in the Dolomites Mountains

The frozen Welsperg lake, and horse sleigh ride (with added wheels!)

No so much snow in Italy so far, nothing here in Feltre, but a little further up the Dolomites, here we are in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, a Tonadico (lovely and quiet) near Fiera di Primiero (busier and more touristic). 

Just enough snow for a snow ball fight!

Photos by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Hiking in the Dolomites

I am still in the North of Veneto, in the National Park of the Dolomiti Bellunesi, recentely a Unesco site. I came here before, this is a great hike, and I wanted to return with my family now that my children are good walkers.

From the city of Feltre we took a bus to Passo Croce D'Aune (20 minutes) and then walked up towards the refuge Giorgio Dal Piaz, 1993 m.



A third of all of Italian flora can be found in these mountains, many species endemic, and the orchids alone count 49 species, some with a strong scent of vanilla, like this one.

In summer many cows are taken up here to eat Alpine grass and all these precious flowers. They live in manghe, summer stations, where they are milked, and cheese from raw milk is made on site.

The views are spectacular, and the path not too difficult.

There is a metal road, but many paths cut through it and, although steep, they greatly shorten the ascent.

Finally we reach the refuge, after 3 hours walk.

Waiting for us there is a warm fireplace, and cold local beer, Birra Dolomiti, made by Birreria Pedavena.

Also Anna Mainardi, who looks after the refuge, is famous for her wonderful cakes!

A good rest and then dinner, fresh tagliatelle with mushrooms,

and then polenta with grilled local cheese

We sleep confortably in bunk beds, and the morning after we have breakfast, with cakes, and bread with butter from the malga (alpine dairy) which is 1 km away.

Here is Anna (left) and her team.

Another walk up hill toward mount Pavione

and more precious flowers like the Cortusa matthioli (above)

and, of course, the sweet Edelweiss.

Finally we turn back, and on the way we eat many wild strawberries. So delicious and fragrant...

Back in Feltre I am still dreaming about mountain berries...

luckily I can still get many in the markes and shops here. These are local, all from within the National Park. I love mountain food!

For more info about the Dolomiti Bellunesi National park click here and here

Rifugio Giorgio Dal Piaz

1993 Vette Feltrine

Contact Anna Mainardi

+39 348 2208808 - +39 0439 9065

info@rifugiodalpiaz.it

www.rifugiodalpiaz.it