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Alleghe - Via Europa 10
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Does the name Alleghe sound familiar? Well, no wonder. This enchanting town in the Belluno area at the foot of Mount Civetta (an impressive 3220 metres high) was a pioneer in the development of tourism in the Dolomites.
The first hotels in Alìe (as Alleghe is called in the local dialect) date back to the end of the 19th century and had among their guests European nobles and intellectuals eager to explore the beautiful mountains of the area and take in the fresh air on their Grand Tour.
It was also a pioneer in mountaineering: the mountains of Alleghe were the treasure to be conquered for the protagonists of the first great mountaineering exploits in history, mostly English and Austrian adventurers. Even today, there is no Italian or international sport climbing enthusiast who does not want to try the north-west face of the Civetta, so legendary as to be called ‘the wall of walls’.
And, of course, in addition to mountaineering there is skiing, and in this too Alleghe rolled up its sleeves very early on, making Ski Civetta one of the most renowned ski resorts in the Dolomiti SuperSki area.
However, you do not need to be an expert ski mountaineer or climber to experience an unforgettable mountain holiday in Alleghe.
Its lake framed by majestic mountains invites more to lazing about than to adventure, the abundant portions served by the area’s typical restaurants do not necessarily require hours and hours of walking to be enjoyed, and near the ski slopes there is always a terrace for those who prefer naps in the sun to descents.
Alleghe is the perfect destination to experience the magnificent nature of the Dolomites at 360° according to your style. Do you prefer an adrenalin-fuelled outdoor holiday, a romantic weekend for two , or a placid family holiday?
Alpine lakes, breathtaking panoramas, beautiful examples of rural architecture, villages where time has stood still: the attractions of Alleghe will introduce you to nature and life in the Dolomites.
Alleghe’s top attraction is its characteristic alpine lake with its placid emerald-green waters on which some of the most striking peaks of the Dolomites are reflected.
The origin of the lake is rather recent, dating back to 1771: in that year a landslide from Mount Piz blocked the Cordevole torrent, which then flowed through the Alleghe valley and formed a sort of natural dam. The enormous jet of water destroyed three villages (Riete, Fusine and Marin) and caused the death of about 50 people. The basin of water that descended to the valley floor gave rise to the lake that we can see today.
The best way to admire Lake Alleghe and the magnificent mountains in the area is to walk around the shores: it is an easy walk of about 2 hours on flat terrain.
The route includes stretches on asphalt, dirt road and forest path. There is no precise starting point, you can start wherever you like; along the way you will come across bars and picnic areas. Even the less energetic can therefore embark on this beautiful walk with the certainty of being able to take a regenerating break if necessary.
In summer the lake is navigable: you can rent a pedalo, take a boat ride or try your hand at kayaking. Swimming is only permitted in a small area near a beach with deck chairs and umbrellas. Another popular activity to do on Lake Alleghe is sport fishing.
In winter, the lake freezes over completely and becomes an atmospheric outdoor skating rink: it is an exciting experience, but to skate safely, always remember to follow the municipal signs.
Kennedy Square is the centre of Alleghe town life. This quaint little square is overlooked by hotels and restaurants with characteristic wooden balconies, souvenir shops and ski rentals: sooner or later all tourists on holiday in Alleghe pass through here.
The marvel of Piazza Kennedy, however, is the Church of San Biagio, a typical mountain church in Alpine-Gothic style characterised by a high pointed bell tower decorated on one wall with a fresco depicting the saint.
A beautiful alpine lake near Alleghe is Lake Coldai: it can only be reached on foot with a hike starting from Col de Bai, which takes about an hour and a half.
It is not an excursion for experts (the difference in altitude is 380 metres and the first part of the route follows a wide mule track), but there are some steep uphill stretches and in some places the ground is slippery, so care must be taken. It is also possible to do it with children, but if you have small children, bring a backpack because the path is not suitable for pushchairs.
To get to Col dei Baldi, it is advisable to take the cable car to Piani di Pezzé and from there take the chairlift to the starting point of the hike.
Before reaching the lake you will come across the Coldai hut (2132 metres), where you can enjoy a tasty lunch of typical mountain cuisine.
One of the best views of Alleghe framed by Mount Civetta can be admired from Bramezza, an abandoned village that falls within the municipality of Rocca Pietore.
In a few minutes by car from Alleghe you can reach Caracoi Agoin, another hamlet of Rocca Pietore, and from there continue on foot for about an hour. Trained hikers can visit Bramezza from Caracoi with a much longer ring-route that passes by Cima Sasso Bianco.
Whichever path takes you here, once you arrive, you will feel as if you have travelled back in time: Bramezza now appears as a ghost town, abandoned by its last inhabitants many years ago. Everything seems to have stopped at that time and the atmosphere is sometimes surreal, sometimes ghostly.
According to some historically unreliable theories, Bramezza was used as a penal colony of the Republic of the Serenissima for Turkish prisoners: this would explain some peculiarities in the houses of the village that seem to recall Turkish architecture, but these are more legends than theories.
What no one disputes about Bramezza is the incomparable view that can be enjoyed from up here.
If the spectacular view you are looking for is not Lake Alleghe but the pink-coloured Civetta, the best vantage point is the bridge over the Cordevole torrent at Caprile, a hamlet of Alleghe at 1023 metres above sea level, which you will find on your way from the centre in the direction of Passo Falzarego-Cortina. You can reach Caprile by car or with a walk of about two hours.
The best time to enjoy the view of the Civetta is before sunset when the slowly setting sun colours the mountain in delicate pink and golden hues. An unforgettable view!
From the classic tour of Lake Alleghe on foot, it is possible to make a pleasant diversions to the Masaré waterfall, a hamlet of Alleghe known as the starting point of numerous via ferrate.
The village can be reached by car or by walking along the banks of the lake; once you arrive in the centre you will find signs for the waterfall, which can be reached via a path that can be walked in about 20 minutes, passing first between the village houses and then through the forest.
Do not expect a vertiginous waterfall: it is only a small waterfall, but the walk to reach it is easy and pleasant, and you will be glad you did.
Cortina D’Ampezzo, the Queen of the Dolomites, is easily accessible from Alleghe: do you want to miss it? It is expensive and snobbish, but the unparalleled views of the mountains are free, as is a stroll down the famous Corso Italia, the hub of Cortina’s nightlife.
Plan a day trip to Cortina during your holiday in Alleghe and you can boast of having been to one of the – rightly – most famous mountain resorts in Europe.
Alleghe is a paradise for active holidaymakers in both winter and summer. Here are the most popular activities.
Alleghe is the reference point for the renowned Ski Civetta ski area, easily reached by the Alleghe-Piani di Pezzè-Col dei Baldi cableway.
The district has about 80 km of slopes of various levels (about 20 easy slopes, 17 medium level, 3 difficult ones) and more than 20 ski lifts; it is also a member of Dolomiti SuperSki, a gigantic circuit that allows access with a single ski pass to 12 different districts for a total of more than 1200 km of slopes and 450 ski lifts.
Ski Civetta is particularly popular with alpine ski enthusiasts, but there are many activities on the snow that can be done in Alleghe: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, freestyle, snowshoeing, telemark, snowmobile tours, and carving.
For expert skiers there is the Great War Ski Tour, a themed ski itinerary on the war sites of the Dolomites.
If you prefer ice to snow, Alleghe is the resort for you. The local hockey team is a legend, as is the Alvise de Toni Ice Rink8 where it trains and holds its ‘home’ competitions.
When it is not being used for competitions, training or shows, the Alleghe ice stadium is open to the public: you can therefore enjoy skating in the champions’ arena. If you are not skilled, this is a good time to learn: get help from a private teacher.
The ski lifts do not stand still long after the snow (natural or artificial) has melted: with the arrival of spring, hikers take the place vacated by skiers.
The mountains in the area offer splendid nature walks of all levels, from easy family walks to challenging high-altitude treks. These include the aforementioned Monte Civetta, Sasso Bianco, Marmolada and the Pale di San Martino. Thanks to the ski lifts in operation even in summer, it is easy to reach the starting points of the trails.
Although the quantity of trails means that anyone can find something suitable for their level of experience and physical fitness, it is necessary to choose the trail carefully. Some of the mountains in the area are characterised by steep slopes, so the relevant trails should only be tackled if you are well trained.
Alleghe is also a popular name for fans of via ferratas and climbing. Conquering the summit of Mount Civetta9 is a must for every climber, but it is also accessible via via ferrata.
If you belong to the first category, you will probably want to access it via the more classic (and more difficult) route by tackling ‘the wall of walls’. In the second case, you can access it from the Agordino side (that of Alleghe) with the Alleghesi and Tissi ferratas; you can also access it via ferrata from the opposite side in Val di Zoldo.
Last to arrive in chronological order among the things to do in Alleghe, but already very popular, mountain biking is another way to experience the beautiful landscapes of the area.
For families with children, a ride to the lake is enough to experience an exciting day on two wheels; expert riders, on the other hand, can enjoy themselves up and down mule tracks, dirt tracks, paths and single tracks.
Two difficult mtb routes that the more experienced riders cannot miss are the one that leads from the centre to Forcella Alleghe and the challenging Great War Tour by mountain bike (90 km with an elevation gain of 2687 metres!).
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Alleghe has a very long hotel tradition, which guarantees a wide choice of facilities and excellent services. There are proposals for all tastes and all budgets: family rooms for rent (simple but comfortable, they are the most economical solution), romantic alpine-style chalets, spa hotels with swimming pools, studios and b&b’s.
Flats and holiday homes are the most suitable solution for family travellers, and here too the choice of facilities in Alleghe is very wide.
In general, it is fairly easy to find good value accommodation in Alleghe, but if you are travelling in July or August, it is strongly recommended to book well in advance; this is especially true if you want a hotel by the lake: these are in fact the most popular.
If you want to save a little money, do not look for a hotel in the centre: just move to the nearby hamlets and accommodation prices will already decrease considerably.
Alleghe is in a strategic position, just a few hours’ drive from the main airports in northern Italy served by low-cost flights: two hours from Venice and Treviso airports, three from Verona and four from Bergamo-Orio al Serio. In the tourist seasons there are shuttle buses connecting the airports to Alleghe, but routes and timetables often change from one season to the next, so it is a good idea to enquire before booking your flight.
It is very convenient to get to Alleghe by car because there are several accesses. For those coming from the south, the reference motorway is the A27 Venezia-Belluno, which must be followed to the end; once off the motorway, follow the signs for Agordo-Cencenighe-Alleghe.
Arriving in Alleghe by train, on the other hand, is not possible: you will have to get off at Belluno station, about 50 km away, and from there take a bus of the Dolomiti Bus company (Agordo-Cencenighe line).
For day skiing from the lowland towns in the Veneto region, shuttle buses are usually available on Saturdays and Sundays, departing early in the morning and returning late in the afternoon. The SuperSki day pass generally also includes a return bus ticket.
What's the weather at Alleghe? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Alleghe for the next few days.
Alleghe is a municipality in the province of Belluno located in Val Cardevole (part of Agordino, a Ladin-speaking minority area) at an altitude of 979 metres above sea level. Mount Civetta separates Alleghe and the Agordino from the nearby Val di Zoldo.
Alleghe is close to other famous resorts in the Dolomites: for example Cortina d'Ampezzo is only 35 km away, Canazei 32 km, Arabba 25 km and Falcade 16 km.
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