Hotel GALENO
Auronzo di Cadore - via pause 52
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On one side delightful hotels and chalets with typical wooden balconies overflowing with pots of blooming geraniums, on the other a still wild forest and a road accessible only to bicycles and pedestrians, in the middle the lake of Santa Caterina and all around the most beautiful peaks of the Dolomites: this is how one can describe Auronzo di Cadore, one of the most popular holiday resorts in northern Italy.
Perfect for both a summer and a winter holiday, this enchanting resort lies on a valley crossed by the Ansiei river about 8 km long, easily accessible by car or public transport. The mountains in the surrounding area are some of the most popular, and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, imposing rock obelisks touching three thousand metres, stand out above them all – a breathtaking sight.
Although not as chic as the neighbouring Cortina d’Ampezzo, Auronzo has in the past been a resort of choice for popes, generals and poets; in more recent times it has become famous for hosting Lazio’s summer training camp.
Treat yourself to a VIP holiday in this wonderful mountain town. You can spend dreamy days with wonderful walks in the woods or on the high-altitude trails, relax by the lake, take a boat trip, enjoy the genuine flavours of typical mountain dishes and set off on unforgettable day trips to the other pearls of the Dolomites.
If you prefer adrenalin rushes to relaxation, don’t worry: Auronzo will satisfy you too, thanks to its mountain bike trails, black tracks, treks with challenging gradients, and climbing.
Set in an area of breathtaking beauty and steeped in historical memory, Auronzo is an unmissable destination for mountain holiday lovers of all ages.
Lots of natural beauty, a museum that helps to understand the mountain environment, and an open-air museum that tells the story of life in the trenches: these are the attractions not to be missed in Auronzo di Cadore.
The reason why so many people come to Auronzo is its lake, also known as Lake Santa Caterina.
To see this sheet of green water framed by the pastures and mountains of Cadore, so harmoniously integrated with the surrounding landscape, no one would say it is an artificial lake. Yet it is: it was created following the construction of a dam on the Ansiei river in 1932.
Along one shore of the lake stretches the town of Auronzo, while the other is still wild; the two shores are connected by a cycle-pedestrian footbridge.
The lake is swimmable and navigable; there is an equipped beach with numerous services, including pedalo rental. The paths in the area allow it to be admired from all angles.
The other reason that brings tourists to Auronzo are the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the unmistakable mountains that have become the symbol of the Dolomites: a natural attraction not to be missed.
The Auronzo hut, 30 km from the centre, is the starting point of the Three Peaks Walking Tour and of numerous hiking trails that allow you to admire these famous mountains from different points of view.
During a holiday in Auronzo, a visit to the hamlet of Misurina is a must. Misurina is about 24 km from the centre of the municipality and is often considered a separate resort. Misurina a is also famous for a beautiful lake, in this case of glacial origin, on which some of the most beautiful mountains of the Dolomites are reflected.
Misurina is the starting point of both the panoramic toll road leading to the Auronzo hut and the chairlift leading to the Col de Varda hut, from where numerous high-altitude trails depart.
Another great classic of the Dolomites is Mount Piana, located on the border between the Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions. This same border once separated the Republic of Venice from the Austrian Empire and during the First World War was the scene of a two-year battle between Italy and Austria.
Many testimonies of that long battle can still be seen today along the paths of the mountain, recovered and transformed into an open-air historical museum established between 1977 and 1981 on the initiative of an Austrian colonel.
Monte Piana falls within the territory of the Tre Cime Nature Park and is a true hiker’s paradise. From here you can enjoy a splendid view not only of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo but also of Monte Paterno, the Cadini di Misurina, Sorapiss, Cristallo, Croda Rossa and Lake Misurina.
To get to know the nature you are going to admire during your excursions in Auronzo, you can visit the Palazzo Corte Metto Museum, housed in an elegant mansion in the centre.
The old name of the museum (Museum of Flora, Fauna and Mineralogy) refers to the three original sections set up in 1951; an archaeology section and one dedicated to the mines of the Val d’Ansiei have recently been added.
For all children visiting the museum, the highlight of the collection is a reconstruction of a dinosaur.
The largest forest in Cadore, and one of the most beautiful in the Dolomites, is the Somadida Nature Reserve. There are many paths in the reserve: there is something for everyone, from easy walks to hikes lasting several hours.
Inside the reserve is also the Butterfly Garden, where you can admire beautiful specimens typical of the area.
In the hamlet of Gogna, several paths lead to an ancient thermal spa with sulphurous, magnesic and ferruginous water springs. The first written records of the Gogna spa date back to 1590, but it was probably known even earlier.
The remains visible today are two stone baths and part of the floor of an establishment built at the end of the 19th century and destroyed by a flood in the 1960s. Along the path leading to the ancient thermal baths, two spring water springs can be seen.
If this walk puts you in the mood for a spa day, you can find modern spas with swimming pools and wellness centres in the best hotels in the area.
Like all resorts in the Dolomites, Auronzo di Cadore is the ideal destination for active holidaymakers.
The mountain groups in the area (Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cadini di Misurina, Sorapiss, Croda dei Toni-Popera, Marmarole, and Monte Piani) offer numerous opportunities for outdoor sports both in summer and winter, including trekking, mountain biking, skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding.
On the lake it is possible to take canoe courses while in Auronzo and its surroundings you can also find ice-skating rinks, riding stables with riding courses and other sports facilities.
The Auronzo-Misurina ski area is part of the No. 1 ski area of the Dolomiti Superski, the largest ski area in Italy. Taken together, the two resorts of Auronzo and Misurina have 5 ski lifts (3 chairlifts and 2 ski lifts) and 12 ski slopes of various levels for a total of over 20 km; to these are added a cross-country skiing track, a skating area and a dog sledding track.
Auronzo di Cadore is one of the best Italian destinations for a mountain holiday with children: there are many services and entertainment designed for families.
Here are the most interesting children’s attractions in Auronzo.
The family-friendly attraction not to be missed in Cadore is the Fun Bob. This is an aluminium monorail that starts at an altitude of 1361 metres on Mount Agudo and descends along a 3-kilometre route full of bends and hairpin bends that will drive the kids crazy.
The single-seater bobsleighs reach speeds of up to 45 kmh and the meadows on which the monorail is mounted become ski slopes in winter. By riding the bobsleighs, children experience the same thrills as an expert skier going downhill, but without the risk of hurting themselves.
Children under the age of 8 can also go on the ride, but in this case they must be accompanied by a person at least 16 years old.
It is not only children who will have fun at the Tre Cime Adventure Park, an adventure park in an enviable position with a view of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, where young and old can experience the thrill of heights in complete safety. Spend an entire day up and down Tibetan bridges, lianas, platforms in the trees, steps and other adventurous passages in the green.
There are five courses at heights ranging from 1.5 to 14 metres with varying levels of difficulty. There is also a ground play area for children aged 3 to 5 years and a viewing platform at a height of 20 metres from where you can enjoy the best view of the Tre Cime.
A visit to one of Cadore’s educational farms is both a day of fun and an educational opportunity. In Auronzo you can find the Educational farm at the Ai Lares agritourism10, a beautiful structure immersed in the greenery of the Sant’Antonio pass, converted from a former military barracks.
During the summer months it offers a series of activities for children designed to introduce them to the dynamics of life in the mountains and the importance of respecting nature. When the workshops are over, why not treat yourself to a tasty dinner of genuine dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients?
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
The number of hotels, flats, and b&b’s in Auronzo di Cadore is large, and they are almost all mid-range or low-end structures characterised by a good quality/price ratio. This makes Auronzo one of the best choices for those seeking budget accommodation in the Dolomites.
There is no shortage of luxury hotels, including a 4-star hotel frequented by many celebrities and which for years hosted the Lazio football team’s training camp. However, if you are looking for something exclusive, perhaps a super-luxury spa hotel, consider booking a hotel in Cortina where there is a wider choice of 4- or 5-star establishments.
When looking for your hotel in Auronzo, bear in mind that this municipality comprises eleven hamlets (Cima Gogna, Cella, Villapiccola, Villagrande, Misurina, Riziò, Reane, Pause, Ligonto, Giralba): some hotels indicate the name of the hamlet as their location rather than that of the municipality.
Remember also that the town stretches lengthwise, with the hotels arranged along the valley: the distance from one end of the town to the other is about 8 km.
Auronzo di Cadore is easily reachable both by car and by public transport.
For those travelling by car from the Veneto region getting to Auronzo di Cadore is really easy: just take the A27 Venezia/Belluno motorway and follow it northwards to the end. Once off the motorway take the SS51 bis di Alemagna and the SS52 Carnica following the signs for Auronzo.
For those arriving from Trentino Alto Adige, the motorway to take is the A22 Modena/Brennero: drive south, exit at Bressanone, follow signs for Dobbiaco and then take the SS51 di Alemagna. At Carbonin-Schluderbach you will find the Cortina/Misurina junction: turn towards Misurina and continue to Auronzo.
There is no train station in Auronzo di Cadore, but the town is connected by direct buses to the Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina station, about 16 km away.
Regional trains connect this station to Venice, Padua and Belluno; depending on the timetable, those arriving from Venice or Padua may need to change at Ponte delle Alpi/Belluno. Bus timetables generally coincide with train arrivals.
Those arriving in Veneto by plane can get to Auronzo from Venice airport with just one change: just take the Cortina Express bus to Cortina d’Ampezzo and from there the Dolomiti Bus to Auronzo.
Pay attention to timetables: many buses are seasonal.
What's the weather at Auronzo di Cadore? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Auronzo di Cadore for the next few days.
Auronzo di Cadore is a municipality in the province of Belluno, located at an altitude of about 900 metres in the northern part of Veneto, not far from Cortina (30 km), Comelico (11 km) and Alta Pusteria (40/50 km).
The mountains in the area are part of the Belluno Dolomites.
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