Belluno is a province in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, encompassing dramatic Dolomite mountain landscapes and picturesque valleys. The province is known for its exceptional natural beauty and outdoor recreational activities.
Browse Belluno campsites Cortina d'Ampezzo, Belluno, Italy Photo by waa towaw on UnsplashBelluno has been inhabited since Roman times and was historically part of the Venetian Republic's territories. The province developed significant cultural and commercial importance as a mountain region bridging the Veneto plain and Alpine territories.
This regional line runs up through the Piave valley from Padova via Belluno to Calalzo di Cadore, the gateway to the Dolomites. The stretch north of Belluno is genuinely scenic, tracking the Piave river with mountains closing in as you near Cadore.
The classic long-distance Dolomites traverse, running from Lago di Braies down to Belluno through the Fanes, San Vito di Cadore and Zoldo areas, with rifugi (mountain huts) spaced for overnight stops.
A tougher, higher-altitude alternative to AV1 passing through the Pale di San Martino and the Vette Feltrine before finishing near Feltre; requires more scrambling and some exposure.
A well-trodden loop around the iconic three peaks, reached from Misurina/Auronzo; crowded in summer but the views of the towers and Rifugio Locatelli are worth it.
Quieter, less commercialised trails through beech forest and high pasture south of the main Dolomite ranges, with good chances of spotting chamois and golden eagles.
A former narrow-gauge railway line converted into a gravel/asphalt greenway through tunnels and viaducts with constant mountain views; suitable for families and e-bikes.
Follows the Piave river valley, linking Belluno with towns like Feltre and Longarone; mostly flat with some road sections.
Two of the most demanding and famous Giro d'Italia climbs in the Dolomites, with steep, sustained gradients and dramatic scenery near Cortina and the Marmolada glacier.
The best-known Dolomite resort town, ringed by the Tofane, Cristallo and Pomagagnon massifs; hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and will co-host 2026, with hiking and via ferrata routes fanning out from town.
A well-preserved walled Renaissance town south of the main mountains, with a compact historic centre, city walls and a castle worth a few hours' wander.
The provincial capital's historic centre sits on a bluff above the Piave, with a Renaissance cathedral and Piazza dei Martiri offering views straight up to the Dolomiti Bellunesi.
A small alpine lake below the Cadini and Sorapiss peaks, a popular base for reaching Tre Cime di Lavaredo and for a quieter, less touristy overnight than Cortina.
A lake formed by a landslide in 1771 that dammed the Cordevole river, now backed by the Civetta massif; good for a swim, a paddle, or simply a scenic stop.
The town, rebuilt after the catastrophic 1963 Vajont disaster, sits near the dam itself; there's a sobering memorial and exhibition explaining what happened.
The province covers a huge slice of the Dolomites UNESCO area, from easy rifugio walks to classic via ferrata routes on the Tofane, Civetta and Marmolada — gear rental is easy to find in Cortina and Alleghe.
Cycle the flat, converted rail bed between Cortina and Dobbiaco/Calalzo, passing through old tunnels and across viaducts without any serious climbing.
Drive or bus to Rifugio Auronzo and walk the loop trail around the three famous limestone towers — one of the most photographed views in the Alps.
Visit the dam and the small museum in Longarone to understand the 1963 disaster, still a defining event for the whole valley.
Track down Piave DOP cheese producers and Fagiolo di Lamon growers in the Feltre area, and eat casunziei in a Cortina trattoria.
Belluno's cooking is mountain food built for cold winters: casunziei ampezzani (half-moon ravioli stuffed with beetroot or turnip, dressed in melted butter and poppy seed) are the signature dish around Cortina, while polenta — often made with local flour and paired with wild mushrooms, game or Piave DOP cheese — turns up everywhere. The Fagiolo di Lamon IGP bean, grown in the valleys near Feltre, is the base for hearty bean soups, and schiz, a fresh cow's-milk cheese, is traditionally pan-fried. Cured meats like sopressa and smoked speck are common antipasti, and in autumn look out for porcini mushrooms and chestnuts on menus. Meals tend to be simple, filling, and matched to what actually grows or grazes in the valley.
Inscribed as a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, the Dolomites span nine mountain systems across five provinces including Belluno, recognised for their dramatic pale rock towers, scree slopes and geological value.
A national park covering the southern Dolomite ranges around Feltre and Belluno, protecting beech forests, high pastures and peaks like the Schiara and Vette Feltrine, with a well-marked trail network and visitor centres in several valley towns.
A regional nature park around Cortina d'Ampezzo protecting the Fanes-Sennes-Braies plateau area on its Belluno side, with rifugi-linked trails through pine forest and karst terrain.
A historic re-enactment and contest between Feltre's medieval quarters, with flag-throwing, archery and processions in period costume, held in June.
An outdoor jazz festival held on the slopes and in venues around Cortina d'Ampezzo, typically over the New Year period (late December into January).
Cortina's Christmas markets fill the town centre with stalls, food and mulled wine through December.
