The Cadini di Misurina (2,839 m) are part of the Eastern Dolomites and are included in the fifth group recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is located in the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore, in the province of Belluno, overlooking magnificent Lake Misurina. Their name derives from the term cadorino ciadìn (catino), or circus, deep valley, which refers to the elevated deep valleys within the group. The highest peak is the Cima Cadin di San Lucano (2,839 m), followed by Cima Eötvös (2,825 m) and Cima Cadin Nord Est (2,788 m).
To the North, the Cadini border the Three Peaks of Lavaredo and the Croda dei Rondoi, to the east the Croda dei Toni and the Gruppo del Popera, to the south the Val d'Ansiei, the Marmarole and Sorapis groups, and to the west the Lake Misurina and the Cristallo Group.
The Cadini are traveled both from the Alpine Path no. 4 which, coming from the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, passes through the Fratelli Fonda-Savio Hut and the Città di Carpi Hut, as from the equipped path Alberto Bonacossa which, starting from the southern shore of Lake Misurina, reaches the Three Peaks of Lavaredo.
The Cadini Group represents the extreme theatre that are the Dolomites: the original plan of Cadini is now deeply carved and eroded by glaciers and atmospheric agents. An incredible variety of towers, spires, pinnacles and bell towers surround the docks and gullies. This particular morphology that distinguishes them allows you to cross the group from various directions enjoying stupendous dolomitic panoramas that surrounds them. The first ascent dates back to 31 August 1896 by two Italian climbers, the brothers Giovanni and Pietro Siorpaes.
The Cadini Group
The Cadini Group is divided into two sub-groups:
Northern Cadini di Misurina
- Rimbianco branch
- Tocci branch
- Nevaio branch
- Diavolo branch
- San Lucano branch
- Croda Liscia branch
Southern Cadini di Misurina
- Neve branch
- Misurina branch
- Campoduro branch
There are 9 major passes:
- Nevaio pass, 2,620 m
- Verzi pass, 2,550 m
- Neve pass, 2,471 m
- Sabbiosa pass, 2,440 m
- Misurina pass, 2,400 m
- Cadin Deserto pass, 2,400 m
- Torre pass, 2,400 m
- Diavolo pass, 2,380 m
- Maraia pass, 2,100 m
How to get to the Cadini di Misurina
Lake Misurina is the starting point of several paths leading to the imposing peaks of Cadini of Misurina. Among these, the trail 120 which in an hour leads to the Col di Varda Hut, where continuing on the same path for about an hour you'll reach the Città di Carpi Hut, and path 115 which, through Pian degli Spiriti, ends at the Fonda Savio Hut.
