Val di Zoldo: skiing and hiking on the Civetta and Pelmo

In the heart of the Zoldo Dolomites, between Mount Pelmo and Mount Civetta, lies the municipality of Val di Zoldo, which, with its 2,731 inhabitants, is one of the main gateways to the Ski Civetta ski area. Created from the union of the municipalities of Forno di Zoldo and Zoldo Alto, the municipality covers the upper part of Val di Zoldo, which descends from Passo Staulanza (1,773 m above sea level) and is crossed by the Maè stream and its tributaries, such as the Moiazza, Ru Sec, Mareson and Pramper. Fusine is the municipal seat.

The Val di Zoldo municipality has the following hamlets: Arsiera, Astragal, Bragarezza, Brusadaz, Calchera, Campo, Casal, Cella, Cercenà, Chiesa, Ciamber, Coi, Col, Colcerver, Cordelle, Cornigian, Costa, Dont, Dozza, Foppa, Fornesighe, Forno, Fusine, Gavaz, Iral, Mareson, Molin, Pecol, Pianaz, Pieve, Pra, Pradel, Pralongo, Rutorbol, Sommariva, Soramaè, Sotto le Rive, Sottorogno and Villa. Among these, Forno di Zoldo, Pecol and Fornesighe deserve a mention.

Forno di Zoldo

The first town one encounters going up Val di Zoldo is Forno di Zoldo, together with its hamlets (Astragal, Bragarezza, Calchera, Campo, Casal, Cella, Col, Dozza, Pieve, Pra, Sommariva and Sotto le Rive).

Forno di Zoldo, surrounded by imposing Dolomite peaks such as Civetta and Pelmo, lies along the torrent Maè and is characterized by many tabià- typical cattlesheds with haylofts - witnessing the importance of rural culture in the history of the village: some of them where built in the 17th century. Anyway, the major activity in the area was iron manufacturing. In fact there were many furnaces in the area and this activity gave the village its name (Forno = furnace). The importance of iron manufacturing reached its peak under the Republic of Venice, which used the nails produced in Forno to build its ships and wharfs.

At the end of the 19th century there was a great emigration and hawking began to develop: local people started to sell sorbets with the typical carts, used to sell the homemade Zoldo ice cream until the first ice-cream shops were created.

The history of the area can be discovered in the Iron and nail museum in Forno di Zoldo, as well as in the old Iron route, a car itinerary connecting the castle Castello di Andraz near Colle Santa Lucia with Pralongo, one of Forno's hamlets, featuring a perfectly preserved fusinela (small forge).

Nowadays Forno di Zoldo is a modern tourist center with many hotels and free-time opportunities, both in winter and in summer. It is appreciated by mountaineers and climbers wanting to reach the important vie ferrate of the Civetta, but also by those longing for beautiful quiet walks in a wild nature. There are many paths reaching the surrounding alpine refuges and valleys, such as rifugio Bosconero and rifugio Casel. There is also a circular 6-days hike along the different mountain groups called anello zoldano.

In winter, Forno di Zoldo offers a cross-country trail in Pralongo, an ice arena, and it is an excellent starting point to reach the Civetta Ski area, where you can do downhill run, snowboard and ski mountaineering on Mount Pelmo.

Pecol

Nestled between Pelmo and Civetta, Pecol is the last village in the valley before the Staulanza pass and the main tourist centre of Val di Zoldo, especially in winter with the Ski Civetta ski area, which offers 80 km of breathtaking runs with illuminated slopes even at night.

For lovers of cross-country skiing, there are a number of rings near Palafavera, which wind their way through beautiful woodland scenery. The 'Pompeo Fattor' cross-country ski track in Palafavera at an altitude of 1550 includes two rings of 5 and 7.5 km of medium difficulty suitable for athletes but also for families. The track is approved for national competitions. On site there is also a ticket and information office, changing rooms with toilets and showers, ski room and the Nordic ski school. Since 2014, the Centro Fondo has also been equipped with a regulation polygon with 30 pitches for biathlon practice, the only facility in Veneto. The area also invites to skating, snowshoeing and exciting toboggan runs.

In summer, the snow gives way to green meadows and mountains that are beautiful to discover on foot, mountain bike or horseback. Pecol is the starting point for reaching Civetta, Moiazza and Pelmo, known for their climbing, mountaineering and vie ferrate. Among these, try the excursion that leads to Pelmetto, where you can admire the footprints of dinosaurs imprinted in the rock, or the Via Ferrata degli Alleghesi and that of Attilio Tissi, among the best known and most appreciated among hikers and mountaineers.

Fornesighe

One of the oldest settlements in the valley, which has preserved its architectural identity intact. The place-name indicates its origin as a locality rich in ovens and fusinèle for processing metals from the mines of the nearby Val Inferna.

The square of the Church of S. Vito houses the old social dairy, now home to the Al Piodech Zoldan Association. Inside there is a small museum housing the tools of milk processing, as well as a mask and marquetry museum.

Fornesighe is best known for its 'La Gnaga' carnival, which takes place every year on the first weekend of February, during which the winner of the Rassegna dei Volti Lignei dei carnevali di montagna (Review of Wooden Faces of Mountain Carnivals) is decreed.

Coi, Brusadaz and Costa

Located on the southern slopes of Mount Pelmo, these three villages enjoy a wonderful view of Mount Civetta.

Coi is the highest village in the entire Zoldo Valley (1494 m), rich in old houses and tabià (barns), and home to the Rizzardini house. Along the road from Coi to Maresòn are the two Rizzardini mills, dating back to before 1634 and still in operation in 1946. Also of interest is the Piva mill with its large wooden wheel, active from 1948 to the 1970s.

Descending from Coi, you come to Brusadaz, an ancient village, grouped in a hollow around the 18th-century church of S. Lorenzo.

Continuing eastwards, you come to the hamlet of Costa in a sunny position on the slopes of La Vizza.