Calalzo di Cadore
Calalzo di Cadore è un comune montano della provincia di Belluno, adagiato sulle rive del Lago di Centro Cadore, alle porte delle...
Ενημερώθηκε στις 12 Ιουλίου 2026
Η ιστορία
Η ιστορία του/της Calalzo di Cadore
History and origins
Calalzo di Cadore historically belongs to Cadore, the ancient mountain region of Belluno that for centuries maintained forms of community self-government. Like other centres in the area, its history is tied to the collective management of woods and pastures, timber processing, and trade with the Veneto plain via the Piave valley, which begins not far from here. The modern turning point came with the construction of the Dolomites railway in the early 20th century, which connected Calalzo to the national network, making the village a strategic hub for the whole of Cadore and opening the way to organised mountain tourism.
The railway and the gateway to the Dolomites
Calalzo di Cadore is the terminus of the Calalzo–Pieve di Cadore–Cortina railway line, historically extended to Dobbiaco, which for most of the 20th century was the main rail access to the heart of the Belluno Dolomites. Even today, Calalzo's station, the last point reachable by train before the higher valleys, serves as a gateway for those heading toward Pieve di Cadore, Auronzo and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, keeping intact the village's historic role as a transit hub between the plain and the high mountains.
The lake and the landscape
Lake Centro Cadore, an artificial basin formed by damming the Piave, borders Calalzo's territory, offering striking views of the surrounding mountains, with water levels varying seasonally according to hydroelectric needs. Around the village, conifer woods and the first Dolomite peaks open up, popular for undemanding hikes for those wanting to approach the mountains without immediately tackling the higher altitudes. It is a less spectacular landscape than Auronzo or Cortina, but authentic and representative of valley-floor life in Cadore.
Economy and the eyewear industry
Calalzo di Cadore has a direct link to one of Italy's best-known industrial districts: it was here, in 1934, that Guglielmo Tabacchi started the business that would become Safilo, today among the world's largest eyewear producers. This episode marks the beginning of Cadore's industrial vocation in the eyewear sector, later consolidated mainly in nearby Longarone and the Belluno area in general. Alongside industry, the local economy rests on transit tourism, small trade and services linked to the railway station and the village's strategic position.
How to get there and surroundings
Calalzo di Cadore can be reached by train from Venice and Padua via the line that ends right here, or by car along the state road that climbs the Piave valley from Belluno. From the village, roads branch out toward Pieve di Cadore, Auronzo di Cadore and, further north, Cortina d'Ampezzo, making it a convenient base for those planning a stay between the Belluno and Ampezzo Dolomites without necessarily lodging in the more expensive resort towns.
Experiences not to miss
- Walk along the shores of Lake Centro Cadore
- Visit the station, the historic terminus of the Dolomites railway
- Discover the places linked to the birth of Safilo and the eyewear industry's history
- Hike in the woods at the foot of the first Belluno Dolomites
- Use Calalzo as a base to reach Pieve di Cadore and Auronzo
Αξιοθέατα
What to see in Calalzo di Cadore
Routes · Trovido Route
