Discover Vodo Cadore: Mountains, Trails and History

Vodo Cadore combines a distinctive Dolomite landscape with trails, churches and unusual stories from the area’s history. Vodo di Cadore lies in the valley of the Torrente Boite at an altitude of 910 metres, between the Pelmo and Antelao Dolomite massifs. This gives the village a clear setting for days when you want to combine mountain scenery, activity and cultural discoveries.

Holiday apartment in Vodo Cadore between the lake and Dolomite trails

The Lago di Vodo lies immediately below the village. The artificial reservoir was created by a dam on the Boite. The Vodo Dam is a more than 40-metre-high arch dam shaped like a quarter of a sphere, creating a distinctive architectural feature in the landscape. When choosing your location, the valley, the hydraulic structure and the high-mountain backdrop may be just as interesting as the area’s trails and cultural attractions.

The Lunga Via delle Dolomiti passes through Vodo. Along its route, it connects Calalzo di Cadore, Pieve, Valle, Vodo, Borca and San Vito di Cadore. The section passing through Vodo is completely closed to traffic, paved and has consistent, easily manageable inclines. The route follows the track of the former Ferrovia delle Dolomiti, which was built during the First World War and decommissioned in 1964. The former railway had stations or station buildings in Peaio and Vodo; the last train ran on 17 May 1964.

Vodo di Cadore is also a specific starting point for a hike to the Rifugio Venezia. From the Vodo di Cadore–Forcella De Cuze starting point, the refuge can be reached via trails 493 and 471 in approximately 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes. The Rifugio Venezia is located at Campi di Rutorto on the southeastern slopes of Pelmo, in the municipality of Vodo di Cadore. For planning your day, the approximate walking time of around 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes provides a useful guide.

Churches and stories from Vodo Cadore

The Rifugio Venezia is also part of the history of the Dolomites: it was inaugurated in 1892 as the first mountain refuge built on Italian soil in the Dolomites. The existence of a church dedicated to Saint Lucy has been documented in Vodo since the 13th century. Today’s Santa Lucia Church in Vodo is recognisable by its distinctive bell tower with a crenellated top.

Another historical date is associated with the Church of San Giovanni Battista in Vodo, which was founded on 25 June 1493. In Vinigo, today’s church was rebuilt between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. From Vinigo, the old mill can also be reached via a simple, level road. This brings together sacred architectural history and an excursion destination, representing different facets of the same local landscape.

Vodo and Peaio are also associated with Italo Marchioni. He was born in Peaio on 21 December 1868, lived from 1868 to 1954 and is regarded in Vodo as the inventor of the ice cream cone. A memorial artwork dedicated to Italo Marchioni was installed in Peaio in 2003. This gives the area’s history a personal and surprising connection to international everyday culture.

Agriculture and local traditions

The first officially established Latteria Sociale of Vodo was founded on 16 November 1881. The following day, butter, cheese and ricotta were produced there. Today, the Azienda Agricola Talamini De La Tela in Vodo offers an insight into agricultural topics: it is certified as a Fattoria Didattica and gives visitors an insight into milk production and farming practices.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Vodo Cadore, you can therefore weigh up different options for your daily programme: the traffic-free, paved route of the Lunga Via, a hike to the Rifugio Venezia, churches and local history in Vodo and Vinigo, or agricultural insights. The key factor is the focus you want to set for your trip; this does not imply any specific features, prices or availability of individual accommodations.

More places for planning your trip: Malga Ciapela, Cherz, Nevegal, Danta, Cimasappada, Villanova, Vigo di Cadore, Forno Di Zoldo

For the higher-level travel overview: Belluno.