Copertina inglese.indd

On the cover:
From the Dolomites to the Austrian Alps
On the first page:
Rock climb on the Marmolada
On the back cover:
Old Town of Feltre - Hinterground Burèl
Preface
The Dolomites “Alta Via” n.2, leads from the Eisack Valley (i.e.
from the extreme northwestern edge of the Dolomites where the
town of Brixen is situated. Brixen itself is more than one thousand
years old and is the place where German and Latin cultures merged)
to the ancient town of Feltre. Through the centuries, Feltre became
the core of Venetian culture on the border of the alpine mountains.
It is precisely here on the green hills near to the River Piave and the
Plain of Veneto that the Dolomites “Alta Via” n.2 reaches its end.
The mountain range crossed by the “Alta Via” is one of the most
famous in the Dolomites. Some peaks appear soft and inviting
while others are dignified, haughty and as sharp as the turrets of
old medieval castles. This long route is divided into 13 stages. The
Plose, Peiterkofel, Púez, Sella, Marmolada Geisler mountain groups
are good examples of the former while the Pale di San and the Alpi
Feltrine are typical of the latter, with their arching peaks.
2005© Provincial administration of Belluno
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, AGRI-TOURISM AND PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES
Communications and promotion service
Via Psaro, 21 – 32100 Belluno
www.infodolomiti.it
Edition by:
Italo Zandonella Callegher
Photo Manrico Dell’Agnola
Translation Martine B. Acoulon, Carolyne Mayne-Beeton
& Thomas Timlin from
DEIN BÜRO CLUB – Steinach in Tyrol – Austria
Graphics Evidenzia
Printed by Linea Grafica
This route offers a variety of different landscapes and geological
features. The scenery alternates between mountains made of
Dolomite rock such as the Peiterkofel, the Geisler, Sella, Pale and
Cimònega to limestone mountains such as the Marmolada. Some
regions, like the Plose, Púez, Padon, Bocche and Vette are made of
a completely different type of rock and have therefore a completely
different appearance, offering a strong and picturesque contrast to
the Dolomite mountains.
The path leads through slopes, pastures and forests across rocky
terrain. The ice masses may have shrunk significantly in the last
couple of years, but the glacier on the Marmolada remains large,
becoming a bit smaller on the Fradusta. Although today rare, it is still
possible to see hanging glaciers here and there on the San Martino.
It is however, the large plateaus make this route so special and
unique. These plateaus lie between 2000m and 2500m above sea level
and the Pale di San Martino measures around 50 km. The plateaus of
the Sella, Púez, Zingari and the Vette Feltrine are smaller.
2 FROM BRIXEN TO FELTRE THE DOLOMITES “ALTA VIA” N.2 3