Chies D'alpago: Alpine Trails, Nature and History

Alpine trails in the Chies d’Alpago area

Alpine trail 979 begins at Casera Pian Formosa and leads to Forcella Antander near Bivacco Toffolon, where it joins trail 928. Alpine trail 979 is classified as difficulty level E. When comparing alpine trail routes, it is best to organize the information by starting point, destination and difficulty level. This keeps the route description for trail 979 separate from those of other routes.

Alpine trail 924 in the Chies d’Alpago area leads from Casera Pal via Cimon del Cavallo to the regional border and is classified as difficulty level EE. Alpine trail 931 in the Chies d’Alpago area leads from San Martino–Degnona to Monte Teverone and is classified as difficulty level EE. The different starting points and destinations help to consider the two alpine trail routes separately.

A route to Monte Messer begins near Casera Pian Formosa and leads to Forcella Antander before reaching the summit of Monte Messer. For your preparation, the sequence of the starting area, Forcella Antander and the summit can serve as a simple orientation for the route described.

Natural history at the Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Alpago

The Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Alpago is housed in the former primary school of Chies d’Alpago. The museum’s fish exhibition includes the Sanpierolo, a fish endemic to Lago di Santa Croce. Endemic refers to a species that is naturally restricted to a specific geographical area. The Sanpierolo and Lago di Santa Croce therefore form the specific natural-history focus of this exhibition.

Santuario della Madonna della Salute

The place of worship now known as Santuario della Madonna della Salute has been documented since 1494. In 1783, Pope Pius VI granted the church a special indulgence. The church was subsequently referred to under the new title “Beata Vergine della Salute.” Thus, the historical classification of the place of worship encompasses both documentation dating from the late 15th century and a new title introduced in the 18th century.

Mountain huts and the Alpagota sheep

The now-disused mountain huts in the Malga Cate–Val Salatis area preserved the autochthonous Alpagota sheep breed from extinction. In this context, autochthonous refers to a breed originally native to a specific area. The Alpagota therefore represents a locally rooted sheep breed whose preservation was connected with the mountain huts in the Malga Cate–Val Salatis area. The fact that the mountain huts are now disused remains part of this historical classification.

Fiordilatte ice cream in Malga Illari

Fiordilatte ice cream is made in Malga Illari. People from the valley and the province come to Malga Illari to taste the ice cream.

More places for planning your trip: Salce, Cortina D'ampezzo, Castion, Falcade, Puos Dʼalpago, Pescul, Sappada and San Vito Di Cadore.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Province of Belluno.