Cimasappada: Historic Borgata and Routes

For a trip to Cimasappada, its historic townscape and several described routes offer different points of interest. The Borgata of Cima Sappada, the Chiesa di Sant'Osvaldo and the Museo Etnografico Giuseppe Fontana form the cultural focus. The routes highlight different details depending on your destination: elevation gain and distance, an approximate duration, or a course through named valleys. You can therefore consider local history and routes as distinct focuses of your stay.

Historic Borgata and Buildings

The Chiesa di Sant'Osvaldo in Cima Sappada was built in 1732 and rebuilt on a larger scale in 1773. Its façade features a portico open on three sides. The dates distinguish the original construction from the later, larger reconstruction; together with the portico, they offer a concrete impression of the building's history and design.

The historic Borgata of Cima Sappada preserves characteristic architecture and surviving buildings, including an old dairy, a smokehouse and the Museo Giuseppe Fontana. The old Latteria Zepodar Sende is in the heart of the Borgata. Spanglar’s House is a fully preserved log house dating from the late 18th century. Cima Sappada sits in a commanding, panoramic position above the entire Sappada valley. Both individual historic buildings and the location above the valley help orient visitors on site.

The Museo Etnografico Giuseppe Fontana

The Museo Etnografico Giuseppe Fontana is located in Borgata Cima Sappada, in a former school building. Its complete tour leads from the natural environment to the identity of the community that settled and integrated there. At the end are carnival masks, including the solemn figure of the Rollate. The sequence gives the tour a clear thematic thread: from the natural landscape, through the community, to the carnival masks.

Routes by Destination and Timeframe

The route to Malga Tuglia starts in Borgata Cima Sappada and follows CAI trails 320–230. It is 9.12 kilometres long, rated T/E and takes three hours in total. Conditions and trail markings can change; check both before setting out. A different duration applies to the route from Cima Sappada to Rifugio Monte Siera: it follows CAI trail 321 and takes about one hour. Before setting out on this route, check current mountain conditions and trail status.

Sentiero n. 319 starts in Cima Sappada at an elevation of 1,291 metres and covers 1.7 kilometres with an elevation gain of 315 metres. These details put the emphasis somewhere different from the duration given for the routes to Malga Tuglia and Rifugio Monte Siera: here, the starting elevation, distance and elevation gain can be considered together. The routes also differ in their respective destinations.

The Strada delle malghe e-bike route passes through Cima Sappada, climbs via Val Sesis to the Sorgenti del Piave and then continues through Val Visdende. The sequence of named places describes the route; road and trail conditions can vary and should be checked before setting out.

A route description updated on 30 October 2021 also mentions a nature trail from Cima Sappada to Piani del Cristo. Check the current trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Alleghe, Puos Dʼalpago, San Nicolò Di Comelico, Pescul, Salce, Ponte Nelle Alpi, Caviola, Colle Santa Lucia

For the broader travel overview: Province of Belluno.