Longarone
Longarone lies in the Valbelluna, at the mouth of the Vajont valley on the Piave river, at the edge of the Belluno Dolomites
Updated 12 July 2026 · Sources: https://www.visitlongarone.it/percorsi-di-memoria/ · https://www.dolomitiprealpi.it/chiesa-del-michelucci/ · https://www.lorenzotaccioli.it/longarone-disastro-e-gelato/ · http://sacrark.altervista.org/chiesa-di-longarone-di-michelucci/
The story
The story of Longarone
Between the Piave and the Belluno Dolomites
Longarone stands in the Valbelluna, at the point where the Vajont valley opens onto the Piave valley, surrounded by the peaks of the Belluno Dolomites. Its position, on the route towards the Cadore and Alto Adige, has historically made it a reference point for the whole valley.
The Vajont disaster
On the night of 9 October 1963, a landslide broke away from Monte Toc and fell into the Vajont dam's reservoir, causing a wave that overtopped the barrier and swept over Longarone and neighbouring villages. About 1,917 people died, 1,458 of them in the municipality of Longarone alone, which was almost entirely destroyed. It is one of the most painful chapters of twentieth-century Italian history, remembered every year with respect and reflection.
The Michelucci church, a place of memory
On the site of the destroyed old parish church, the new church of Longarone was built to a design by architect Giovanni Michelucci, conceived as a modern, multifunctional space for the community as well as a place of worship. Consecrated on 9 October 1983, on the twentieth anniversary of the tragedy, it is today one of the leading references of contemporary sacred architecture in Italy.
The memory trails
Around Longarone, trails dedicated to the memory of the Vajont have been organised, crossing the Maè valley and the landslide area, with information panels and testimonies recounting the events of 1963 and the community's long path of reconstruction.
The artisanal ice cream tradition
Longarone is also known as the city of ice cream: from the years after the Second World War, many local people emigrated across Europe, taking with them the art of artisanal gelato-making. This tradition is celebrated every year by the International Artisanal Ice Cream Fair, an event that draws industry professionals from several countries.
Experiences not to miss
- Visitare la chiesa di Michelucci e riflettere sulla sua storia
- Visit the Michelucci church and reflect on its history
To see
What to see in Longarone
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Longarone
Jobs · JobFlow
