Selva Di Cadore
Selva di Cadore is a mountain municipality in the heart of the Belluno Dolomites, lying in the Val Fiorentina, beneath the gaze of...
Updated 12 July 2026
The story
The story of Selva Di Cadore
Civetta and Pelmo, two Dolomite giants
Selva di Cadore enjoys a privileged position, nestled between two of the most iconic mountains of the Dolomites. Monte Civetta, with its northwest face rising over a thousand metres, is one of the symbols of Dolomite mountaineering, while Monte Pelmo, called by locals the caregon del Padreterno for its throne-like shape, dominates the Val Fiorentina with its unmistakable outline. Both are part of the UNESCO Dolomites site and offer hiking routes of varying difficulty, from easier paths to mountain huts to via ferrata routes for more experienced hikers, with panoramas that stretch across the whole Cadore area.
The Mondeval Man, a discovery of European importance
In 1987, on the Mondeval de Sora plateau, at over 2,100 metres above sea level within the territory of Selva di Cadore, the burial of a hunter who lived around seven thousand years ago was discovered, accompanied by a rich funerary kit of flint, bone and shells. The discovery, known as the Mondeval Man, is considered one of the most important testimonies of the alpine European Mesolithic for its state of preservation and the quantity of associated finds. The remains and grave goods are now kept and displayed at the Museo Civico Vittorino Cazzetta, in the centre of Selva di Cadore, which presents them alongside an extensive section devoted to the fossils and geology of the Dolomites.
Skiing and winter sports with Ski Civetta
In winter, Selva di Cadore is part of the Ski Civetta area, one of the largest ski resorts in the Dolomites, linked to the lift systems of Alleghe, Zoldo and Palafavera. The slopes descending toward the Val Fiorentina offer a quieter alternative to the area's busier resorts, while still providing access to a broad and varied ski area suited to both experienced skiers and families. Besides alpine skiing, the area is also good for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on trails winding through the woods at the foot of the Pelmo, in a less crowded but equally scenic setting.
The Val Fiorentina and mountain hamlets
The municipality of Selva di Cadore includes several hamlets scattered across the Val Fiorentina, including Santa Fosca and Pescul, small mountain settlements characterised by traditional alpine architecture, with wood and stone houses, barns and small churches. It is a territory that still lives on pastoral farming and forest-related activities, alongside seasonal tourism, and retains an authentic atmosphere far from the mass tourism of the better-known Dolomite valleys. Walking among the hamlets, with mountain huts dotting the slopes, reveals the more genuine face of the Belluno mountains.
Summer hikes and the UNESCO Dolomites
In summer the Val Fiorentina becomes a starting point for hikes of every level, from trails reaching the mountain huts at the foot of Civetta and Pelmo, to easier walks among pastures and plateaus such as Mondeval, where the archaeological discovery is intertwined with a high-altitude landscape of rare beauty. The area is part of the UNESCO Dolomites system, recognised as a World Heritage Site for the geological and scenic value of its rock walls. Anyone seeking real mountains, silence and wide panoramas, without the crowds of some more famous valleys, will find in Selva di Cadore one of the most genuine bases from which to explore them.
Experiences not to miss
- Visita al Museo Civico Vittorino Cazzetta e ai reperti dell'Uomo di Mondeval
- Visit the Museo Civico Vittorino Cazzetta and the Mondeval Man finds
To see
What to see in Selva Di Cadore
Routes · Trovido Route
