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At the end of the Würmian glaciation period, around 15,000 B.C., the valleys which had just been freed of ice experienced the beginning of the slow process of soil formation which led to the establishment of arboreous vegetation. Later, in the Upper Palaeolithic Period, the first hunter-gatherers came up through the valley and re-colonized the area, transforming the landscape. Where the woodland had been, stable grassland appeared, together with cultivated areas, pastureland zones, groups of dwellings and other single dwellings scattered throughout the area. The Dolomite valleys we can admire today are the result of the combined effects of the climate, glaciations on the lythology of the rock and the influence of Man. This is why the Dolomites are one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in the world; no other place is quite so diverse in terms of genesis, natural environments and history.

This ideal route through the valleys of the Belluno Dolomites starts out from the south, from the Valle di Seren [1], a microcosm of centuries-old traditions, one of the best preserved and unspoilt valleys in the Feltrino area, the gateway to the Grappa massif. Here you can observe woodland, pastureland and traditional country buildings (i fojaroi) unusual for their roofs built with beech branches. Not far from here, the Val Senaiga [2], in the municipality of Lamon, is a fine example of the powerful force of an ungenerous, difficult land, within which is concealed a series of underground caves which have preserved the remains of pre-historic animals such as the ursus spelaeus.

Leaving behind the Feltrino area, the route continues towards the Agordino area. When you reach Taibon, on your left you will find the Valle di San Lucano [3], a narrow valley between the striking rock walls of the Pale di San Lucano and Monte Agner, “twin” of the nearby Val Gares [4], at the entrance to the Val Biois. Both valleys have no exit and come to an end right at the wall of the Pale di San Martino. When you reach the Alto Agordino area, after Caprile, the Val Fiorentina [5] awaits you, the border between the Tyrolean and Veneto civilizations. Here, agriculture and tourism, the traditional and the modern seem to coexist happily. A long leap across the Giau Pass and Cortina d’Ampezzo takes you to the most romantic place in the Cadore, at the head of the Val d’Ansiei [6], where Misurina Lake is tucked away. It is worth stopping here for a wander along the path which runs around the lake and the road which leads to Antorno Lake, in the sight of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Sorapiss and the Cadini. From here, go down through the Val d’Ansiei, through Auronzo, Santo Stefano di Cadore and then Padola. Here, in the upper part of the Val Comelico, a few kilometres from the border of the Tyrol with Carinthia, you will find the Valgrande [7]: a wonderful basin which opens out amid the woodland at the foot of Monte Popera. The valley was well known as far back as the 19th century for its water, rich in sulphur, magnesium and calcium, very good for the skin, and today it is a spa area.

From Santo Stefano di Cadore, continue towards Sappada. One of the most beautiful valleys in the Dolomites is undoubtedly the Val Visdende [8], an enormous plateau with large clearings and fir and larch woods, completely unspoilt and and lovingly protected by the ancient institution of the Regole. After Sappada, on the northeastern border of the province of Belluno, you can reach the Val Sesis [9], at the head of which, on the slopes of Monte Peralba, you will find the springs of the historically famous Piave River.