Fodóm valley, an "enclave" into the Dolomites

Did you know that the iron used for the swords of emperor Federico Barbarossa was being mined in Belluno province? Well, yes. In Colle Santa Lucia, a small village situated between the biggest and most famous Dolomites peaks, the Holy Roman Empire was extracting the mineral for creating their hand to hand weapons. Here, in fact, there were the Fursìl mines, a group of tunnels created for take out from Mount Pore the precious “ferro agnello” (“lamb iron”), one of the finest of the world! Our tour starts exactly from here. The visit into the tunnels is headed from a local guide, which will permit you to understand the important role that this place played for everyone who owned it.

For the afternoon, we reccomend you to visit the Chizzali-Bonfadini Palace, located in the main place of Villagrande, Colle Santa Lucia. Here the ladinians have set a museum with the goal of preserving and creating awareness the influence that this heritage has in these areas.

Visiting the underlying weblinks, you will find all the information about opening periods and times.

Address: Associazione Turistica Colle Santa Lucia; Via Villagrande, 57, 32020 Colle Santa Lucia BL (partenza visita miniere) – Istitut Cultural Ladin Cesa De Jan; Via Villagrande, 54, 32020 Colle Santa Lucia BL

Suggested footholds: Colle Santa Lucia, Selva di Cadore, Caprile, Alleghe, Rocca Pietore

Useful weblinks: https://www.collesantalucia.eu/miniere-del-fursil/; https://www.istitutoladino.org/

 

If during the first day of our tour we have been “on the edge” of Fodóm valley, today we’re going to dive into it!

Andraz Castle

Your day starts in a very particular way. Between a bend and another, you come out of the woods and, like if it is trying to dominate the other giants around, appears a castle, the Andraz Castle.

Now I’m asking you to use your imagination. You are here, inside the castle, during the XIII century. What are you watching is incredible: a wall protects a tower of tens meters high. Nothing special for now, except that everything is built on an enormous rock laid down on the valley. Who are you going to meet inside the fortress? Surely, you are thinking of kings, noble people or important religious figures. Actually, nothing of this was guest of the Andraz Castle This, in fact, was the home for soldiers and slaves. The first ones were defending the Bressanone’s bishopric, because of the proximity with the Serenissima republic, while the second ones were coming back here to rest after the hard day of work to the near Fursìl mines.

Now let’s see the role of Andraz Castle. Besides being a crucial military point (it permitted to control both the northern and southern areas), it hosted also the main forge for making iron.

So, at first this place could appear small, but actually it hides a past of big military and economic relevance.

At the end of the last century, the fundamental restoration works, that lasted for 15 years and now permit to you and to all the visitors to see this wonder.

Address: Castello di Andraz; Località Castello, 7, 32020 Livinallongo del Col di Lana BL

Useful weblinks: https://www.castellodiandraz.it/

MELF, discovering the ladinian essence

We are sure that you’re thinking “Amazing trip, but where is Ladino?!” If we are right, don’t worry, because we didn’t forget it.

In the afternoon we move to Pieve, the administrative centre of Fodóm valley. In this typical mountain village, grabbed on to a steep slope, has been set the “Museo Etnografico Ladino Fodóm”, a museum totally focused on the ladino of this area. Recently restorated, it has 4 sections full of objects, everyone with a story to tell!

The sections are so organized:

• The first one is for the ladinian society. You will discover the community organization (from the single families to the entire town), the traditions and the typical houses;
• The second one is for the flora, the fauna and the geology of the area;
• The third one is for ladinian activities, so agriculture, rearing and handmade making;
• The fourth section, now closed for restoration, is dedicated to the historic facts that happened here. It goes from the Holy Roman Empire untildel Great War.

In 2024 is previewed the first re-opening after some years. It is planned from 30th of June to the 1st of September, everyday, from 15:30 to 19:00, with the possibility to have guided tours on Thursday.

Address: Pieve di Livinallongo del Col di Lana, BL, Italia

Suggested footholds: Pieve di Livinallongo del Col di Lana, Arabba, Rocca Pietore

Useful weblinks: https://www.castellodiandraz.it/it/museo-etnografico-ladino; https://www.facebook.com/MuseoLadinoFodom/