Chies D'alpago: Trails, Natural History and Heritage

Chies D'alpago combines clearly designated alpine trails with natural history, religious heritage and a distinctive local specialty. This creates a destination whose character unfolds through a range of experiences: you can place the trails by their starting and end points, get to know a special fish at the Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Alpago, visit a place of worship documented since 1494, and discover Fiordilatte ice cream at Malga Illari.

Alpine trails with different destinations

Alpine trail 979 begins at Casera Pian Formosa and leads to Forcella Antander near Bivacco Toffolon. There it joins trail 928. This trail is rated difficulty level E. Its description therefore connects a specific starting point with a named pass and a documented link to another trail.

A different route is offered by alpine trail 924 in the Chies D'alpago area. It leads from Casera Pal via Cimon del Cavallo to the regional boundary and is rated difficulty level EE. Alpine trail 931, in turn, begins in the Chies D'alpago area near San Martino–Degnona and leads to Monte Teverone; it is also rated difficulty level EE.

The route to Monte Messer is also described separately: it begins near Casera Pian Formosa and leads to Forcella Antander before reaching the summit of Monte Messer. Around these trail points, you will therefore encounter more than one documented connection; however, each route should be considered according to its stated course.

Natural history in a former school

The Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Alpago is housed in the former primary school of Chies D'alpago. The site thus combines the use of a former school building with a natural history theme. The fish exhibition is particularly vivid: it features the Sanpierolo, a fish endemic to Lago di Santa Croce. The museum thereby offers a specific view of an animal species associated with this lake, without reducing the subject to a general description of the landscape.

Church history and alpine pasture culture

The place of worship now known as Santuario della Madonna della Salute has been documented in official records since 1494. Another turning point came in 1783: Pope Pius VI granted the church a special indulgence, after which it was known under the new title “Beata Vergine della Salute”. The two dates place the history of the place of worship within clear chronological stages.

The local cultural history also includes the now-disused alpine huts in the Malga Cate–Val Salatis area. They protected the indigenous Alpagota sheep breed from extinction. The connection with the alpine huts therefore points not only to their former use, but also to the preservation of a native animal breed.

A specialty from Malga Illari

Fiordilatte ice cream is made at Malga Illari. People from the valley and the province come to taste it. This distinctive feature complements the trails, museum and historic sites with a culinary connection directly linked to a named production location.

For further destination ideas, you can also discover San Nicolò Di Comelico, Pelos Di Cadore, Faller, Soverzene, Pedavena, Pieve Di Cadore, Domegge Di Cadore and Malga Ciapela: San Nicolò Di Comelico, Pelos Di Cadore, Faller, Soverzene, Pedavena, Pieve Di Cadore, Domegge Di Cadore and Malga Ciapela.

For the broader travel overview: Belluno.