Discover Padola

Padola combines cultural history with clearly described trails, sports activities and destinations for excursions in Comelico. Here you can visit a museum with an extensive collection, discover historic sacred buildings and traces of former economic activity, or choose Padola as the starting and finishing point for circular routes.

Culture and History in Padola

The Museo della Cultura Alpina e Ladina del Comelico displays more than 4,000 objects arranged in thematic sections. A large hall is dedicated to the First World War in Comelico. The explanatory panels in the sections are written in Italian, Ladin, English and German. This means that the collection can also be explored in German without additional context.

Padola is also home to two churches with different architectural features. The Chiesa di San Luca Evangelista was built between 1862 and 1869 according to the plans of architect Giuseppe Segusini. The Chiesa Madonna delle Grazie was built in 1859 as a hexagonal structure with an atrium, based on a design by engineer Francesco Sandi. It is opened when religious services are held. The historic side of the village also includes the Antica Cava di Tufo di Padola, where visible traces of former economic activity in the valley have been preserved.

Circular Routes, Streams and Valgrande

The Cammino degli Alti Pascoli is a circular hiking trail approximately 100 kilometres long with 5,225 metres of elevation gain. It starts in Padola and returns there. For a shorter cycling loop, the Padola – Valgrande – Padola route is classified as easy; it is 10 kilometres long and takes about one hour. The route starts at the Padola lifts, heads towards Lago di Campo along a forest track and returns to Padola via a cycle path.

Individual sections of the trails also provide a tangible experience of the landscape. The fifth stage leads level from Padola along the stream to Valgrande. It then follows Trail 171 along the Torrente Risena towards Selvapiana and to the hollow containing the Rifugio Lunelli. Valgrande lies in the immediate vicinity of Padola: it is a valley with high biodiversity, beech, larch and spruce forests, natural sulphur springs and opportunities for family walks.

Below Padola lies La Stua, an artificial dam on the Torrente Padola. It enabled the downstream rafting of timber and adds a tangible testament to the former use of the waterway to the landscape impressions. The Antica Cava di Tufo lies northwest of the village on the way to Lago di Campo. Shortly before the lake, it can be seen on the left slope, with a view towards Monte Aiarnola.

Winter Sports and Activities for Families

The Ski Area Val Comelico is part of the Dolomiti Superski ski network, with 115 kilometres of pistes and 31 lifts. On the slopes, Scuola Sci Padola offers individual and group lessons for adults and children, from beginner to advanced levels. Those who prefer cross-country skiing will find trails in the forests of Comelico. They are part of the Dolomiti Nordic Ski network, with 1,300 kilometres of pistes and a shared ski pass.

Padola is home to the Pattinaggio Kral Ladin ice rink at Via Valgrande 21. The ice-skating facilities also offer skating in the evening and on-site skate rental. At the same address, by Kral Ladin, there is also a charging station; further charging stations are located on Via Torrente Padola.

Excursion Planning

For information and reservations for the excursion to the Laghetti di Padola, the Consorzio Turistico Val Comelico Dolomiti lists the telephone numbers 0435 67021 and 0435 62230, as well as the email address dolomiti@valcomelico.it. This allows you to assess the information about this excursion specifically in advance, without confusing it with the circular routes or sports activities described for Padola.

For further searches on the portal, you can also visit Auronzo Di Cadore, Malga Ciapela, Valle Di Cadore, Masarè, Montebello, Zoldo Alto, San Pietro di Cadore and Forno Di Zoldo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Belluno.