Rivamonte Agordino: Valle Imperina and Paths Through History

Rivamonte Agordino brings together landscapes, mining history, and regional customs within a small geographical area. A central point of interest is the Centro Minerario di Valle Imperina, located in the municipality of Rivamonte Agordino and within the boundaries of the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi. Almost 60 percent of the municipality lies within this national park. When choosing your accommodation, the area therefore primarily offers access to historic sites, brief cultural discoveries, and trails through surroundings characterized by wooded slopes.

Valle Imperina and Historic Mining

At the mining center, Valle Imperina extends for about 1 kilometer along its lower valley section at an elevation of 543 meters. There, it joins the Val Cordevole at a right angle; steep, wooded slopes characterize the valley. The earliest evidence of the existence of the Centro Minerario di Valle Imperina dates from the beginning of the 15th century. If you travel to the site by car, the mining center can be reached via State Road No. 203 Agordina. Parking is available at Le Campe, after which a footbridge leads across the Torrente Cordevole.

The area around I Castei also points to the past. The Fortino dei Castei is one of two surviving structures in the area associated with warfare in the past. The themed trail “La via degli Ospizi” also runs through the I Castei area. A recently fully restored historic lime kiln is located in Forcella Franche.

Museums and Traditional Customs

The Museo Etnografico dei Seggiolai “I Careghete” is located in the former primary school complex on Via Tos. The exhibition showcases chairmakers’ tools, raw and finished materials, and the traditional clothing of the careghete. It also provides information about emigration from the Agordino area and the chairmakers’ secret language. The museum complements the sites of Valle Imperina with an insight into crafts, working life, and regional social history.

The traditional carnival masquerade “Òlt da Riva e compagnia bela” is part of the local customs. It takes place in Rivamonte Agordino on the second or third Sunday in February, depending on the date on which Carnival falls. The San Giovanni custom has been passed down as follows: On the night of June 23–24, girls wishing to marry placed their apron over the garden salad to collect dew.

Hiking Trails and Practical Orientation

“The Forgotten Mountain” is an easy circular trail with a walking time of just under two and a half hours, no particular difficulties, and signage provided by the nature park. The route runs from the Centro Minerario di Valle Imperina to the hamlet of Zenich in the municipality of Rivamonte Agordino. The longest variant reaches Forcella Franche and follows an old path used by miners from hamlets in the municipalities of Gosaldo and Rivamonte Agordino to reach their workplaces. This makes it possible to explore the same theme both through the mining site and along trails through the landscape.

The Bivacco Le Mandre has electricity from external solar panels, a wood-burning stove, basic furnishings, and four to five sleeping places upstairs. There are no water sources at the bivouac or along the approach route; water must be brought for any possible stay. For a shorter break near the town center, the Area Picnic di Rivamonte is available. The equipped rest area is located near the church of Rivamonte and the municipal sports facilities and has covered picnic tables, a covered fire pit, and a small children’s play area.

Views and Events

Directly behind the church of Rivamonte, a viewpoint offers a 360-degree view over the Conca Agordina. One sporting way to get to know the area was the approximately 8-kilometer route around Rivamonte Agordino at the 2026 edition of Riva-Ron; an additional route of approximately 1.5 kilometers was provided for the Under 16 category. The 9th edition of Riva-Ron in 2026 was a non-competitive mountain run open to everyone and held at the same time as the Sagra de Sant’Antoni, the patronal festival of Rivamonte Agordino.

For further orientation at the same level, you can also find Pian Molin-costa di Mezzo, Nevegal, Lentiai, Dosoledo, Colle Santa Lucia, San Nicolò Di Comelico, Soccher and Cesiomaggiore.

For the higher-level travel overview: Belluno.