Lorenzago di Cadore
Lorenzago di Cadore: Discovering the Venetian Municipality
The Town
If you're looking for a small, tranquil and relaxing town for your next holiday, Lorenzago di Cadore may be the perfect choice. With its 570 inhabitants, Lorenzago is one of the twenty-two municipalities that make up the Magnifica Comunità di Cadore, located on the left bank of the Piave river, at an altitude of 883 metres above sea level. Along the State Road 52, which connects Cadore to Carnia through the Mauria Pass, Lorenzago is also a provincial and regional border area.
The town is not divided into fractions but has two distinct urban settings: a dense and compact one consisting of two historic hamlets and a more contemporary one that extends to places such as Monteona, Dera, Piate, and Rivadó. The two historic hamlets are connected by the state road 52 that crosses the entire town. From Piazza Calvi, the main square of the town, the street climbs up to Cima Faureana and then passes through the plane of Viale Città di Genova, passing from the hamlet of Villagrande (Gortina) to Villapiccola (Vila). The road begins to climb again up to the Ramaió Bridge and proceeds, for a stretch of eight kilometres, to the Mauria Pass. The Mauria Pass and the homonymous mountain with its funnel-shaped dolines are entirely located within the territory of Lorenzago.
Physical Geography
Territory
The municipal territory has an area of 27.95 km², sloping gently (from southeast to northwest), but not uniformly and with various false plains, until reaching the course of the Piave, where the Centro Cadore Lake is formed by the barrier of the Sottocastello dam.
The territory is characterized by many smaller valleys, which are traversed by small streams, such as Romotoi, the rio dei Tofi, the Rin de la Cros tributaries of the Piova Stream, the Rio dell'Acquafredda with the sub-affluent Rio Borbe and the Ramaió tributaries of Cridola (stream). All these waters belong to the Piave basin; only the Tora Stream, which originates from Monte Toro north of the Cridola fork, belongs to the Tagliamento, whose right bank is also a tributary, as is the Stabie stream, which is a left tributary.
The border of the municipal territory is marked as the southernmost extreme line by the Cridola Ridge, the eastern and westernmost points are respectively the convergence of the Stabie-Tagliamento and the convergence of the Cridola-Piave, and the northernmost point is located approximately at the confluence of the Piave-Piova. From the fork or more precisely from the notch of the Cridola, the territory borders that of Forni di Sopra up to Stabie; from Stabie up to the Piave-Cridola confluence with that of Domegge di Cadore.
The main elevations are, in addition to Cridola (2,581 m), the Cresta del Miaron and the four peaks of 2,373 m, 2,290 m, 2,215 m and 2,156 m, the Audoi Hill (1,560 m), the Mezzarazzo Hill (1,361 m), the Cima Faureana (1,850 m) and the mountainous area of Monte Raut and Monte San Margherita.
Climate
Lorenzago di Cadore has a continental and mountain climate, with not too hot summers and very cold and snowy winters. The best months to visit the town are May, June, July, August and September, when the temperature is mild and the landscape is green and lush. During these months, you can take long walks or hikes in the mountains and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature.
History
Lorenzago di Cadore is a place rich in history and has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The ancient Romans called it Laurinum and used it as a passageway for their military expeditions. In the Middle Ages, the town was the subject of disputes among local noble families, including the Da Camino and the Dukes of Austria. In 1508, during the War of the League of Cambrai, the Serenissima Republic of Venice conquered Lorenzago and annexed it to Cadore.
In the nineteenth century, Lorenzago became a significant tourist destination. Its mineral waters were considered beneficial for health and were used to treat respiratory diseases. Over time, the town developed thanks to the construction of new houses and the opening of new commercial and tourist activities.
Things to see
Lorenzago di Cadore offers many places of interest for visitors. One of the most important monuments in the town is the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, built in the eighteenth century and enriched over the years with valuable furnishings and works of art. The church also preserves some relics of St. John the Baptist. Other places of interest are the majestic Ramaió Bridge, which crosses the Ramaió stream, and the Ethnographic Museum, where you can admire local art objects and traditions.
For nature and mountain lovers, the surrounding area offers numerous trails and paths for hiking, trekking, and climbing. Among the most beautiful mountains to visit are Monte Raut, Monte San Margherita, and Cima Faureana.
What to eat
The local cuisine is characterized by simple dishes but with an authentic taste. Among the specialties to try are casunziei (ravioli filled with potatoes and ricotta), speck (ham), malga cheese, and bread cake. The town also hosts some restaurants that offer homemade cuisine and typical dishes of the Cadorino tradition.
Conclusions
Lorenzago di Cadore is a municipality that offers one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the Veneto region. The surrounding area is rich in trails and hiking paths, majestic mountains, typical restaurants, and places of historical and cultural interest. Lorenzago di Cadore is the ideal place for those seeking tranquillity, beauty, and relaxation away from the city's chaos.
