past, present and future
Antico Borgo opened in 2024, offering superior accommodation in a strategic position in the heart of the Belluno Dolomites. The property, originally built in 1966, was purchased in July 2024 and lovingly and meticulously renovated from top to toe into four apartments which merge traditional alpine charm with modern comfort. It is ideal for anyone looking for a cosy, relaxing, authentic mountain experience.
Its close proximity to the Pian di Vedoia exit of the A27 motorway makes Antico Borgo the ideal starting point for visitors – even those from afar – to explore the Belluno Dolomites National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A Stone Village with a History Spanning Centuries
The ancient village of Castellavazzo, which today belongs to the municipality of Longarone, dates back to Roman times. Its name comes from Castellum Laebactium, which means ‘the fortress of the Laebactes’ which, in the past, stood in a commanding position over the Piave River.
Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Piave River, the village played a strategic role in the Middle Ages thanks to its castles and the parish church of Saints Quirico and Giulitta, which dates back to at least 1165 and is still the symbol and heart of the community.
The village is renowned for its tradition of stonemasonry. Castellavazzo stone, a locally quarried superior limestone, brought fame and fortune to the stonemasons in the village, whose work over the centuries can be found throughout the Veneto region.
This tradition is celebrated in the Museum of Stone and Stonemasons, where visitors can learn about these craftsmen and the ancient tools and techniques they used. As you wander around the village, every building and street is living testimony to this tradition: stone is everywhere, a tangible reminder of the skill and expertise that was handed down from one generation to the next.
photo: Museo della Pietra e degli Scalpellini ©
Nature and the Past
The village of Castellavazzo, situated in the Belluno Dolomites National Park, is inevitably linked to the geology of these mountains, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 for their exceptional natural beauty and scientific importance.
It is a gateway for visitors to explore its wealth of natural and cultural attractions: from the Belluno Dolomites Alta Via walking trail to the footpaths leading to Mount Civetta, the Cajada Forest, its many alpine lakes and Cadore and Comelico, which are just a few miles away.
The village still remembers the Vajont disaster of 1963 but has managed to preserve its cultural heritage and traditions. Every year the local festival ‘Sagra di Castellavazzo’, the day commemorating its patron saints Quirico and Giulitta, and events such as “Artigianarte e Celtica” celebrate its history, stone and the deep bond between man and the mountains.
The Piave log drivers have been recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, preserving the memory of how they transported timber on the river, their raft-building techniques and life in the communities who lived along the river in these valleys for centuries.
photo: Il Veses ©
