Anello di Altor

Medium-duration itinerary with a slight elevation gain, winding along the slopes of Col Melon, between Pedavena and the hamlets of Teven, Travagola, Facen, Festisei, and Altor; the route does not present particular difficulties, except for some steep sections, and can be fully traversed by bike as well.

Starting from the square of Pedavena, it leads to the discovery of unexpected scenic views and the westernmost hamlets of the municipality. From the starting point, Via S. Osvaldo is followed, leading through a narrow alley that winds between the houses, reaching the church of the same name. Here, we head left and shortly after to the right, along Via Marconi, until we encounter the first houses of Teven. The route becomes pleasant as the facades of the houses are decorated with murals, some of which depict moments of rural life.

Immediately after a curve, we leave the main road to follow a side road to the left, which climbs to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Caravaggio. This place of worship, situated at an elevated position, houses a canvas by Giovanni d’Antona and an altarpiece attributed to Francesco Frigimelica. After crossing the forecourt and the walkway leading to the church, we turn right, reaching the beautiful square of Travagola, surrounded by several murals depicting joyful scenes of children engaged in traditional games.

The narrow road that leads to the left goes to the village of Arten, along the bed of the Canalet, which stretches at the base of Monte Avena and Aurin: it is a very pleasant route to cycle.

The itinerary instead continues on the right, encountering a fork marked by a small column, where a steep road ascends to the settlement of Col. Upon reaching a fork, now in sight of Facen, we choose the middle path, which initially runs alongside a dry stone wall and then, passing between the houses of Via Mortis, arrives at the village square.

From here, we proceed to the right, until a crossroads: by descending the road for a few dozen meters, one can admire the complex of Villa Marsiai, now the headquarters of the San Francesco Community. Alternatively, taking the road that ascends to the left, we reach the parish church of Facen dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle. From the forecourt, one overlooks the village and enjoys a beautiful view of the hills that enclose the Feltrino basin to the west: Monte Avena, Aurin, and Tomatico.

The itinerary resumes along Via Palazzina, initially flat and then ascending; crossing a small valley that separates the ridge of Monte Avena from Col Melon, we arrive at a populated area; maintaining the direction, with some sections in slight descent, we reach the plateau of Festisei. In a few minutes, we arrive at a fork, where we continue to the left, slightly ascending, crossing places where a certain tranquility can still be savored.

The beautiful church of San Valentino and Santa Giuliana welcomes us in the picturesque nucleus of Altor, which also hosts a seventeenth-century villa. Only a few hundred meters separate us from the paved road that connects Pedavena to Croce d'Aune: the view over the inhabited centers of Norcen, Pedavena, and Feltre, and the surrounding mountains is spectacular.

All that remains is to follow the downhill road to the fork for Norcen and along Via Trento, at the end of which you can admire the octagonal church of Sant'Anna and a charming view of Villa Pasole-Berton.

DEEP DIVE ON... Villas and country houses in the Municipality of Pedavena

In the Belluno area, the villa has always been conceived as a permanent residence for the landowner who, holding a certain amount of land, wanted to closely follow its cultivation. The most striking example is the seventeenth-century Villa Pasòle-Berton, built by the Pasòle nobles. Expanded in the 1700s with a dramatic forked staircase and a pediment on the facade, it was purchased by the Berton family at the beginning of the 19th century. Notable is the fishpond-canal that surrounds the garden, embellished with fountains and statues. Other minor architectures can be found in the hamlets: in Facen, the Villa Marsiai, built in the late 18th century, currently houses the Community Villa S. Francesco. The Chapel, dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, was built in 1790 by the Feltrino architect Antonio De Boni (1739-1811). In Murle, there is Villa Lusa, from the early 18th century and recently restored, with only one surviving barchessa (wing of the rustic buildings). Norcen, in addition to the residence rebuilt at the end of the 19th century by Monsignor Antonio Vecellio in the Valduna area, retains in a central position the fifteenth-century Villa Norcen. Finally, in Sega, we remember Villa Crico, erected in the early years of the 19th century on a probable refurbishment of a 17th-century building.