Discover what to do in Santo Stefano di Cadore in Province of Belluno: the Fiera dei Santi, the Cialdon bivouac, Monte Col. Want to know more? First of all…
Where is Santo Stefano di Cadore?
The municipality of Santo Stefano di Cadore borders north with Ost Tirol and Carinzia, south with Vigo di Cadore, east with Forni Avoltri and Sappada, and west with San Nicolò di Comelico, Danta di Cadore and Auronzo di Cadore.
The Fiera dei Santi
In the municipality of Santo Stefano di Cadore, the Fiera dei Santi takes place every year on November 2 and 3. For the occasion, whose oldest records date back to the mid-13th century, the historic center of Comelico comes alive with a lively market exhibition that promotes local craftsmanship and food and wine specialties from the area.
Born 768 years ago as a fair for the trade of livestock, agricultural products and tools linked to local production activities, this historic medieval celebration is a meeting point for the cultures of Cadore, Comelico and Pusteria, as well as an opportunity to spend cheerful, carefree moments in good company, enjoying a glass of wine or a mug of beer next to the crackling fire where chestnuts are cooked.
If you’re wondering what to do in Santo Stefano di Cadore, the Fiera dei Santi is an event not to be missed to spend the autumn season enjoying live music and local specialties in the setting of a welcoming town nestled in the heart of the Dolomites of Comelico.
For more information about this traditional popular event, you can visit the Facebook page Fiera dei Santi.
Excursion in Santo Stefano di Cadore: the Cialdon bivouac and Monte Col
The starting point of the excursion is the parking area near the Monaco Sport Hotel Ristorante “La Žìria” in Via Lungo Piave, 60. Take trail 330 toward Monte Col and Val Grande. The route has a fairly demanding gradient, suitable for trained hikers.
The path leads into a conifer forest that shades a small moss-covered spring; once there, we will have to tackle the final one hundred and fifty meters of elevation gain to reach the Bivacco Cialdon.
Harmoniously set on a bright grassy expanse framed by firs and larches, this welcoming alpine shelter includes a table with five seats, two beds, one of them a bunk bed, a wood-burning stove and a cupboard. A wooden ladder leads to the loft, where there are more mattresses. On the beam, the inscription “REGOLA DE SASTEFI 1996” is carved. A mirror hangs on the wall opposite the entrance. As stated in a notice inside the bivouac: “If you love the mountains, you must leave this shelter clean and tidy”.
If you’re wondering what to do in Santo Stefano di Cadore, Bivacco Cialdon is an ideal destination for those who want to immerse themselves in a fairy-tale atmosphere suspended in time, where peace and deep silence reign. On clear nights, it is easy to be enchanted by the bright starry vault that towers over the peaks of Comelico.
Monte Col
Once the stop at the bivouac is over, continue toward Monte Col at 2,079 meters a.s.l. The ascent is steep, but the effort of the excursion is rewarded by the breathtaking views that can be admired from the hill’s privileged position. Looking north, one is struck by the sight of Monte Schiaron and Cima Vallona, on the border with Austria. To the northwest, the peaks of the Eastern Dolomites stand out solemnly, dominated by Croda dei Toni, while to the south the majestic rocky mass of Monte Brentoni rises imposing.
