Description of the itinerary

Posted in Geological itinerary of San Lucano Valley

Because of its length of approximately 30 km, as well as its overall difference in level of over 1500 meters uphill, it would be advisable to divide the itinerary into several different legs to be covered over several days rather than trying to tackle it in a single day on foot.

The part of the route that runs along the valley axis can be crossed either on foot, by bicycle, or by car. If you intend to visit only the upper part, it is advisable to start from Col di Prà, where you can leave your car in the large parking lot.

The itinerary described can be divided into several sections according to the needs and expectations of the user; 4 themes are proposed:

  • Water Trail
  • Earth Trail
  • Fire Trail
  • Air Trail

2 - The Fishponds

Posted in Geological itinerary of San Lucano Valley

The Fishponds (715 m a.s.l.): The Peschiere pond, stadial moraine banks

The Fishponds are fed by spring waters and are nestled in a tiny basin within a larger morainic structure which was developed after the retreat of the Würmian glaciers. The pond was recently demolished by the storm Vaia. During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) approximately 20000 years ago, the glaciers spread over the entire Dolomite region and reached an altitude of more than 1500 metres in the Agordo Basin. Generally speaking, deglaciation was a rapid process, interspersed with periods of either deceleration, or mild progressions, known as late glacial stages. Various frontal morainic banks originating from the oldest of these stages (known as Bühl according to the old geomorphological nomenclature) can be distinguished in the area between Le Pescherie and Le Torre. These morainic banks were formed by the glacier originating from the San Lucano Valley during its retreat through the valley’s interior.

The Peschiere pond (before the storm Vaia)Il laghetto delle Peschiere (before the storm Vaia)

3 - San Lucano: The Borai

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3 San Lucano (752 m a.s.l.): The "Borai" and the importance of faults in outlining the landscape of the San Lucano Valley.

The church of San Lucano is located at the foot of the Boral di San Lucano from which it is protected from landslides and avalanches by a distinctive stone structure.

The church is dedicated to the alleged Bishop of Sabiona, the "Apostle of the Dolomites", who apparently carried out his pastoral duties in this valley between 430 and 440 AD.

The first historical evidence dating back to the fourteenth century speaks of a small oratory; there is mention of a small church with a single nave and two altars in the archives from the sixteenth century. The church was rebuilt and consecrated in 1835 after having been destroyed by an avalanche. It was damaged again during the flood of 1966 because of its proximity to the riverbed of the stream Tegnàs which swept away part of its artistic heritage. Some of the artworks have been saved, the one worth mentioning being a canvas from the 17th century whose authorship is attributed to Francesco Frigimelica "Il Vecchio"; the painting depicts a Madonna with Child together with St. Lucan and the Blessed Vaza in front. Vaza's humble peasant attire reflects women's apparel from the 17th century in Agordo and thus represents an important historical record. 

OPENALP LINK: Church of San Lucano (italian)

Church of San Lucano with Boral di San Lucano in the background (photo DG).Church of San Lucano with Boral di San Lucano in the background (photo DG).

4- Mezzavalle

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4 Mezzavalle (776 m a.s.l.): The deepest part of the valley

At an altitude of 776 metres above sea level, Mezzavalle is situated at the bottom of the narrowest and deepest glacial valley on the planet, almost 2100 metres lower than Mount Agnèr (2872 m). Recognised as the greatest U-shaped valley, it descends from Mount Agnèr right to the valley’s floor, only to rise up again to the top of the Terza Pala di San Lucano.

There exist bigger glacial valleys all over the world but because of their width, the U-shape, so typical for the glacial valleys, is almost unrecognisable; there are even narrower valleys, however, too small and less deep.

Seismic surveys conducted in the area using ultrasound to help scientists better understand the deeper structure of the Earth, have allowed us to rebuild the development of the rocky substrate buried underneath. The results reveal that the rock is located 200 metres deeper than the ground level, meaning that the U-shape is even more profound than previously thought.

Part of the San Lucano Valley passing through Mezzavalle (775 m asl) between Terza Pala (2354 metres above sea level) and Mount Agnèr (2872 metres above sea level) through “el Cor” in Pale del Balcon (photo DG). Part of the San Lucano Valley passing through Mezzavalle (775 m asl) between Terza Pala (2354 metres above sea level) and Mount Agnèr (2872 metres above sea level) through “el Cor” in Pale del Balcon (photo DG).

5 - The "Calchera" - The Limekiln

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5 The “Calchera” (800 m a.s.l.)

How lime was made

Limekilns once played a significant role in local construction and constituted an important source of revenue for the inhabitants of the valley, as the materials involved were easily found on site. The stones necessary for the production of lime were skilfully extracted either from the landslide debris that surrounded the foot of the “Pale” walls or along the Tegnàs riverbed. Bundles of broadleaf branches (beech, hazel, ash and hornbeam) were used as fuel; some of it was leftovers from firewood, or from the charcoal kilns.

Calchera, or lime kiln, built with dolomite ashlars.Calchera, or lime kiln, built with dolomite ashlars.

6- The Cozzolino Trail

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6 The Cozzolino Trail (approximately 900 m a.s.l.) - A key to understanding the geological structure of the Dolomites

The view from this spot enables us to grasp the geometric parameters between several formations, namely the Contrin carbonate platform of the Anisian together with its adjacent Morbiac Limestone with its typical lagoon environment, and the Ladinian escarpment from the Schlern Formation which protrudes on the attached marine basin in the Livinallongo Formation.

Panorama towards the Quarta and Terza Pala di San Lucano with indication of the geological-stratigraphic situation (photo DG).Panorama towards the Quarta and Terza Pala di San Lucano with indication of the geological-stratigraphic situation (photo DG).

7 - The landslide of Prà and Lagunàz

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7 The landslide of Prà and Lagunàz (812 m a.s.l.) - The chronicle of a death foretold

This is how Ottone Brentari described this location in his “Guida Storico-Alpina di Belluno – Feltre – Primiero – Agordo – Zoldo”  from 1887:

“Lagunàz is a delightful bundle of half a dozen cabins on the banks of the stream; it is surrounded by meadows with scattered cherry trees and huddles right under the imposing crack inside the walls of the Pale. The road finishes at Prà and represents a row of houses under the rock. The fields and the meadows that grow corn, beans, rye and potatoes have been ruined for the most part by the flood of 1882. There is a tiny church with a room attached that is used as a school. The village pub serves wine and brandy."

The picture painted in our mind's eye is completely different from the situation now largely because of two occurrences. The most important event is certainly the landslide that fell in the night between the 2nd and the 3rd of December 1908 from Quarta Pala di San Lucano and to be more precise, from Pizet at an altitude of approximately 2100 metres. The rocky mass plunged 1300 metres into the valley floor and swept away the hamlets. The second and more subtle phenomenon is the exodus from the mountain and the abandonment of the subsistence agriculture practiced in the Dolomite valleys.

The landslide of Prà and Lagunàz is characterised by a special and poignant history. Several Viennese geologists studied the Pala-Group of San Lucano in the mid-1800s, when Agordino was still part of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia; they identified an open fissure that ran parallel to the slope, which at the time was represented as Cime di Ambrosogn on the maps (now PIzet).

The inhabitants of the valley were forewarned about the imminent danger and the authorities ordered their relocation to Listolade, near Roch de Buos, at the foot of Mount Framont. The villagers decided against the move, however, especially when, on May 11, 1865, a landslide from Lastia del Framont collapsed in the vicinity of the very spot chosen as their new home, causing two victims.

With the arrival of the Kingdom of Italy with its “usual geological sensibility”, with which our ruling class was distinguished, the potential danger of a landslide was forgotten and the inhabitants of the valley continued with their daily lives until that tragic night, when part of the overhanging pillar of Pizzet detached suddenly; the pillar appeared to be solid and was composed of Schlern Dolomite - in reality it was crisscrossed by faults and fractures. A rocky mass of approx. 200000 cubic metres collapsed and hit the rocky ridge situated to the east of Van del Pez; it then split in two parts and the shattered material plummeted towards the two hamlets, causing 28 victims.

Back cover of Domenica del Corriere, 13-20 December, 1908 where the tragedy of Prà and Lagunàz was depicted by Achille Beltrame in watercolour (Umberto Repetti collection).Back cover of Domenica del Corriere, 13-20 December, 1908 where the tragedy of Prà and Lagunàz was depicted by Achille Beltrame in watercolour (Umberto Repetti collection).

8 - Col di Prà

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 8 Col di Prà (843 m a.s.l.) - The North Edge of Agnèr

"... the grandiose architecture of the Dolomites surges with terrible force - looking form the bottom of the valley, one has to twist one's head upwards in order to take it all in. Monte Agnèr looms with its peak of a kilometre and a half; in front and beyond the more modest but by no means less charming stream are the walls of Pale di San Lucano. Less than 2900 metres high, the peak itself doesn't amount to much in terms of height. But what other Alpine cathedral can boast such apse? When it blazes in the setting sun and the pale clouds begin to engulf it slowly, one is charmed into believing that such sight could not possibly exist."

Dino Buzzati, Cordata di tre (A Roped Team of Three), in “Corriere della Sera”, June 23, 1956.

9 - The springs in Angheraz

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9. The springs of Tegnàs (approximately 1000 m a.s.l.)

After a short stretch of preserved road we reach the water intake structure collecting water from spring Polver - a water flow springing at the base of a detrital escarpment locally covered with fine-grained glacial deposits (hence the name Polver - Italian for dust).

Val d'Angheràz from the spring i Polver. Upfront is Tegnàs's riverbed dotted with clear dolomite boulders (photo DG).Val d'Angheràz from the spring i Polver. Upfront is Tegnàs's riverbed dotted with clear dolomite boulders (photo DG).

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