When mountaineers say the wall of walls, this is what they mean. The north-west face of Monte Civetta stretches for over four kilometres between Cima Su Alto and Torre Coldai, and at its highest point, below the summit at 3,220 metres, it exceeds 1,200 metres of vertical development. It is a continuous, dark, severe rampart that dominates the Val di Zoldo and the Val Fiorentina, and which from below — especially when the sunset sets it alight — conveys the full grandeur of the Belluno Dolomites. It has earned a second nickname: the kingdom of the sixth grade.
Its fame was forged in 1925, when Emil Solleder and Gustav Lettenbauer pioneered a route considered the first sixth-grade ascent in the Alps, raising the bar for what was thought possible. Fortunately, you do not need to be a climber to appreciate it: at the foot of the face runs the Alta Via 1, the long-distance route that crosses the Dolomites from Dobbiaco to Belluno, which brushes past Lake Coldai right here. Trails and huts in the Val di Zoldo offer accessible viewpoints for anyone who wants to stop, look upward, and understand what vertical truly means.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Civetta called the wall of walls?
Because of the exceptional extent — over four kilometres — and the height of nearly 1,200 metres of its north-west face, one of the most imposing in the Alps and a landmark in climbing history, also known as the kingdom of the sixth grade.
Can you admire the face without being a mountaineer?
Yes. Along the trails of the Val di Zoldo and the stages of the Alta Via 1, which pass at the foot of the wall near Lake Coldai, there are many panoramic viewpoints accessible to any hiker.