The heart of Val di Zoldo, home of the emigrant ice cream makers and a base for Mount Pelmo and Civetta.
A short history
Forno di Zoldo sits at 848 metres, where the Maè valley widens among the woods. It is the main village of Val di Zoldo, built of stone and timber houses tucked between Pelmo and Civetta. Since 2016 it has been part of the Val di Zoldo municipality, formed by the merger with Zoldo Alto.
Its story is one of iron and ice cream. For centuries the forges worked the iron mined from the mountains, and the village name itself recalls the smelting furnaces. When the mines closed, the men of Zoldo left for Europe to sell ice cream. From here came a school of ice cream makers famous around the world, still celebrated today in the valley's museums.
Today Forno is the base for reaching the great peaks. Roads climb from here toward the Staulanza Pass and the trails at the foot of Pelmo, the mountain the old people called the Throne of the Almighty. In winter the Ski Civetta lifts link the valley to one of the widest ski areas in the Dolomites.
What to see
- The villages and ice cream museums, which tell the story of the emigrant ice cream makers among the old houses of the valley.
- Mount Pelmo, the Throne of the Almighty, which dominates the valley with its throne-like shape.
- The Staulanza Pass, the crossing between Val di Zoldo and Val Fiorentina, a starting point for the trails at the foot of Pelmo and Civetta.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Forno di Zoldo famous for ice cream?
Because generations of ice cream makers left Val di Zoldo to open shops all across Europe. The tradition is told in the valley's ice cream museums and celebrated every year with festivals devoted to the Zoldo master ice cream makers.
How do you get to Forno di Zoldo?
By car you leave the A27 at Belluno or Longarone and drive up Val di Zoldo along the Maè road. The same road leads to the Staulanza Pass, toward Selva di Cadore and Val Fiorentina.