The Pearl of Cadore, a hamlet on the shore of Lake Misurina at 1,754 metres, known for its clean air and as the gateway to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
A short history
Misurina sits at 1,754 metres, on the shore of the largest lake in Cadore, in the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore. People call it the Pearl of Cadore for the sheet of water that mirrors the Tre Cime, the Sorapiss and the Cadini. Until the mid-1800s it was just a high pasture with a few mountain huts.
Its fortune began with the air. In the late 1800s doctors found that the dry climate and the altitude helped people with asthma and respiratory illness. The first hotels and sanatoriums followed. To this day Misurina still hosts a paediatric institute for the treatment of asthma, the only one in Italy at this altitude.
In the 1900s the village became an elegant resort and a sports centre. At the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina, the frozen Lake Misurina hosted the speed skating events. From here also starts the toll road that climbs to the Auronzo hut, the easiest way into the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
The treatment of asthma has a precise name in Misurina: the Pio XII Institute. For about seventy years it welcomed asthmatic children and teenagers from all over Italy, using the dry, allergen-free air of the basin. It is housed in a building that was once the summer residence of the House of Savoy, facing the lake.
The lake has its legend too. It tells of Misurina, the spoiled daughter of King Sorapiss, and of the father's tears that formed the sheet of water. The story came back into fashion thanks to a song by Claudio Baglioni. On the table, meanwhile, the dishes of Cadore rule: casunziei filled with pumpkin or spinach, canederli dumplings, polenta and game.
How to fit Misurina into a three, five or seven day trip: The Dolomites in 3, 5 or 7 Days: How to Plan Your Trip.
What to see
- Lake Misurina, the sheet of water that gives the hamlet its name, with the loop walk along its shores.
- The Cadini di Misurina, the cluster of spires and towers just above the village, among the most photographed views in the Dolomites.
- Monte Piana, a plateau with the open-air museum of the Great War, among restored trenches and walkways.
How to get to Misurina
From Auronzo di Cadore you climb to Misurina in about twenty minutes by car along the SS 48 bis. From Cortina d'Ampezzo the hamlet is about twenty kilometres away on the SS 48 delle Dolomiti, beyond the Tre Croci pass. The nearest railway station is Calalzo di Cadore, linked to Misurina by the local buses that come up the valley.
When to go
In summer the lake and the trails towards the Tre Cime are at their best, with cool temperatures even in high August. In winter the village fills with snow and becomes a base for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Spring and autumn bring more quiet, but check the opening of hotels and the toll road first.
Frequently asked questions
What to see in Misurina?
Lake Misurina with the walk along its shores, the Cadini di Misurina that rise above the village and Monte Piana with its open-air museum of the Great War. Misurina is also the easiest base for reaching the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
What to do in Misurina?
In summer you can walk the loop around the lake, climb to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and explore the Cadini. In winter the village is a base for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The full lap of the lake is short and suits everyone, good for children too.
Why is the air in Misurina good for you?
Because at 1,754 metres the climate is dry and low in allergens, and the altitude helps people with asthma and breathing problems. That is why sanatoriums and cure hotels appeared here from the late 1800s, and for about seventy years the Pio XII Institute treated asthmatic children from all over Italy.
Why is Misurina famous?
For its lake, the Pearl of Cadore, where the Tre Cime di Lavaredo are mirrored. It is also known for the air that is good for the lungs and for hosting the speed skating events at the 1956 Cortina Olympics, on the frozen lake.
Where is Misurina?
Misurina is a hamlet of Auronzo di Cadore, in the province of Belluno, at 1,754 metres. It lies between the Tre Croci pass and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, about twenty kilometres from Cortina d'Ampezzo.
How do you get to Misurina?
From Auronzo di Cadore you climb in about twenty minutes by car on the SS 48 bis. From Cortina d'Ampezzo the hamlet is about twenty kilometres away, beyond the Tre Croci pass. The nearest station is Calalzo di Cadore, linked by local buses that come up the valley.