The main town of the Comelico, where the Piave meets the Padola, among the peaks of the Popera and the Croda Rossa di Sesto.
A short history
Santo Stefano di Cadore sits at 908 metres, where the Padola stream comes down from the Comelico and joins the Piave. It is the main centre of the valley, the town where the market, the offices and the roads towards Austria and Cadore have always met.
The Comelico is a quiet corner of the Dolomites, less travelled than the famous valleys. Ladin culture has stayed strong here, in the houses of wood and stone, in the old village statutes and in festivals like the carnival Rolle, with their masks. Santo Stefano is its gateway coming up from the Piave valley.
Behind the town rise the great peaks of the border. The Popera group and the Croda Rossa di Sesto close the horizon to the north, on the border with Alto Adige and Austria. From here roads and trails lead towards the passes and towards the other hamlets of the Comelico, as far as Sappada.
What to see
- The Popera group and the Croda Rossa di Sesto, the peaks that close the valley to the north along the border.
- The route to the Sappada waterfalls and the springs of the Piave, climbing the valley towards the high mountains.
- The town centre, with the traditional houses of the Comelico and the meeting of the Padola and the Piave.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Santo Stefano di Cadore?
The town centre with the traditional houses of the Comelico, the meeting of the Padola and the Piave, and the mountains behind: the Popera group and the Croda Rossa di Sesto. It is a good base to explore the whole Comelico as far as Sappada.
Where is Santo Stefano di Cadore?
It sits at 908 metres in Cadore, where the Padola stream joins the Piave. It is the main town of the Comelico, on the road climbing towards Austria and Sappada.