Ladino-Tyrolean village of the Alta Pusteria, home of the Meridiana di Sesto and gateway to the Val Fiscalina toward the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
A short history
Sesto, Sexten in German, sits at 1,310 metres at the far east of the Alta Pusteria, where the valley bends toward the border with the Cadore. It is a German-speaking village with old roots, grown around cattle, mountain farms and forests. The First World War came right through here, along the peaks and passes that marked the front between Italy and Austria, and it left trenches, tunnels and war cemeteries behind.
Its signature is in the sky. The peaks that close the basin, called the Meridiana di Sesto, carry names tied to the hours: Cima Undici, Cima Dodici, Cima Una. Seen from the village, the sun brushes them as the day passes, a clock of rock the locals have read for centuries. It is one of the reasons Sesto entered the history of Dolomite mountaineering and tourism.
From Sesto you enter the Val Fiscalina, the narrow green side valley that points straight at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Some of the most famous hikes in the Dolomites start here, among historic huts and walls that made climbing legend. Today the village is a quiet base for walkers, but it still keeps the slow rhythm of the Tyrolean farms.
What to see
- The Meridiana delle Dolomiti di Sesto, the peaks that mark the hours of the day from the village, from Cima Undici to Cima Dodici.
- The Val Fiscalina, the green side valley behind Sesto where the trails toward the Tre Cime and the huts of the Alta Pusteria begin.
- Monte Elmo, the mountain above the village with its panoramic trails and views over the whole Sesto basin.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Sesto?
The Meridiana di Sesto, the peaks that mark the hours seen from the village, the Val Fiscalina with its trails toward the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and Monte Elmo with its panoramic paths. The sites of the First World War also remain, among trenches and war cemeteries.
Why is it called the Meridiana di Sesto?
Because the peaks that close the basin, such as Cima Undici and Cima Dodici, carry names tied to the hours. Seen from the village, the sun brushes them through the course of the day, like the hands of a clock made of rock.