Forno di Zoldo

Forno di Zoldo is situated at 848 m, it is a good centre offering considerable opportunities for both tourism and commercial activities.

The largest centres within the municipality, apart from the chief town and the other significant resorts, are: Pralongo, Sottolerive, Dont, Villa, Sommariva, Campo, Sorogno, Astragal, Bragarezza, Dozza, Fornesighe, Casal, Foppa, Calchera, Cella, Prà.

Forno di Zoldo is one of the municipalities of Belluno which has part of its territory within the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites: Val Pramper. This contributes greatly to the beauty and attractiveness of the Park, adding scenery and surroundings typical of the Dolomite valleys. The Dolomites High Route no. 1 (Alta Via delle Dolomiti N.1) also runs through this territory which links up the Lake of Braies to Belluno, passing precisely through Val Pramper. But Forno di Zoldo is full of possibilities of walks and excursions for all levels.

The Zoldo territory on more than one occasion has been badly hit by floods and other natural calamities. The flood of 1966 was certainly the most devastating of the last century. The effect on Forno was considerable. Already in 1890, another flood had caused victims and severe damage. For this reason, given the fragility of the territory, in recent years a great deal of work has been done on hydrological defence to increase the safety of the area to avoid the possibility of a repetition of such an event  damaging the area to the same extent.

The Zoldo Valley is well known above all for its wide range of high quality ice cream which literally invaded Europe from over a century ago: especially Germany but also Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland and Hungary - without counting some countries overseas. The occupation of an ice cream maker is a difficult one, but due to the excellent quality of the ice cream produced by the artisans according to local Zoldo tradition, it immediately gained success establishing itself by far the best on the European market.

Historical notes

One of the main attractions in Forno is the Nail Museum (Museo del Chiodo). Its main aim is to bring back from a historical and cultural point of view Zoldo’s ancient  tradition  of smelting and working iron. From mineral activity, in its strictest sense, to the working of the furnace and the forging and production of nails and other tools, the visitor is made to relive a journey rich in documentation through the use of  linguistics of the local spoken language. The Museum is located in the ancient palace of the Captain of Zoldo (Capitano di Zoldo).

Art and the Zoldo population make up a very strong combination which highlights some very special artists, the wood sculptors. There are many protagonists of this difficult art, who have found favour locally but also further afield. Andrea Brustolon (1622-1732), Paolo Gamba Zampol (1723-...) and Valentino Pancora Besarel (1829-1902), should be remembered for their work, some of which can be seen in the church of San Floriano, in Pieve di Zoldo. This church is the religious heart of the Zoldo population. It was built and consecrated in 1487. The link between the Zoldo population and wood sculpture  is destined to perpetuate itself through time. In the steps of  Brustolon,  Besarel and Zampol more recent excellent artists have consolidated the great local tradition. Mariano Lazzarin and Bruno De Pellegrin are both fine and appreciated contemporary artists.