Belluno
Encyclopedia
Belluno is a town and province in the Veneto
region of northern Italy
. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice
, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno
and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area of Valbelluna. It is one of the 15 municipalities of the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi.
. To the north is the imposing Schiara range of the Dolomites
, with the famous Gusela del Vescovà (Bishopric's needle), and Mounts Serva and Talvena rising above the city. To the south, the foothills of the Alps
separate Belluno from the Venetian plain. Further to the south is the Nevegal, in the Castionese area, well known for its skiing resorts. The average annual temperature in Belluno is 9 °C (48 °F), and the average annual precipitation is 137 cm (54 inches).
belo-dunum which means "splendid hill." The name was inspired by the favorable position within the valley.
The city was founded around 220-200 BC by the Romans
and, starting from 181 BC, it became an important military stronghold in the Roman Venetia. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
, it was ruled by the Lombards
(6th century) and the Carolingians (8th century); from the late 9th century it was ruled by a count-bishop and it received a castle and a line of walls. Later it was a possession of the Ghibelline family of the Ezzelino. After having longly contended the nearby territory with Treviso
, in the end Belluno gave itself to the Republic of Venice
(1404). The city was thenceforth an important hub for the transport of lumber from the Cadore
through the Piave
river.
After the fall of the Republic, Belluno was an Austrian
possession, until it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
, Treviso
, Ponte nelle Alpi
and Vittorio Veneto
.
Belluno railway station
, at Piazzale della Stazione, forms part of the Calalzo–Padua railway. It was opened in 1912, and replaced an earlier station opened in 1886. Its passenger building, designed by the architect Roberto Narducci
, was constructed in 1928.
The bus station is also at the Piazzale della Stazione, next to the railway station.
with: Cervia
, Ital
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region of northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno
Province of Belluno
TheThe Province of Belluno is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno.It has an area of 3,678 km², and a total population of 214,026 .-Geography:...
and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area of Valbelluna. It is one of the 15 municipalities of the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi.
Geography
The ancient city of Belluno rises above a cliff spur near the confluence of the Torrente Ardo and the Piave RiverPiave River
Piave is a river in north Italy. It begins in the Alps and flows southeast for into the Adriatic Sea near the city of Venice....
. To the north is the imposing Schiara range of the Dolomites
Dolomites
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy. It is a part of Southern Limestone Alps and extends from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley...
, with the famous Gusela del Vescovà (Bishopric's needle), and Mounts Serva and Talvena rising above the city. To the south, the foothills of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
separate Belluno from the Venetian plain. Further to the south is the Nevegal, in the Castionese area, well known for its skiing resorts. The average annual temperature in Belluno is 9 °C (48 °F), and the average annual precipitation is 137 cm (54 inches).
History
The name of the city is derived from celticCeltic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
belo-dunum which means "splendid hill." The name was inspired by the favorable position within the valley.
The city was founded around 220-200 BC by the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and, starting from 181 BC, it became an important military stronghold in the Roman Venetia. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
, it was ruled by the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
(6th century) and the Carolingians (8th century); from the late 9th century it was ruled by a count-bishop and it received a castle and a line of walls. Later it was a possession of the Ghibelline family of the Ezzelino. After having longly contended the nearby territory with Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
, in the end Belluno gave itself to the Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
(1404). The city was thenceforth an important hub for the transport of lumber from the Cadore
Cadore
Cadore is a "comunità montana" in the Italian region of Veneto, in the northernmost part of the province of Belluno bordering on Austria, the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is watered by the Piave River poured forth from the Carnic Alps...
through the Piave
Piave
Piave can refer to:* Francesco Maria Piave, Italian librettist and composer* Piave * Piave * Battle of the Piave River* 10 Motorised Division Piave An Italian division of World War II...
river.
After the fall of the Republic, Belluno was an Austrian
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
possession, until it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
Main sights
- The Duomo (Cathedral, late 15th century), with the 18th century bell tower designed by Filippo JuvarraFilippo JuvarraFilippo Juvarra was an Italian architect and stage set designer.-Biography:Filippo Juvarra was an Italian Baroque architect working in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was born in Messina, Sicily, to a family of goldsmiths and engravers...
. The church's plan is attributed to the Venetian architect Tullio Lombardo - Palazzo dei Rettori (1491)
- The red edifice of the Communal Palace
- The Bishop's Palace, erected in 1190 by the count-bishop Gerardo de' Taccoli
- The Fountain of Piazza del Duomo
- Baroque church of San Pietro (1326), originally in Gothic style. It includes five paintings by Andrea SchiavoneAndrea SchiavoneAndrea Meldolla , also known as Andrea Schiavone or Andrea Lo Schiavone was an Italian Renaissance painter and etcher, born in present-day Croatia, active mainly in the city of Venice.-Biography:...
, three by Sebastiano RicciSebastiano RicciSebastiano Ricci was an Italian painter of the late Baroque school of Venice. About the same age as Piazzetta, and an elder contemporary of Tiepolo, he represents a late version of the vigorous and luminous Cortonesque style of grand manner fresco painting.-Early years:He was born in Belluno, son...
. - Palazzo del Capitano.
- The 16th century church of San Rocco.
- The church of Santo Stefano, housing several 15th century paintings by local masters. It includes also an Adoration of the Magi from Tiziano's workshop.
- The Romanesque church of San Biagio.
- The Porta Dojona and Porta Rugo gates in the ancient walls.
- The 16th church of Santa Maria dei Battuti.
Frazioni
Antole, Bes, Bolzano Bellunese, Caleipo-Sossai, Castion, Castoi, Cavessago, Cavarzano, Cet, Chiesurazza, Cirvoi, Col di Piana, Col di Salce, Collungo, Cusighe, Faverga, Fiammoi, Giamosa, Giazzoi, Levego, Madeago, Miér, Nevegal, Orzes, Pedeserva, Pra de Luni, Rivamaor, Safforze, Sala, Salce, San Pietro in Campo, Sargnano, Sois, Sopracroda, Sossai, Tassei, Tisoi, Vezzano, Vignole, Visome.Quarters
Baldenich, borgo Garibaldi (o via garibaldi), Borgo Piave, Borgo Prà, Cavarzano, Mussoi, San Lorenzo, Quartier Cadore, Via Feltre-Maraga, San Francesco, Lambioi, Via Montegrappa, Via CairoliTransport
State roads lead from Belluno to FeltreFeltre
Feltre is a town and comune of the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about 4 km from its junction with the Piave, and 20 km southwest from Belluno...
, Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
, Ponte nelle Alpi
Ponte nelle Alpi
Ponte nelle Alpi is a comune in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about 80 km north of Venice and about 8 km northeast of Belluno....
and Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto is a city and comune situated in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, Italy, in the northeast of the Italian peninsula, between the Piave and the Livenza rivers.-Geography:...
.
Belluno railway station
Belluno railway station
Belluno railway station serves the town and comune of Belluno, in the Veneto region, northeastern Italy. Opened in 1912, it forms part of the Calalzo–Padua railway....
, at Piazzale della Stazione, forms part of the Calalzo–Padua railway. It was opened in 1912, and replaced an earlier station opened in 1886. Its passenger building, designed by the architect Roberto Narducci
Roberto Narducci
Roberto Narducci was an Italian architect and engineer of the Modernist and Novocento movements.-Life:...
, was constructed in 1928.
The bus station is also at the Piazzale della Stazione, next to the railway station.
Notable residents
- Marco PaoliniMarco PaoliniMarco Paolini is an Italian stage actor, theatre director, dramaturge and author.- Personal background :Paolini is the son of a railroad engineer from Belluno, Italy. In the 1970s, he moved to Treviso and started working in theatre....
(b. 1956), stage actor - Dino BuzzatiDino BuzzatiDino Buzzati-Traverso was an Italian novelist, short story writer, painter and poet, as well as a journalist for Corriere della Sera. His worldwide fame is mostly due to his novel Il deserto dei Tartari, translated into English as The Tartar Steppe.-Life:Buzzati was born at San Pellegrino,...
(1906–1972), novelist and journalist, born in Belluno. - Pope Gregory XVIPope Gregory XVIPope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
(1765–1846) - Andrea BrustolonAndrea BrustolonAndrea Brustolon was an Italian sculptor in wood. He is known for his furnishings in the Baroque style and devotional sculptures.-Biography:...
(1662–1732), sculptor - Ippolito CaffiIppolito CaffiIppolito Caffi was an Italian painter of architectural subjects and seascapes or urban vedute. He was born at Belluno. His first work was produced at the Accademia in Venice. He subsequently moved to Rome, made some reputation by his treatise on perspective, as well as by his investigations on...
(1809–1866), painter - Sebastiano RicciSebastiano RicciSebastiano Ricci was an Italian painter of the late Baroque school of Venice. About the same age as Piazzetta, and an elder contemporary of Tiepolo, he represents a late version of the vigorous and luminous Cortonesque style of grand manner fresco painting.-Early years:He was born in Belluno, son...
(1659–1734), painter - Marco RicciMarco RicciMarco Ricci was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He was the nephew of Sebastiano Ricci. After receiving his first instruction in art from his uncle, he visited Rome, where he was for some years occupied in drawing vedute....
(1676–1730), painter
Twin towns — Sister cities
Belluno is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Cervia
Cervia
Cervia is a town and comune in the province of Ravenna , central Italy.-History:Originally called Ficocle, it was probably of Greek origin and was located midway from current Cervia and Ravenna...
, Ital