The best walks and hikes around Lake del Restello

On May 25, 1964, a fire completely destroyed the first and second floors, rendering them unusable. The efforts of firefighters and artillerymen who rushed to the scene in force managed to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to the nearby building. Despite the negative opinion of the Military Engineering Corps regarding restoration work, public opinion and the Belluno CAI Section pushed for yet another reconstruction, finding valid support in Gen. Pietro Torrazzo. This recommenced under the supervision of the 6th Mountain Artillery Regiment of Belluno. The inauguration ceremony was held on August 31, 1968. The seventies still saw the race to "conquer" a spot for television antennas, both military and civilian. The most imposing one, belonging to RAI, was placed a few meters from the refuge, on the north side, and is still there today. A new period of closure and management uncertainties followed. In 1988, the COMILITER of Padua decided on its renovation, which concluded in 1992. In 1993, the State Technical Office proposed a rental fee, and on May 1, 1994, after five years, the refuge reopened under new management. In 1995, the agreement, still in force, was signed. Today, this place represents an act of gratitude for the survival of a heritage entirely belonging to Belluno.

The idea to erect the first refuge of the CAI section of Belluno was taken during the board meeting of May 20, 1898, and formalized in July 1899. Its function was to support hikers from Belluno and Treviso. The refuge was inaugurated on September 23, 1900, and dedicated to Richard Henry Budden, one of the pioneering figures of mountaineering, proponent of numerous reforestation projects to safeguard the mountain environment, and a sincere friend of the province of Belluno. The construction was built on land donated by the De’ Bertoldi family. After difficult management, also due to the debt situation, during World War I the refuge was set on fire, making it unusable as a shelter. Reconstruction began in September 1938, when a detachment of the 24th battery of the 5th Alpine Artillery Regiment encamped on Col Visentin for the initial excavation operations. It was reopened on August 15, 1946. Based on the project by architect Alfarè, the current small tower was built, adapted into a chapel-shrine for the Fallen of the 5th Mountain Division, a votive tomb that held the lighthouse donated by the Navy and contains the list of brothers fallen in Libya, on Ortigara, on the Carso, on Sabotino, those on the arid Ethiopian plains, and finally those who remained on the fields of Albania, in the Montenegrin gorges, and in the desolate immensity of the Russian steppe.

Located at an altitude of 1764 meters, Rifugio Col Visentin offers one of the widest and most evocative panoramas of the Veneto Prealps. From here, the view stretches from the Adriatic Sea to Monte Grappa, from Montello to the Dolomites, with spectacular glimpses of iconic peaks such as Pelmo, Civetta, Antelao, Cimon della Pala, Croda Rossa, and the Marmarole. On the clearest days, you can even make out the Croatian coast to the East, and to the West, the gaze extends beyond the Berici Mountains. The refuge is a reference point for summer and winter tourism in Veneto, frequented by hikers, snowshoers, cyclists, and nature lovers in every season. It offers accommodation with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is open daily from May to September and on weekends during the rest of the year. Inside the refuge, you will find the highest meteorological station in the Veneto Prealps, as well as three webcams offering real-time images of the landscape. www.rifugiocolvisentin.net

Col del Gài (1,745 m) is one of the smaller but extremely scenic peaks encountered along the ridge between Nevegal and Col Visentin. It's often overlooked by those heading straight for the summit of Visentin following the main dirt road, but for those who enjoy more subtle and scenic trails, it's an essential stop.

Col Visentin (1,763 m) is the most spectacular balcony in the Prealps, suspended between the glittering Venice Lagoon and the jagged peaks of the Belluno Dolomites. It's a must-see destination for its 360° views, from the sea to Lake Santa Croce, making the climb worthwhile. At the summit is the Rifugio 5° Artiglieria Alpina, a place steeped in history, recognizable by its circular stone tower and tricolor lighthouse. It's the ideal stop to savor local cuisine before continuing along the scenic Sentiero delle Creste.

From here, there are about 3-5 km of gravel. The top is passable, but the bottom is rough and deep, making it miserable to ride on.

The Rifugio Col Visentin offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the mountains of Belluno and Treviso, with the possibility of seeing the sea on clear days. Reachable in about two hours of walking from the "La Casera" parking lot, it is a wonderful place, perfect for a regenerating stop with delicious sandwiches, managed by friendly and cordial guys.

The refuge, named after the "Cadore" Alpine Brigade, stands at an altitude of 1,617 meters on Col Faverghera, near the arrival station of the chairlift that ascends from Nevegal in the Col Visentin mountain group, in a panoramic spot that allows, on clear days, to glimpse the shimmering of the Venice lagoon. It was inaugurated on October 26, 1958, with the handover of the keys to the then president of the CAI, Ugo Dalla Bernardina. The refuge represented a classic destination for the people of Belluno until the eighties. That is, until Nevegàl, for various reasons, became less attractive. It is worth reporting a comment (review by Giuseppe Cerra) on what the Brigata Cadore refuge was like: "It's a shame it's closed. In winter, back in the days when Gustav Thoeni kept us glued to the television, it was difficult to get in because it was so crowded. Outside there were sun loungers for sunbathers. You ate a sandwich, accompanied by beers, chips, punch, and mulled wine. It was the center of a world that no longer exists". It must be said that the place remains splendid. And it should also be remembered that in 2013 the disused structure was the subject of interest from Dolomiti Contemporanee, which carried out the first Open in Painting session there. The refuge was transformed by the organizers into "an open-air palette". The hope of many people from Belluno is that in the new life of the "Colle" there may also be a place for a new life for the Brigata Cadore. Today, in the hands of private individuals, it is one of the many buildings that characterize the recent history of Alpe del Nevegal. A large-sized building, a phalanstery, closed to the public for many years.