The 20 Most Amazing Peaks around Mel

reachable by car from Lentiai on a paved road, on mtb trails arriving from Pianezze

The summit of Passo San Boldo between the provinces of Treviso and Belluno.

There is no second time. Built in 100 days.

Located at an altitude of 1570 meters, the summit cross of Monte Cesen is an iconic symbol for hikers who frequent the Treviso Prealps. This imposing metal structure dominates the surrounding landscape, offering a landmark visible even from a great distance. Once the summit of the climb is reached, the cross welcomes visitors, opening up the view to an extraordinary panorama that ranges from the Dolomite peaks to the north to the Venice Lagoon on clearer days. The site is not just a sporting achievement, but a place of silence and contemplation where the view embraces the steep grassy slopes and the underlying Prosecco hills, doing justice to the effort spent climbing the trails that wind through pastures and mountain huts.

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

beautiful viewpoint easily reachable