A VISIT TO THE MESOLITHIC SITE OF MONDEVAL DE SORA

The visit starts from the village of Toffol/L’Andria. The first part of the itinerary follows a paved road rising gradually until Piera de L’Autà. From Piera de L’Autà, turn left and continue along the walking path n.466. After a short distance, cross the Cordon stream and rise a slope leading to the meadows of Mondeval de Sora. In this area there is the big rock where the well-known and important burial of the Mondeval man was found, a hunter lived about 7,500 years ago. The well-preserved skeleton of our ancestor and the rest of the grave goods can be admired at the Vittorino Cazzetta Museum in Selva di Cadore.

Difficulty: medium    Time: 2.30 hours outward way    Distance: 5.5 km

A VISIT TO THE NEOLITHIC SITE OF MANDRIZ

The archeological site of Mandriz can be reached from Toffol. At the top of the hamlet follow the mule track going through the wood of Norway spruces and larches. This short trip leads to the place where numerous finds, dated back to the Neolithic period, were found. Among them flint artefacts and pottery crockery as a proof of the habitual presence of human being in this area since the ancient times. The findings are collected in the Vittorino Cazzetta Museum in Selva di Cadore.

Difficulty: easy    Time: 45 minutes outward way    Distance: 1 km

 ON DINOSAURS’ TRAILS OF PELMETTO

This inspiring excursion leads you to the big rock that presents on its surface footprints of dinosaurs of the Triassic (ornithischian – therepods and sauropods). The finding has been very important because it represents the beginning of the studies related to the Italian dinosaurs, which were completely unknown before this discovery in the Pelmetto area.
Start from the Staulanza Pass towards Rifugio Venezia. The path twists and turns through firs and mountain pines. After almost an hour you arrive at a crossroads; continue going up towards the left until a big rock where there are the trails of dinosaurs. The last part before the rock is quite steep and demanding. So, be careful if it has rained, because the muddy ground in some parts can be very slippery.

Difficulty: medium    Time: 2.30 hours outward way   Distance: 2 km

 THE IRON WAY/STRADA DE LA VENA

The famous itinerary is very panoramic and goes along the ancient way used to carry the iron of the Fursil mines to the furnaces. This itinerary begins near the Vittorino Cazzetta Museum. Taking the staircase located some metres before the building, walk along the panoramic and sunny road that enters some of our most inspiring hamlets: Rova, Zanata, Zardin. Going on towards left through the wood, you find the ancient iron way, which, with the remains of its ancient tunnels of extraction, represents the bygone mining reality of the valley, which included also smelting furnaces. The entire way is very long and arrives until the Andraz Castle, residence of the mines lords. After the Posalz village, there are the entrances of the ancient mines where once iron was dug out. The trail continues through other villages: Ru, Canazei, Colcuc and Larzonei, where there are still old farmhouses built after the typical wood architecture. After this long excursion, your arrival at the Andraz Castle.

Difficulty: easy    Time: 6.00 – 7.00 hours outward way   Distance: 15 km

 THE ANCIENT HAMLET OF L’ANDRIA

The hamlet of L’Andria was one of the first permanent settlements in the Fiorentina Valley thanks to two factors: the excellent sunny location and the great availability of water.
The Loschiesuoi stream, located near the Toffol area, provided a good quantity of water all year long. For this reason, along the stream, mills, smithies and a sawmill were built. Unfortunately, some of these old buildings were destroyed by a landslide in 1917 and by the flood of 1966.
Along the itinerary that develops through the ways of the “Vila” of L’Andria, you can still recognize well-preserved buildings, characteristic of the life of mountain people until the end of the sixties. In addition, you have the chance to admire the traditional haylofts with their typical “barconele”(small shaped windows), the dwellings in Ladin style, the “faer” (made for drying fava beans), the “travai”(to shoe the livestock) and two small churches, respectively dedicated to the Madonna della Neve (Madonna of the Snow) and to Sant’Osvaldo (St. Oswald). Moreover, along the Loschiesuoi stream, a pair of buildings once used respectively as smithy and mill are still present.
The cultural-historical itinerary of L’Andria starts near the church of Santa Fosca. From this point, continue towards L’Andria, going past the small church dedicated to the Madonna of the Snow. After few minutes you arrive at the Toffol bridge. Continue through the entire hamlet until Franceschin and from there along the main road pointing back to Santa Fosca.

Difficulty: easy    Time: 1.00 hours    Distance: 2.5 km, ring itinerary