Auronzo di Cadore is a comune of about 3,000 people in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto Dolomites, laid out along the Ansiei valley at 862 m. Its boundary takes in two of the best-known landmarks in these mountains: the Tre Cime di Lavaredo group and Lake Misurina. Beside the town the dammed Ansiei forms Santa Caterina Lake, and SR48 carries the traffic through. Venice lies about 120 km to the south, Belluno about 50 km to the southwest.
Auronzo di Cadore
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €). ATMs are widespread in cities and towns and accept major international credit and debit cards. Credit cards are accepted in urban and tourist areas; cash is essential in rural regions and small towns.
- Language
- Italian is the everyday language in Auronzo and across the Cadore valleys, with a Ladin-influenced local dialect still heard among older residents. English is understood in hotels and at the busy spots around the Tre Cime, less so in shops in the town.
- Power plug
- Europlug (Type C), Schuko (Type F) and Type L (Italian three-round-pin) sockets are in use. Voltage is 230V, 50Hz.
- Visa
- Schengen visa-free for 90 days (non-EU/EEA citizens). EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may stay indefinitely. All non-EU/EEA/Swiss visitors must declare their presence within 8 days of arrival. Stays longer than 90 days require an appropriate visa and residence permit.
- Time zone
- Central European Time (CET): UTC+01:00. Central European Summer Time (CEST): UTC+02:00 (last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
- Tap water
- Safe to drink. Tap water is well maintained throughout Italy and perfectly drinkable. In some peninsular areas it may be cloudy with a slight taste; most Italians prefer bottled water. Public fountains marked 'Acqua potabile' are safe to refill from. Avoid fountains marked 'Acqua non potabile'. Southern coastal areas may have an unusual taste due to desalination but water is always safe.
- Tipping
- Not customary. Restaurants include a service charge (coperto); waiters do not expect tips. Leaving loose change in bars and cafés is common. Tips cannot be added to credit card bills—bring cash if you wish to tip.
- Emergency
- 112 (Carabinieri, general emergency); 113 (Polizia di Stato); 115 (Fire Department); 118 (Medical Rescue).
When to go
High season
Jun – Sep
The walking season and the busiest stretch of the year: the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lake Misurina pull the traffic, while the valley floor at 862 m stays the calmer half of the municipality.
Low season
Oct – Nov
Larches turn gold along the Ansiei valley and then drop, cloud sits on the Tre Cime for days at a time, and the high ground takes its first snow.
Shoulder
Dec – Mar
Snow on the valley floor and deep snow above it. Auronzo itself stays quiet while the skiing happens in the high country towards Misurina.
Low season
Apr – May
The emptiest weeks of the year. Snow is going off the valley floor but still lies on the high routes above Misurina, and the town sits between its two seasons.
How long to stay
Two or three days covers Auronzo properly: one for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, one for Lake Misurina and the shore of Santa Caterina Lake, and a third held in reserve for the weather, which decides what the high ground is worth on any given morning. As a base it holds longer. The Tre Cime and Misurina sit inside the municipality, so the headline mountains are on the doorstep rather than at the end of a drive.
Getting around
SR48 runs through Auronzo and does most of the work here. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo group and Lake Misurina both fall inside the municipal boundary, and the way between them is by road. There is no railway station in the town; the nearest railhead is Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore, south down the valley, so a car covers the ground best. Distances mislead in this terrain: the Austrian border is 11 km away in a straight line and 48 km by paved road, because the mountains send every route the long way round. Reckon on switchbacks and slow going rather than map kilometres.
What to see
Destinations in Auronzo di Cadore
Frequently asked questions
Where is Auronzo di Cadore?
In the province of Belluno, in the Cadore of the Veneto Dolomites, about 120 km north of Venice and about 50 km northeast of Belluno. The town lies at 862 m along the Ansiei valley, and SR48 is the road through it.Are the Tre Cime di Lavaredo part of Auronzo di Cadore?
Yes. The municipality takes in the Tre Cime di Lavaredo group and Lake Misurina, spread across 220 km² of mountain country held by a population of about 3,000.What is the lake beside the town?
Santa Caterina Lake. The river Ansiei is dammed here, and the resulting lake borders Auronzo.How close is the Austrian border?
Eleven kilometres in a straight line, and roughly 48 km by paved road. The mountainous terrain leaves no direct route across.