Rocca Pietore is a comune in the Province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of northern Italy, about 160 km north of Venice and 40 km north-west of Belluno. The main village stands at around 1,143 m, and the comune takes in 73.29 km² of valley floor, hamlets and mountainside under the Marmolada, with fewer than 1,200 residents in all. Its frazione of Sottoguda is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia. People come for the mountains: walking and the passes in summer, snow in winter.
Rocca Pietore
- 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, and Ladin is still spoken in the valley. English is understood in hotels and tourist businesses, less so in the hamlets.
- 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
Dec – Mar
Snow lies right down on the valley floor and the road up carries ski traffic; accommodation goes early.
Low season
Apr – Jun
Meltwater runs hard through the gorges while the tops still hold snow, and the valley is at its emptiest between the two seasons.
High season
Jul – Aug
Warm days and the longest light of the year, and the busiest: walkers in the valley, pass-hopping traffic on the roads.
Shoulder
Sep – Nov
September brings clear air and thinner crowds once the Italian holidays end; by November the valley has emptied and the weather swings between rain and first snow.
How long to stay
Two or three nights fits the valley itself — the hamlets, Sottoguda, and the high ground above them, with a day in hand for weather, which turns fast at this height. Anyone using Rocca Pietore as a base for the wider Dolomites, the passes and the neighbouring valleys, wants closer to a week.
Getting around
A car does the work here. Rocca Pietore is a scattered comune — 73.29 km² of valley floor, hamlets and mountainside, with the main village at about 1,143 m — and its parts are strung along the valley road rather than gathered in one place. There is no railway. Belluno, some 40 km to the south-east, is the nearest town on the rail network, and the closest large airport is Venice, roughly 160 km south. From there on it is all mountain road: hairpins, and a pass at either end of the valley. In winter that means driving on snow, so check the road before you set off.
What to see
Destinations in Rocca Pietore
Frequently asked questions
Where is Rocca Pietore?
In the Province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of northern Italy — about 160 km north of Venice and 40 km north-west of Belluno.What is Sottoguda?
A frazione of Rocca Pietore and one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia, the association of Italy's most beautiful villages.How high up is Rocca Pietore?
The main village sits at 1,143 m, and the comune reaches well above that across its 73.29 km².How big is the place?
1,149 residents spread across 73.29 km² of valley and hamlets.