Auronzo di Cadore: A Stop in the Dolomites
A trip to the sea doesn’t have to mean only long hours on the highway and short stops at rest areas. If you’re heading to the Adriatic this year in your own car, try to enjoy your holiday on the way as well. Instead of another gas station, treat yourself to a stop in the Dolomites, where fresh mountain air, beautiful views, and, this year, a journey into the world of prehistoric giants await you.
Auronzo di Cadore is an ideal place where the whole crew can rest. Children will be thrilled by life-size mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, or cave bears, while the driver can finally stretch their legs, enjoy an espresso on the shore of a mountain lake, or treat themselves to a calm lunch with a view of the Dolomites after a long drive. If you’re not in a hurry, you can even stay overnight here and continue to the sea the next day, rested and without unnecessary stress.
Auronzo di Cadore: the calmer face of the Dolomites
Auronzo di Cadore, located in the province of Belluno at an altitude of about 860 meters, is among the most important mountain resorts in the Veneto region. Yet, unlike the better-known Cortina d’Ampezzo, it has retained a more tranquil atmosphere, making it popular with families with children, hikers, and nature lovers.
Auronzo di Cadore lies in the heart of the Dolomites, a mountain range that includes selected mountain groups designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2009. In summer, people come here for hiking, cycling, via ferratas, and relaxing by the water; in winter, for skiing and cross-country skiing. Thanks to good tourist infrastructure, you’ll find hotels, apartments, restaurants, cafés, and shops here, making Auronzo an ideal base for exploring the surrounding mountains.
The heart of the town is Lake Santa Caterina. The promenade around the water invites you to stroll, relax, and sit on benches with views of the surrounding peaks. In summer, concerts, sporting events, and cultural programs take place here, and the whole area has a very pleasant atmosphere.
Gateway to Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Auronzo is known primarily as one of the starting points for the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three peaks that are among the best-known symbols of the Dolomites.
Just a few kilometers from the town is also Lake Misurina, nicknamed the Pearl of the Dolomites. Thanks to its crystal-clear water, surrounding forests, and panoramic mountains, it is among the most beautiful natural places in northern Italy.
If you’re planning a longer stop or an overnight stay, you can combine a visit to the exhibition with a walk around Lake Santa Caterina and a trip to Misurina in one day, and set off for Tre Cime di Lavaredo the next morning. Such a combination makes for a wonderful start to your holiday even before you reach the sea.
A landscape shaped by the Ice Age
The exhibition being held in Auronzo this year is not located here by chance.
During the Pleistocene, a large part of Cadore and the Belluno Dolomites was covered by extensive glaciers. Over thousands of years, they shaped mountain valleys, created rock faces, formed riverbeds, and contributed to the formation of lakes that today rank among the greatest natural attractions of this area.
After the glaciers retreated about twelve thousand years ago, not only a unique landscape remained, but also a number of geological and paleontological traces. The Cadore area is among the important sites for studying prehistoric history and climate changes that shaped today’s Europe.
In the territory of today’s Veneto, remains of several iconic Ice Age animals have been discovered. These include the woolly mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, cave bear, steppe bison, and the giant deer megaloceros. The exhibition thus recalls not only global prehistoric fauna, but also animals that truly inhabited the landscape of today’s Veneto region.
From dinosaurs to mammoths
Following last year’s successful exhibition dedicated to dinosaurs, this year’s project is Auronzo Tre Cime. Dai dinosauri ai mammut, la storia continua porta i visitatori nel periodo successivo all’estinzione dei dinosauri.
This time, the main protagonists become mammals—animals that adapted to changing climatic conditions and gradually took over the planet.
The exhibition is divided into two parts. The outdoor section runs along the promenade by Lake Santa Caterina, where about twenty life-size models of prehistoric animals are placed. The second part of the Palazzo Corte Metto museum offers a more detailed look at the evolution of mammals, their development, and the impact of climate change.
An encounter with Ice Age giants
The biggest attraction is undoubtedly the life-size models of prehistoric animals.
Visitors will see a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, a cave bear, a giant armadillo, a ground sloth, or a bison. Indricotherium, the largest known land mammal of all time, is also included.
The outdoor part of the exhibition is especially impressive. The models set in a mountain lake and its surrounding forests create a unique atmosphere that appeals to children and adults alike.
More than just an exhibition of prehistoric animals
But the whole project isn’t only about giant models. The exhibition also focuses on the evolution of mammals, adaptation to climate change, and the relationship between humans and nature.
One topic is the domestication of the wolf and the origin of the dog. Another section recalls species that became extinct in modern history due to human activity. Visitors can thus realize that the story of nature doesn’t end with prehistory, but continues today as well.
What else to visit in Auronzo
If you’re heading to Auronzo, set aside at least half a day for it—ideally a whole day.
Worth visiting are the historic center with its typical mountain architecture, the Santa Giustina church, and the Palazzo Corte Metto Museum, which, in addition to temporary exhibitions, also presents the history of Cadore, geology, and archaeological finds.
Nature lovers can continue to Lake Misurina, take a cable car or drive toward Tre Cime di Lavaredo, or simply enjoy a peaceful walk around Lake Santa Caterina.
Why not split up the journey?
Many travelers set off for Veneto in the evening or at night so they can be at the sea in the morning. Others try to manage the entire route without a longer break. Yet a one- or two-day stop in the Dolomites can turn a long journey into a pleasant part of the holiday.
Auronzo di Cadore offers hotels, family-run guesthouses, and apartments in various categories. In the evening, you can have dinner in one of the local restaurants, take a walk around the lake, and wake up in the morning to fresh mountain air. After that, only the trip toward the Venetian coast awaits you—one you’ll handle more rested and in a much better mood.
Combining a few days in the mountains with a subsequent seaside holiday is also one of the nicest ways to experience the Veneto region’s diversity. In a single vacation, you’ll experience majestic Dolomite peaks, mountain lakes, and the sandy beaches of the Adriatic Sea.
Practical information
The exhibition Auronzo Tre Cime. Dai dinosauri ai mammut, la storia continua is open from 27 June to 30 September 2026.
The outdoor exhibition along Lake Santa Caterina is accessible free of charge all day. The Palazzo Corte Metto museum is open daily from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 16:00 to 19:30. Admission is €5 for adults and €3 for reduced tickets.
Veneto Magazine tip
Auronzo di Cadore is proof that the journey to the sea can be just as interesting as the holiday itself. Whether you stop for just a few hours or spend one night here, your reward will be beautiful views of the Dolomites, a pleasant mountain setting, and an unusual encounter with Ice Age giants. And perhaps this stop will become one of your best memories of this summer.
Useful links
- Auronzo Tre Cime: Dai dinosauri ai mammut, exhibition information – date, location, and basic information about the exhibition
- Auronzo di Cadore, official tourism portal – current tourist information about Auronzo and the surrounding area
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo, parking and arrival by car – reservations and rules for driving up to Rifugio Auronzo