The rock-walled Valcellina mountains are the main attractions for mountaineers and climbers from all over the world. The many trails for hikers and bikers, the whitewater streams that attract kayak and canoe enthusiasts: this is Valcellina: a sports and nature lover’s heaven, an outdoor gym immersed in an unforgettable scenery.

Valcellina can be reached by leaving from Pordenone, Western Friuli’s biggest city, which in turn can be reached by A4 Turin-Trieste and subsequently by A28 from Portogruaro, going up north, through the higher part of the Pordenone plains until the foothill area, constantly enjoying variable landscapes. At the end you will arrive in the municipality of Montereale, at the feet of the Friulian Dolomites, the main natural entrance to the Cellina valley.

The whole valley escaped from centuries of isolation only in the beginning of the 1900s thanks to the road that was built to link the Pordenone area with Barcis as well as with the improvement of the road network through the S. Osvaldo pass and Erto-Casso to the higher part of the Piave valley.

Going up the valley you can find the town of Andreis. The old intersection of SS251 is very suggestive: between tunnels and protected overhangs, the waters from the Alba and Molassa streams meet the Cellina river forming interesting geological formations. Andreis is characterised by houses with old wooden outer parts, external stairs and stone walls which identify the peculiar “Andrean” architecture.
Coming out of the last tunnel, the view becomes broader with Barcis and its lake, the Piancavallo range and the massive Crep Nudo which seem to smoothen its borders.

Following up the Cellina river, the road becomes winding again until the Porto Pinedo plain, a sunny spot originated from the rocky deposits of the natural meeting point of the Cellina and Cimoliana streams. In the past it used to be a harbour, hence the name “Porto”, and it was the center of the river market for the transportation of timber and the trading place for the the Republic of Venice, also known as the Serenissima.

On the eastern limit of the big plain we find Claut, which lies on the terrace in the green valley formed by the confluence of the Cellina and Settimana streams. The village offers a splendid scenery of forests and mountains as a backdrop. History dates the birth of this community to the Longobard era.

The next village in the North West direction is Cimolais and it is also the center for the Friulian Dolomites natural park. It is a beautiful mountain village which features various natural attractions among which the Campanile di Val Montanaia holds a special place.

The road from Cimolais goes uphill through the woods of Passo S. Osvaldo to the municipalities of Erto and Casso. The discoveries from the Roman Age show the ancient origin of Erto while Casso’s origin is testified by documents of the XIV century. These places will always preserve the memory of the tragedy that happened on 9th october 1963 due to the landslide of Mount Toc into the Vajont basin.

SS251 goes down from Erto e Casso all the way to the Piave valley reaching Longarone while giving almost a sense of sadness by passing through the areas that were destroyed in october 1963.
Wild and pristine Valcellina, with its people, traditions and costumes, is the jealous guardian of a rich heritage which only few people have been lucky to discover and to live in.

Aldo Martini