Discover Ornella

Landscape and Location

Val d’Ornella lies on the right bank of the Torrente Cordevole, approximately halfway along the Valle di Fodom. An almost untouched, green Dolomite valley, it lies at the foot of the Dolomite amphitheater formed by the Monti di Ornella in the Catena del Padon, part of the Marmolada group. Val d’Ornella also belongs to the Marmolada system, which has been recognized and protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the Padon subgroup stands Pizongol de Ornela, a peak 2,406 meters high.

Hiking Trails and Elevation Gain

CAI trails and well-marked paths following the course of the Ru de Ornela lead to the high plateaus of Val d’Ornella, including Rus and Scofe. On its way to Passo Padon, the Sentiero Geologico di Arabba runs through the Monti Alti di Ornella. The hiking routes described here therefore differ: the high plateaus are named as destinations, while another route passes through the Monti Alti toward Passo Padon.

CAI Trail 634 runs through the Marmolada range within Livinallongo del Col di Lana, from Valacia de Fora via the Monti Alti di Ornella to the junction with Trail 699. The Ornella–Passo Padon–Ornella loop uses this trail. It starts in the center of Ornella, near the Chiesetta di San Sebastiano, and heads toward Col d’Ornella. On Tabacco maps, CAI Trail 634 is also shown as Trail 634 B.

A 2021 route description gives an elevation gain of 900 meters for the stretch from Col d’Ornella to Passo Padon; without the ascent to Passo Padon, the gain is 750 meters. The 150-meter difference in this comparison represents the option with or without the climb to the pass. These figures refer to elevation gain, not walking time.

An official notice dated June 1, 2024, reported that the section of Sentiero CAI 634/B from Ornella-località Val to the settlement of Scofe had been abandoned and was no longer passable after severe damage caused by Storm Vaia. Before planning, check the current status of this section and the local conditions on the other routes mentioned.

Church and History

The Chiesetta di San Sebastiano in Ornella was built in 1483 and consecrated in 1488. After the First World War, it was rebuilt and rededicated to Saints Sebastian and Fabian. Its history can thus be viewed in two phases: its construction in the late 15th century and its restoration after the war.

The small settlements of Val d’Ornella feature Tyrolean-style architecture grouped around the Chiesetta di San Sebastiano. The church is therefore a point of reference for the settlement pattern as well as for the history of the sacred building.

The loop also includes military positions at Col Toron. At the foot of Col Toron are galleries and trenches dating from the First World War. While the church’s history includes its postwar reconstruction, these military remains bear witness to the war itself.

Discover more destinations: Colderù, Belluno, Colle Santa Lucia, Selva Di Cadore, Mareson-Pecol, Trichiana, Castion, Feltre.

Go to the main travel overview: Belluno.