Pian Molin-costa di Mezzo: Hiking Trails and Dolomite Views

Pian Molin-costa di Mezzo brings together two clear attractions for visitors: mountain trails with detailed route information and the historic landscape of its hamlets. Pian Molin and Costa di Mezzo belong to San Tomaso Agordino. Both hamlets feature places of great natural interest and beautiful panoramas. Historic buildings and traditional Dolomite hay barns, known as “tabià”, have been preserved here.

Landscape, Views and Architecture

The Mulino di Pian Molin is considered one of the most striking buildings in the area. Visitors who include individual buildings in their travel plans alongside the landscape will find it offers a cultural point of interest in its own right. The trail to Piz Croce leads to a summit cross at an altitude of 1,627 metres and offers views of Civetta, Pelsa and Sasso Bianco. These named peaks give the panoramic views a specific point of reference; the elevation of the summit cross is an additional landmark when choosing a route.

Comparing Trails and Routes

Stage 10 of the Cammino delle Dolomiti passes through Pian Molìn. From Costa di Mezzo, it crosses a bridge to Pecol; the bridge’s old load-bearing wooden structure has been preserved. In this way, the stage links a named route with a historic structure along the way. The Forcella trail from San Tomaso Agordino also reaches the nearby municipality of Vallada Agordina.

The Sasso Bianco loop via Costa di Mezzo is listed as 9.2 kilometres long, with five hours of walking time excluding breaks and 758 metres of ascent. The return route follows trail ST8 and descends via Piaia, Pecol, Costa de mez, Val and Mezzaval. The five hours refer to walking time without breaks, so allow extra time for stops. Mountain conditions and the route you choose may affect the actual duration. This tour can be assessed by distance, time and ascent, while for the Cammino stage, the named places and the structure along the route provide the main points of reference.

Another route leads from Celat via Mezzavalle and Costa di Mezzo to Costoia. The CAI trail to Rifugio Sasso Bianco starts there. The rifugio is at the end of the trail and offers a place to stop for refreshments; check current visitor arrangements before setting out. When planning, you can distinguish between a loop with stated time and elevation figures and a route described by a sequence of hamlets and a connecting trail.

The regional Alpine trail list dated 8 July 2016 records Alpine trail 623 of the Catena dell’Auta with difficulty rating E and the place names Pian Molin–Costoia and Forcella S’ciota. As the rating may be updated, check the current trail conditions locally before setting out.

More Experiences in Celat

The “Emigranti” Provincial Astronomical Centre is located in the hamlet of Celat. It has an aluminium dome that can accommodate up to 25 spectators and a projector that shows the movement of more than 2,400 celestial bodies. For visitors interested in astronomy, this offers a very different attraction from mountain panoramas and hiking trails.

The Civetta zipline runs in two sections from Canacede via Costoia to Celat. It consists of three pylons and two cables, with a total length of 1,600 metres and a vertical drop of 260 metres. These figures describe the route and structure; the zipline is a distinct option to consider when planning a trip, alongside walking trails and the planetarium.

The Giornata dell’Orzo e delle Tradizioni Agricole is a festival in the hamlet of Celat celebrating traditional agriculture, crafts and local cuisine. Alongside astronomy and sports, Celat also puts agricultural traditions and local crafts in the spotlight.

Discover more destinations: Puos Dʼalpago, Fener, Gosaldo, Padola, Domegge Di Cadore, Valle Di Cadore, Colmean, Cimasappada.

For the main travel overview: Belluno.