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Visit Feltre

Feltre is a town situated on the southern edge of the Italian dolomites, 20 kilometres south of Belluno and to the north-east of Conegliano.

Your itinerary in Feltre starts at the Porta Imperiale (Imperial Gate) - destroyed and then rebuilt in the 16th century - through which we enter the citadel. Continuing along Via Mezzaterra we find some palaces of considerable architectural and visual interest dating back to the 16th century. In particular see Casa Crico, beautifully frescoed with episodes based on Bible stories by Lorenzo Luzzo (Feltre, 1480 c.-1527). Also very important are the Palazzo Bellati, Casa Cantoni, and Palazzo Maffoni.

Continuing towards Via Paradiso there is the Palazzo Arcivescovile (Episcopal Palace), home to the Vescovi-Conti lords-bishops of the city between the 14th and 15th century. More recent but also interesting is a visit to the Galleria Rizzarda (Rizzarda Gallery), which contains artefacts of high artistic value from the 19th century, including sculptures and works in wrought iron. The Gallery also contains some paintings by some of well known Italian and foreign painters of the 20th century, such as Giovanni Fattori, Telemaco Signorini, Carlo Carrà and Eugéne Bodin.

Continuing our tour we reach Piazza Maggiore, the heart of Feltre, where you can see the Palazzo Pretorio and Palazzo della Ragione, with the magnificent arcade by Palladio. The fountains in the square are also artistically interesting they date from 1488 and were erected by Tullio Lombardo. Other highlights in include the 16th century Church of San Rocco containing the statue of Panfilo Castaldi and Bernardino da Feltre.

Next, towards Piazzetta della Legna, we see more important palaces such as the Palace of the Monte di Pietà (now the Civic Library) and the Castle with its interesting Clock Tower. In the Via Lorenzo Luzzo, among the many palaces, the highlight is the Palazzo Villabruna, now seat of the Civic Museum. A visit to the Feltre Civic Museum is recommended because of the works of art it contains - on the 2nd floor of the Palace in the picture gallery, some paintings of considerable value in the Hall include works by Cima da Conegliano, The portrait of the Prelate by Bellini, The Flagellation by Luigi Miradori (known as the Genovesino) and The Assunta by Paolo dal Pozzo.

Exiting from the Citadel through the Porta Oria (the second Gate of the Citadel), there are further monuments of artistic value such as the 9th century cathedral (rebuilt in the 16th century after the fire of 1509 caused by the imperial troops of Maximilian I of Austria) and the 15th century baptistry. Inside Feltre Cathedral there are important works of art by Domenico Tintorett, Pietro Marescalchi (known as the Spada), Agostino Ridolfi, and an altarpiece by Antonio Lazzarini.

Places to visit near Feltre

At Borgo Ruga you can visit the Chiesa di Ognissanti (Church of All Saints), with a belltower in the romanesque style.

Feltre restaurants and cusine

In and near Feltre there are many restaurants serving the delicious regional cuisine which includes, in particular, fried Schiz cheese, a popular local speciality. The local cuisine of malga (named after a rustic home built in wood and stone) includes a menu of sausage, beef and also Tosella cheese, another locally produced cheese traditionally eaten by the cattle herdsmen on the dolomites. Wines of the area of course include Prosecco, and if you want to finish your lunch with a good sweet, we suggest trying the cake called polentina.

You can taste many of the local products during the period of the Fair of St. Matthew in Feltre which takes place during the first 10 days of November, when there is also free entry to the Civic Museums.

Related article: the history of Feltre