The municipality of Belluno hosts Oltre Le Vette, one of Italy's longest-running and most renowned cultural festivals dedicated to the mountains. This international event transforms the Venetian capital into a crossroads of ideas, stories, and experiences, exploring the mountain dimension through seven fundamental "souls": Nature, Adventure, Travel, Frontier, Discovery, Introspection, Confrontation, and Sharing.
A Festival That Goes "Beyond" Mountaineering
Despite the mountain's central theme, Oltre Le Vette is not exclusively aimed at mountaineers. The festival is distinguished by a high-level, multidisciplinary selection spanning books, cinema, music, and art. The goal is to bring to Belluno anyone worldwide who creates significant work on the theme of mountains and adventure, establishing a cultural stage with a global reach.
The Guests
The festival's success and resonance are evidenced by the gallery of illustrious personalities who have graced its stages. Legendary names in mountaineering and culture like Walter Bonatti, Reinhold Messner, Mario Rigoni Stern, Erri De Luca, Gino Strada, Paolo Rumiz, Riccardo Cassin, Marco Paolini, Adam Ondra, Mauro Corona, and many others have helped make Oltre Le Vette an unmissable event for lovers of mountains and culture in general.
A Beacon for Dolomite Sustainability
In addition to being a cultural meeting point, the event plays a crucial role in the narrative and protection of the Dolomites. As a territory recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2009) and part of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, the area is promoted not only for its beauty but also in terms of environmental and tourism sustainability. The festival champions the need to know and understand this precious and fragile asset before attempting to protect it.
Heading Towards Thirty Years: The 2025 Edition
The 2025 edition, titled "Oltre le Vette. Metaphors, Men, Places of the Mountain," promises to be even richer and more articulated, marking the approach to the thirtieth anniversary in 2026. With an extended calendar starting in October, continuing in December, and culminating from January 9 to 18, 2026, the festival will offer more days and new cultural proposals to celebrate and deepen the complex and fascinating universe of the mountains.
