| Belluno | |
|---|---|
| — Comune — | |
| Città di Belluno | |
| Panorama of Belluno | |
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Belluno
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Veneto |
| Province | Belluno (BL) |
| Frazioni | see list |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Antonio Prade (PdL) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 147.18 km2 (56.8 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 390 m (1,280 ft) |
| Population (30 April 2009) | |
| • Total | 36,506 |
| • Density | 248/km2 (642.4/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Bellunesi |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 32100 |
| Dialing code | 0437 |
| Patron saint | Saint Martin |
| Saint day | 11 November |
| Website | Official website |
Belluno (German: Beilun, Italian: Belluno, Ladin: Belum, Venetian: Belùn), is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area of Valbelluna. It is one of the 15 municipalities of the Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi.
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The ancient city of Belluno rises above a cliff spur near the confluence of the Torrente Ardo and the Piave River. To the north is the imposing Schiara range of the Dolomites, with the famous Gusela del Vescovà (Bishopric's needle), and Mounts Serva and Talvena rising above the city. To the south, the foothills of the Alps separate Belluno from the Venetian plain. Further to the south is the Nevegal, in the Castionese area, well known for its skiing resorts. The average annual temperature in Belluno is 9 °C (48 °F), and the average annual precipitation is 137 cm (54 inches).
The name of the city is derived from celtic belo-dunum which means "splendid hill." The name was inspired by the favorable position within the valley.
The city was founded around 220-200 BC by the Romans and, starting from 181 BC, it became an important military stronghold in the Roman Venetia. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was ruled by the Lombards (6th century) and the Carolingians (8th century); from the late 9th century it was ruled by a count-bishop and it received a castle and a line of walls. Later it was a possession of the Ghibelline family of the Ezzelino. After having longly contended the nearby territory with Treviso, in the end Belluno gave itself to the Republic of Venice (1404). The city was thenceforth an important hub for the transport of lumber from the Cadore through the Piave river.
After the fall of the Republic, Belluno was an Austrian possession, until it was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
Antole, Bes, Bolzano Bellunese, Caleipo-Sossai, Castion, Castoi, Cavessago, Cavarzano, Cet, Chiesurazza, Cirvoi, Col di Piana, Col di Salce, Collungo, Cusighe, Faverga, Fiammoi, Giamosa, Giazzoi, Levego, Madeago, Miér, Nevegal, Orzes, Pedeserva, Pra de Luni, Rivamaor, Safforze, Sala, Salce, San Pietro in Campo, Sargnano, Sois, Sopracroda, Sossai, Tassei, Tisoi, Vezzano, Vignole, Visome.
Baldenich, borgo Garibaldi (o via garibaldi), Borgo Piave, Borgo Prà, Cavarzano, Mussoi, San Lorenzo, Quartier Cadore, Via Feltre-Maraga, San Francesco, Lambioi, Via Montegrappa, Via Cairoli
State roads lead from Belluno to Feltre, Treviso, Ponte nelle Alpi and Vittorio Veneto.
Belluno railway station, at Piazzale della Stazione, forms part of the Calalzo–Padua railway. It was opened in 1912, and replaced an earlier station opened in 1886. Its passenger building, designed by the architect Roberto Narducci, was constructed in 1928.
The bus station is also at the Piazzale della Stazione, next to the railway station.
Belluno is twinned with: