Arabba
Arabba is a hamlet of the municipality of Livinallongo del Col di Lana, in the province of Belluno, set at over 1,600 metres at th...
Updated 13 July 2026
The story
The story of Arabba
Sellaronda: the ski circuit that made Arabba famous
Arabba is one of the four historic hubs of the Sellaronda, the ring of slopes and lifts that circles the Sella massif, touching Val Badia, Val Gardena and Val di Fassa. The route can be skied clockwise or counter-clockwise and links linguistically and culturally different valleys in a single day of skiing, thanks to a well-organised system of ski buses and cable cars. From Arabba the route climbs towards Passo Pordoi and Passo Campolongo, two of the passes that make the connection possible. The Arabba-Marmolada ski area is part of the Dolomiti Superski network, among the largest in the world by piste kilometres, and offers steeper, more technical runs than other sectors of the circuit, appreciated by experienced skiers.
The Marmolada, queen of the Dolomites
From Arabba the eye naturally turns to the Marmolada, which at 3,342 metres is the highest peak of the Dolomites. The mountain hosts the range's only significant glacier, now retreating sharply due to climate change, a subject the area follows closely for safety and monitoring purposes as well. The cable car up to Punta Rocca offers one of the widest panoramas in the eastern Alps, spanning from the Pale di San Martino to the Sella group. For skiers, the Marmolada also means the Bellunese piste, one of the longest descents in the Dolomites, running down to Arabba with a substantial vertical drop along a single run.
Ladin culture in the upper Cordevole valley
Livinallongo del Col di Lana, the municipality of which Arabba is a hamlet, belongs to the Ladin area of the Dolomites together with Val Badia, Val Gardena, Fassa and Livinallongo itself. The Ladin language, recognised as a historic minority language, coexists with Italian in signage, place names and some local cultural initiatives. Traditional mountain architecture, wooden and stone huts, and farmsteads scattered across the slopes tell of a way of life adapted to long alpine winters. Local food, with alpine-pasture cheeses and dishes based on canederli dumplings and game, also reflects this borderland identity, straddling Veneto, Trentino and South Tyrol.
Passo Pordoi and Passo Campolongo, gateways to neighbouring valleys
Passo Pordoi links Arabba to Trentino and Val di Fassa, while Passo Campolongo opens the way to South Tyrol and Val Badia: two passes that make Arabba a natural crossroads between three different territories. In summer these mountain roads attract cyclists tackling the historic Dolomite climbs, often included in cycling routes and competitive events. In winter they become an integral part of the ski circuit, with slopes and lifts following their course. The combination of high passes, rock walls and wide pastures makes this one of the most recognisable alpine landscapes, often cited among the iconic images of the Dolomites.
Summer in Arabba: hiking and outdoor life among the Dolomite walls
With the end of the ski season, the same lifts that carry skiers uphill become a convenient way to reach trails and viewpoints in summer too. The area around Arabba offers hiking routes of varying difficulty, from valley-floor paths to more demanding via ferrata routes on historic walls, some linked to the First World War events that deeply marked this area, from Col di Lana to Passo Pordoi. Mountain biking has dedicated tracks, while mountain photography enthusiasts often choose Arabba as a base to reach the best-known viewpoints over the Marmolada and the Sella group.
Experiences not to miss
- Ski the Sellaronda circuit clockwise or counter-clockwise through Val Badia, Val Gardena and Val di Fassa
- Take the cable car up to the Marmolada for a panorama over the whole Dolomites
- Ski down the Bellunese piste, one of the longest runs in the area
- Cycle over Passo Pordoi and Passo Campolongo in summer
- Discover the First World War sites between Col di Lana and the upper Cordevole valley
Routes · Trovido Route
