Alpe del Nevegàl

The Alpe del Nevegàl is an Italian hill within the municipal area of ​​Belluno, in the Belluno Prealps, located south-east of the city, a well-known summer and winter tourist resort. According to some popular sources, the toponym derives from its particular position with respect to the capital Belluno: it shows its snowy slope (snow) and it is from its profile that the Sun emerges at dawn and starts the day (like the rooster). The plateau extends over the Belluno pre-Alps, facing north to the Dolomites, with altitudes around 1,000 m a.s.l. To the east and south it is bordered by some peaks which are, in order, Mount Pascolet (1,278 m), Mount Faverghera (1,611 m), Col Toront (1,675 m) and Col Visentin (1,763 m).

The landscape embraces from west to north on Valbelluna (and in particular on Belluno itself) and the first Dolomite peaks (Vette Feltrine, Monti del Sole, Schiara) but it is also easy to see some important massifs such as Pelmo, Civetta and Marmolada; to the east the view extends over the pre-Alpine area of ​​Alpago and Cansiglio. The Nevegàl can be reached via various access routes. The main carriage road is the SP 31 "del Nevegàl" which, starting from Belluno, reaches the plateau via Castion and descends towards Ponte nelle Alpi connecting to the A27 "Pian di Vedoia" exit.

On the Nevegàl stands a sanctuary named after the Virgin of Lourdes. It was built by the then bishop of Belluno-Feltre Maffeo Giovanni Ducoli for religious service to tourists from Nevegàl and to welcome pilgrims devoted to Our Lady of Lourdes. The laying of the foundation stone dates back to March 21, 1992, the solemn inauguration on July 30, 1994, with the opening to church worship. In the sanctuary there is a historic organ built by Domenico and Raffaele Fedeli in 1764. The organ, donated by Don Osvaldo Bortolot, was rebuilt, restored and installed by the organ builder Alessandro Girotto di Postioma in 1994, on the occasion of the opening and blessing of the sanctuary. The main statue of the Madonna, in Carrara marble, was blessed by Pope John Paul II while staying in Lorenzago di Cadore. The sacred place was also visited by Pope Benedict XVI when he was still a cardinal.

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Map: Alpe del Nevegàl