Holiday apartment in Tovena – history, trails and local festivals

Tovena combines a fascinating history of travel routes with small cultural sites, short hikes and lively festival traditions. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Tovena, discover a place where the history of the connections between the Dolomites and the lagoon is reflected alongside regional cuisine and sacred art.

Holiday apartment in Tovena amid route history and local culture

For centuries, Tovena was crossed by hikers, merchants and pilgrims travelling between the Dolomites and the lagoon. The bell tower also tells of this role: over time, it served as an important landmark for travellers descending from Passo San Boldo or crossing the valley. Thus, the townscape is not only home to a single historic structure, but also offers a tangible reminder of the historical importance of these routes.

This past is particularly vividly presented at the Museo della Strada dei 100 Giorni in Tovena’s Alpini lodge. The small exhibition space focuses on the construction of the “Strada dei 100 Giorni” and the military events in the area during the First World War under Austro-Hungarian occupation. For visitors interested in culture, this is where local history meets the history of a road that connects Tovena with the surrounding landscape.

Short hike to the Chiesetta di San Vigilio

A compact excursion leads from the small Santa Ottilia chapel to the Chiesetta di San Vigilio. Santa Ottilia is the starting point for the short hike; north of Tovena, the CAI Sentiero Zanin trail also begins behind the chapel and leads to the former, deconsecrated Chiesetta di San Vigilio. The church lies beyond Tovena’s town centre and before the hairpin bends and tunnels of Passo di San Boldo.

The Chiesetta di San Vigilio was built at the end of the 16th century and can be reached via a short mule track, preserved in its original condition, with dry-stone walls. Beside the church stands a stone hermitage. It served as sleeping quarters where hermit monks offered hikers and pilgrims accommodation and refreshment. On this short route, sacred architectural history, historic travel routes and a tangible experience of the landscape therefore come together.

Mountain pass road, museums and regional traditions

The Strada dei 100 Giorni from Tovena to Trichiana is 15 km long in total. At the Museo della Strada dei 100 Giorni, the construction of this road can be viewed in its historical context. The contrasting scale of the short hike and the 15-kilometre road connection helps you plan your excursions according to your interests and preferred pace.

Sacred art also has a firm place in Tovena. The Museo di Arte Sacra is housed in an 18th-century building just a few steps from the parish church. On display is a wooden crucifix from the 17th century. The Secolare Fiera Franca for Santi Simone e Giuda is recognised nationwide as a “Sagra di Qualità”.

A special date is “Tovena in Festa”, celebrated in Tovena from 16 October to 31 October 2026 with three weeks full of events. The festival has its roots in the history of Tovena and the entire valley. It also features “trippa alla tovenese”, a traditional local dish that can be sampled during Tovena in Festa.

Discover more destinations in the same region here: Salvatronda, Asolo, Loria, Crespignaga, Portobuffolè, Mansuè, Oderzo, Sarmede.

To the higher-level travel overview: Treviso.