Montebelluna
Montebelluna is a town in the province of Treviso, at the foot of the Treviso Prealps, known worldwide as the capital of the "spor...
Updated 12 July 2026 · Sources: Conoscenza redazionale verificata: distretto industriale sportsystem di Montebelluna; Museo di Storia Naturale e Archeologia di Montebelluna (necropoli paleoveneta); Mercato Vecchio e Santuario di Santa Maria in Colle; Montello (Grande Guerra, gallerie); colline del Prosecco (UNESCO); fiume Piave.
The story
The story of Montebelluna
The Sportsystem Capital
Montebelluna is universally recognised as the world capital of the "sportsystem", the industrial district that, since the late nineteenth century, has revolutionised the production of sports footwear. This is where brands that made the history of skiing and technical footwear were born, thanks to the vision of local craftsmen who transformed the traditional making of mountain boots into an innovative, global industry. The district today includes hundreds of companies specialising in sports shoes, ski boots, technical apparel and components, which continue to export Montebelluna's know-how across the world. This industrial vocation coexists with a strong sense of identity: the town celebrates its manufacturing history through events, exhibitions and a heritage of craft skills passed down through generations, making Montebelluna a unique case in the Italian manufacturing landscape.
The Museum of Natural History and Archaeology
The Museum of Natural History and Archaeology of Montebelluna preserves a valuable heritage that tells the long history of the area, from its geological origins to the Iron Age. The archaeological section gathers finds from the excavations of the local paleo-Venetic necropolis, with funerary goods, pottery and bronze objects that testify to communities settled in these lands many centuries before the arrival of the Romans. Alongside the archaeological section, the natural history route illustrates the geology, flora and fauna of the Montebelluna area, offering a complete reading of the landscape between the Prealps, the Montello hill and the plain. The museum is an essential stop for understanding the town's roots, often associated only with its industrial vocation, but in fact heir to an age-old history written in stone and bronze.
The Mercato Vecchio and the Sanctuary in Colle
The ancient heart of Montebelluna lies on the Mercato Vecchio hill, the original nucleus around which the town developed over the centuries. From this height, once home to the castle and the town market, the view stretches across the Treviso plain and the first foothills of the Prealps. At the top of the hill stands the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Colle, a place of worship and popular devotion that houses works of art and testimonies of local faith, a destination for pilgrimages and a place to pause and enjoy one of the most striking views in the area. The walk leading up to the sanctuary, among lanes and panoramic glimpses, allows visitors to retrace the historical layers of Montebelluna, from its medieval origins to modern urban development, in a fascinating contrast between memory and the present day.
The Montello and the First World War
A few kilometres from the town centre lies the Montello, a hilly ridge entirely covered in woodland that represents one of the most distinctive landscapes of the area. During the First World War the Montello was a front line and the scene of fierce fighting, particularly in the phase following the retreat of Caporetto, when it became a defensive bulwark along the Piave river. Today the hill still preserves a rich heritage of wartime memory: tunnels carved into the rock, trenches, military positions and commemorative markers encountered along the hiking trails. The Montello is now also an important natural area, criss-crossed by trekking and mountain-biking routes, where vegetation has reclaimed the signs of the conflict, offering visitors an experience that combines nature, historical memory and reflection.
Between Prosecco and the Piave
Montebelluna enjoys a privileged geographical position, set between two of the best-known symbols of the Treviso area: the Prosecco hills and the Piave river. A few kilometres to the north stretch the vineyards that produce the famous sparkling wine, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their extraordinary agricultural landscape. To the south and east flows the Piave, a river of strong symbolic value in Italian history, whose broad and changeable course has shaped the life and economy of the area for centuries. This location makes Montebelluna an ideal base for exploring a territory rich in contrasts in every direction: the vine-covered hills to the north, the farmland plain to the south, the green of the Montello to the east and the Prealps visible on the horizon, a mosaic of landscapes that can be discovered by bicycle or along scenic roads.
Flavours of the Territory
The cuisine of Montebelluna reflects the meeting of plain, hill and mountain that characterises its territory. The table features dishes from Treviso's rural tradition, from seasonal risottos to polenta served with mountain-pasture cheeses, along with cured meats and meats reared in the surrounding countryside. Typical products linked to the nearby Prosecco area are also present, with wines and sparkling wines accompanying dishes based on mushrooms and radicchio, another symbol of Treviso's food culture. The Montello area also offers honey, forest products and cheeses born of local dairy tradition. Restaurants, taverns and farm holiday establishments in the area offer tasting routes that tell, through flavours, the agricultural and industrial history of a territory that has managed to keep its gastronomic identity alive despite the economic and urban development of recent decades.
How to Visit
Montebelluna is easily reachable, about 30 kilometres from Treviso and not far from Venice, and is well connected by the regional rail and road network. The town centre lends itself to a walking visit, allowing the Mercato Vecchio hill, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Colle and the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology to be linked in a short time. For those wishing to explore the Montello and the surrounding hills, the area is equipped with signposted hiking trails and cycling routes, suitable both for a relaxing walk and for more demanding mountain-bike itineraries. The town is also an excellent starting point for excursions to the Prosecco hills, the Piave river and the sites of First World War memory, making Montebelluna a versatile base for a stay exploring the Treviso area.
Unmissable Experiences
- Stroll through the lanes of the Mercato Vecchio and climb to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Colle for a view over the Treviso plain.
- Visit the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology and admire the finds from the paleo-Venetic necropolis.
- Explore the First World War tunnels and trenches on the Montello along the historic trails.
- Cycle or walk through the woods of the Montello, among trenches, clearings and scenic viewpoints.
- Discover the museums and workshops of the sportsystem linked to the history of sports footwear.
- Head up to the Prosecco hills for a wine tasting amid the UNESCO World Heritage vineyards.
- Walk along the banks of the Piave, the river sacred to the Homeland, between history and nature.
- Savour local cuisine with polenta, mountain-pasture cheeses, radicchio and regional wines.
To see
What to see in Montebelluna
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Montebelluna
Jobs · JobFlow
