Longarone

Longarone is a comune (municipality) in the Veneto region of northern Italy, in the province of Belluno. It lies in the Piave valley at the foothills of the Dolomites, northwest of Belluno. The municipality includes the main town of Longarone and several smaller frazioni, and it is situated near Lake Santa Croce and the upper Piave river, in a landscape of mountains, forests, and agricultural land.

Longarone is historically linked to the Vajont disaster of 1963, when a landslide from Monte Toc fell into the reservoir created by the Vajont Dam. The resulting wave devastated the Piave valley and caused extensive loss of life in Longarone and surrounding communities; the event is estimated to have killed about 2,000 people. A memorial and museum in the area commemorate the disaster and serve as a reminder of dam safety and disaster preparedness.

The local economy has long been based on crafts and manufacturing, particularly furniture and wood processing. Tourism also plays a role, with visitors drawn by the Dolomites, the lake scenery, and the historical significance of the Vajont area. Longarone sustains a cultural calendar of local festivals and markets that reflect Veneto traditions.