Returning with its 18th edition is Veneto Spettacoli di Mistero, the festival promoted by the Region of Veneto and organized by UNPLI Veneto, dedicated to the places, characters, and most fascinating stories of the regional popular tradition. This year, the festival, scheduled from October 23 to November 29, pays homage to the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis and chooses the theme of “Veneto Bestiary”: a journey among real and fantastic animals, beliefs, rituals, and legendary creatures.
In the territory of the province of Belluno, the theme finds a particularly evocative dimension, intertwining with the landscape of the Dolomites, the woods, and the valleys, and with a heritage of stories passed down through time. The Belluno program leads to the discovery of dragons, mysterious animals, creatures of the woods, and figures from Alpine folklore, through performances, storytelling, visits, and initiatives capable of bringing to light a popular memory still deeply tied to the places.
From Belluno, Tambre, Trichiana, Soranzen, Fonzaso, Alano di Piave, Lozzo di Cadore, and Longarone, the festival thus becomes an opportunity to rediscover the territory through its oldest and most mysterious imagery: an intangible heritage made up of legends, superstitions, peasant traditions, and fantastic stories, preserved and handed down thanks to the commitment of the Pro Loco.