The Ladin People of the Dolomites

It’s not hard to conjure a mental picture of the Dolomites—those soaring Alpine peaks and lush valleys make a lasting impression. Their impressive geography has earned them a UNESCO World Heritage designation, but you may be less familiar with the people who inhabit this fascinating region. The Ladin people have their own language and traditions that form an integral part of the history of the Dolomites, and anyone considering an Italy hiking tour will benefit from a little background beforehand.

Who exactly are the Ladin people, and what is their connection to the Dolomites? Read on for more, especially if you’re preparing to hike The Dolomites Traversein the near future.

Who are the Ladin people?

The Ladin people have inhabited the Dolomites since the time of the Romans. When the Alps were integrated into the Roman Empire, the influence of Latin-speaking soldiers and officials led the local people to adopt the language. Eventually, Ladin evolved into a distinct language of its own, while other political shifts over time concentrated the population in the northeast of Italy.

In fact, three of the areas we visit on The Dolomites Traverse—Val Gardena, Alta Badia, and Cortina d’Ampezzo—are within the region known as Ladinia. That alone gives some idea of the Ladin influence on the area, although today the Ladin community amounts to only around 30,000 people.

Ladin people’s culture is distinct from their Italian neighbours. Cuisine, traditions, and even architecture have a unique twist. Before we get to that, though, a word about language.

The Ladin language

As mentioned, the Ladin language is derived from Latin, just like other Romance languages such as French, Italian, and Spanish. It is, however, a minority language in Italy, so you’ll encounter many Italians who aren’t very familiar with it either.

Despite that, attempts to preserve the Ladin language seem to be working. It’s recognized locally as an official language, and you’ll surely see encounter it on your travels through the Dolomites. For instance, you’ll notice street signs in Ladin as well as Italian and German. That may sound confusing, but multilingualism is very much par for the course in an area this close to Switzerland. If you hear a cheerful “Bun dé!” while out hiking, just know you’ve been greeted in Ladin.

And the more you listen, the more Ladin you’ll hear. The language isn’t just spoken in homes throughout the Dolomites, it’s taught in schools and broadcast in Ladin-language radio and tv programs. It’s also used in theatre, poetry, music, and many other facets of Ladin culture.

Ladin culture

What exactly makes Ladin culture distinct from Italian? There are differences large and small, but one of the most immediately recognizable aspects of Ladin culture are the viles, a traditional type of rural settlement. You’ll probably be struck by how harmonious the viles look situated in the Alpine landscape. Viles are built around communal principles, meaning their placement reflects a desire to share good farmland equitably. Farmers each take a share of the best soil, and pool resources like drinking troughs and outdoor ovens.

That community-minded approach often makes Ladin people hospitable, and their pastimes also reflect a connection to the Dolomites. It should come as no surprise that skiing is hugely popular—a bucket list ski trip for many might just be a typical weekend in Ladinia. A warming cup of mulled wine always pairs beautifully with skiing, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Ladin food and drink.

Ladin cuisine, much like Italian, places a high priority on simple, fresh ingredients. Traditional barley soup, for example, can be exquisitely flavourful with the addition of smoked pork. Ladin and Italian chefs also share a love of cheese. On the other hand, many recipes show the influence of Austria just to the north. Think about a post-ski meal of bales da ciociul (smoked ham dumplings) with strudel for dessert and you’ll get a sense of what you might find at a rustic Ladin restaurant.

Lastly, if you’re looking to do a deep dive into Ladin culture, you’ll want to learn about its traditional folklore. The Kingdom of the Fanes is a popular national epic, passed down orally before it was recorded as literature. Packed with fantasy staples such as kings, queens, magical weapons, sorcerers, and dwarves, it also features an unusual contribution from the animal kingdom: marmots play a pivotal role. If that twist intrigues you, see if you can track down the English translation of Dolomitensagen (“The Dolomites and Their Legends”) by Karl Felix Wolff.

Explore the Dolomites

This is only a very basic introduction to a sophisticated, deep-rooted culture, but hopefully it piques your interest. The next time you’re admiring pictures of the soaring Dolomite peaks, you might just find your eye drawn to the Ladin cabins in the valley below. There’s no substitute for on-the-ground experience, though, so if you’d like see them firsthand, do consider The Dolomites Traverse for your next adventure.

Learn more about the Italy: The Dolomites Traverse tour

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