Cadini group, Mountain range in the Dolomites, Veneto, Italy
The Cadini group, also known as Cadini di Misurina, is a mountain range in the eastern Dolomites, in the province of Belluno in Veneto, bordering the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the Cristallo group. Its skyline is defined by slender towers, sharp spires, and narrow ridges, while deep hollows divide the range into a northern and a southern section.
The Cadini group sits within the Sexten Dolomites, which became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The first recorded climb of a peak in the group took place in 1896, when the brothers Giovanni and Pietro Siorpaes reached the top of one of the towers.
The name Cadini comes from the local word 'ciadìn,' meaning deep hollows or basins, which describes the shape of the valleys cut into the rock. A lookout on the northern side of the group is sometimes called the Towers of Mordor by hikers, because the jagged spires look like something from a fantasy story.
Lake Misurina is the usual starting point for hikes into the group, and many trails are accessible to people without climbing equipment. Those looking for more demanding routes, such as the Sentiero Alberto Bonacossa, should be comfortable with heights, as these paths cross secured but exposed sections.
The Sentiero Alberto Bonacossa, which crosses the Cadini group, links several mountain huts along a high-alpine path with cable-secured sections that require a helmet. This route is one of the few in the Dolomites that passes through the middle of a tower group rather than just around its edges.
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