Towns are not just walls, houses, streets, or fountains. They are the people who inhabit them, who open their windows in the morning to let in the air, who traverse the streets, who greet each other when they cross paths and can give directions to someone asking because they are locals.

The current depopulation of small mountain communities and their hamlets, which also affects Cadore, leads to the cultural emptiness of the territories, the loss of vital forces and the ability to act, and the real or perceived lowering of the quality of life.

"Gente di montagna" aims to enhance the mountains, primarily those in Cadore but not limited to, by narrating the connections and interactions between people, the environment, and the land in mountainous areas, through a journey of images of people living in the mountains, intersecting cultures from around the world.

The idea behind the initiative is to make mountain residents more aware of the meaning of the places they live in and encourage them to be active citizens who build projects and new models of future life, urging tourists to become responsible and supportive citizens rather than mere consumers, fostering a mutual exchange of cultures and knowledge.

The path, unfolding through the streets of Pozzale, presents over 100 printed images arranged on the walls of houses in various formats, collected from local families, friends, and acquaintances.

Moreover, thanks to innovative technology based on artificial intelligence, the photographs "speak". Through a free app available for both Android and iOS, you can listen to the emotions that each image encapsulates: the voices of mountain people from Cadore to Carnia to Pollino, the sounds of the procession in Madonie, the singing of Abruzzo women from Scanno, a poem in Ladin, a softly spoken nursery rhyme, an unpublished ballad, the sound of bells, and much more.

Following the path winding through the village, it's not just a simple stroll but an experience that is not only visual but also emotional, non-repetitive, unique, and exclusive. The "Gente di montagna" app was created by Roberto Da Forno, a computer engineer originally from Pozzale, with the intention of engaging visitors more by offering them specific sound commentary for the observed photograph. Simply point your phone at the photo, and the neural network, previously "trained," automatically recognizes it, allowing us to hear the sounds associated with that image, just like our brain recognizes, remembers, and evokes emotions.

No QR codes or expertise in photography are necessary—just a smartphone and the desire to listen, watch, and be moved.

The exhibited photographs come not only from Cadore but also from Lombardy, Friuli, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Spain, Iran, North Vietnam, and Nepal, with more to be added. The exhibition is permanent, and the photographs are available to anyone visiting Pozzale, viewable every day of the year, at all hours of the day.

Whether at night, dawn, in the rain or snow, with the sun or at sunset, you will encounter the "Gente di montagna." Guided tours are also available upon request.

The project has been embraced with enthusiasm by all the residents of Pozzale.

With the sponsorship of the Municipality of Pieve di Cadore and the Magnifica Regola di Pozzale.