The Legend of Agordo
According to a legend of Agordo, the name of this beautiful resort comes from a little boy named Agordo who miraculously saved himself from an accident in the lake.
A long time ago, in the place where the town of Agordo is situated, there was a water basin and the Cordevole stream flowed into it. Due to a very strong wind, one day the boat of a family overturned: on board there were father, mother and their little son Agordo. Luckily both parents managed to save themselves but there was no trace of the child. At a certain point, Saint Martin appeared by chance as if by magic, rifting the rocks of the mountain with his imposing sword and the water of the lake could flow to the place where today there is the town Galleria dei Castei.
Why Does Agordo Bear This Name?
The place where the rock was rifted by the saint is still known as Tagliata di San Martino (in English Rift of Saint Martin).
Of course, Agordo was still alive and was found shielded under the boat. In the place where once there was the lake, the water had disappeared. This is the reason why, according to the legend, the town is called Agordo. This legend was depicted also in a splendid graffito executed by Dunio Piccolin for the cicle of works “Agordo Paese del Graffito” (in English Agordo, Town of Graffito).
Did the Lake Really Exist?
The story of the little boy Agordo is only a legend, nevertheless there must have been a real big lake here in ancient times. In fact, geological studies on some examined ground samples have pointed out the presence of a lake here 6000 years ago. It must have been there for six centuries (give or take). The most plausible hypothesis is that the basin had been formed by a landslide fallen into a gorge, blocking the flow of the Cordevole stream.
The Story of the Name
According to a theory of Giovan Battista Pellegrini, the name Agordo derives from Agihard, a Longboard personal name. The story of the heraldic coat of arms of the town, representing two crenelated Guelf towers under a very cloudy sky, is interesting too. The towers are situated on two rocks with a river in the middle. Above there is a star formed by six silver rays. The towers on the river represent the ancient right of way of logs through the Cordevole stream.