- Depending on the version, the name Nèva – “the mountain of Eve” – derives from the dialect of Feltre and e(g)ua (tr. Water, water-rich area). From June to September, it was tradition to go to “montegàr” (tr. to pasture) in Eva; as time passed it became inEva, mutating to Nèva. For this reason, the whole area is called Nèva, with Cadìn di Nèva indicating the highest basin of glacial origin, from which the stream of Rio Nèva starts, dominated by Monte Nèva and its peaks.
- From the historical cartography, the “Mountain of Eve” was divided and assigned by the Bishop of Feltre into two distinct fiefdoms: the “mons de Eva maiori” to Feltre and the “mons de Eva minor” to Primiero. The territory remained used only by people from Feltre until the XVIII century, even if, from the end of the XIV century, the two territories became part of the two different states: the Republic of Venice and the Austrian Tyrol. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the states’ border crossed the Nèva basin. Today, it is still possible to see some of the border stones, dating back to the 19th century. The territory of Nèva went under a further division with the purchase by Transacqua of a part of the Eva minor, which gave the name of Nèva Prima, resulting in the formation of the middle Nèva, today Nèva Seconda, and of the Eve major or Casera di Nevétta, on the Feltre side.
- In the Feltre territory, during the Second World War, the Casera Nèva was renovated for use as a mountain hut. Purchased later by the Municipality of Mezzano, in 1970 Casera Nèva became Rifugio Boz, rented to the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) of Feltre, to the memory of Bruno Boz, which was a climber and partner of the CAI of Feltre, who died during while he was hunting.
References
- CAI Feltre (2002). La Montagna di Neva. Libreria Editrice Agorà.
- CAI Feltre (2012). Andar per monti. La grande passione. Libreria Agorà.
