The north eastern alpine arc, between Adige and Isonzo, with its wooded areas furrowed by valleys traversed by copious rivers, became a favoured source of timber in the early Middle Ages for the Serenissima Republic of Venice. Along the river Piave, which marked the most direct route between the Cadore and Bellunese wood and Venice, groups of raftsmen formed who were governed by strict rules ensuring the work was done properly. The Republic officially recognised these rules with an act of the doge, Agostino Barbarigo, on 3rd August 1492. The celebrations of the 500th anniversary of the Piave raftmen's statute recall this important part of Veneto and Bellunese history. The whole village of Codissago di Castellavazzo, inhabited mostly by descendants of the ancient raftsmen, have contributed with generous dedication to this event.