Sappada

Sappada (Sappada Bavarian German: Plodn;German: Pladen; Friulian: Sapade) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region of Veneto, located about 130 kilometres (81 mi) north of Venice and about 60 kilometres (37 mi) northeast of Belluno. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,339 and an area of 62.6 square kilometres (24.2 sq mi).

Sappada is a German language island in Italy. The local vernacular, Plodarsich or plodar schproche (Sappadino in Italian), is a variety of Puster Valley Tyrolean Bavarian that is closely related to the speech of nearby Sauris (Zahre) in Friuli. It is unrelated to the Germanic Cimbrian language spoken in other language islands in Trentino and Veneto.

Although Sappada is currently part of the Veneto region, it was historically part of Friuli. In 2010, the municipality has formally asked to become part of Friuli Venezia Giulia. According to the Italian constitution, municipalities bordering on autonomous regions have the right to ask for the incorporation into the neighboring region. The municipal council of Sappada took advantage of this possibility and ask the Friuli Venezia Giulia region to join it. In September 2010, the Regional Council of Friuli Venezia Giulia accepted the municipality's demand.