Tarvisio's origins probably go back to Roman times, since the area was settled by the Celtic "Taurisci", from whom the name Tarvisio probably derives.

During the Middle Ages, it belonged to the bishops of Bamberga, who in 1456 promoted the iron-working industry. After being sacked by the Turks in the 16th century, Tarvisio was the scene of numerous armed struggles. Following World War I it became part of Italy. Since then, situated on the main Venice-Vienna route and near the important Coccau and Predil passes, it has been a dynamic border area.
From the 1920s on, the commune of Tarvisio has been a destination of numerous immigrants, both from Friuli and from the rest of Italy, substantially changing its ethnic composition.