Cortina d'Ampezzo

Photo: Robero Vecellio. Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the very heart of the Dolomites in the Veneto region and often called the "pearl of the Dolomites", is certainly one of the best-known ski resorts in the world. Winter sports in Cortina go back to the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. For years the town was a favourite holiday spot of the elite: intellectuals, artists, European aristocracy and international high society. As a result it acquired a special atmosphere and charm that can still be felt today. Cortina is made up of several hamlets scattered across the floor of the broad Valle d'Ampezzo, surrounded by mountain meadows and forests. To the north the valley is closed off by the imposing rock massifs of Pomagagnon and Monte Cristallo. To the east rise the Sorapis and Antelao. To the south stands the rock block of Monte Pelmo, and to the west, above the Falzárego pass, the squat shapes of the three peaks of the Tofane group can be seen. Around Cortina there are six ski areas where skiers of every ability will find suitable slopes. Seasoned skiers can test themselves on the descent from the Forcella Staunies saddle; those who ski less dynamically will like the pistes of the Mietres ski area. Around Cortina you can ski from very high up (the piste from Monte Cristallo, for example, starts at 3,000 m) and for a very long way (several pistes go all the way down to the valley, for example the one from the summit of Lagazuoi). Most of the ski terrain is wonderfully sunny, yet the snow cover stays flawless (95% of the pistes have snowmaking). Cortina is a paradise for fans of both "classic" disciplines and extreme skiing. Sports events of international standing are held there every year. At the same time the area is a great place for beginners and intermediate skiers, and for families in which not everyone is passionate about skiing. Alternatives to the slopes include sightseeing, winter walks, ice skating, tobogganing, snow rafting and ice climbing. You can also try the so-called Skitour Olimpia, a kind of ski journey through the Dolomites linking the places of greatest historical, ethnographic and cultural interest. Cross-country skiers have 73 km of trails of varying difficulty and length. Accommodation is varied: from very luxurious small hotels to private rooms and mountain huts where peace and quiet reign. But Cortina is not just a resort. The town is also an important point on Italy's cultural map: art exhibitions, literary meetings and similar events take place there all year round. The gallery of twentieth-century Italian art in the Pinacoteca Rimoldi is worth seeing; the collections of the palaeontological and ethnographic museum are also interesting. In your free time you can simply stroll along the Corso Italia (treating yourself to what the Italians call "struscio"), scout out the exclusive and expensive shops, relax in one of the many cafés and, in the evening, let your hair down in a nightclub. You can also go to a gala reception or a fashion show, or watch an ice skating show or a dance competition. You will need a well-filled wallet, though, as Cortina is one of the most expensive and snobbish places in the Dolomites.