The mountains that surround Cortina d’Ampezzo are places of great beauty and charm. Cortina d’Ampezzo and its mountains have inspired Hemingway and Bardot, they have been the backdrop to films such as Cliffhanger, The Pink Panther, 007 Just for your eyes, Fantozzi and protagonists such as Sylver Stallone, Paolo Villaggio, Marcello Mastroianni and Faye Dunaway. The mountains crown Cortina on all sides, giving it the title of Queen of the Dolomites, a paradise for ski and climbing enthusiasts, a glamorous catwalk for Italian and international society.
Set in the Ampezzo valley and among the Veneto Dolomite peaks, Cortina d’Ampezzo is an Italian tourist resort of great charm and unique beauty. The surrounding mountains are among the most impressive and spectacular in the area and become the setting for numerous opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts..
The mountains of Cortina are famous for their ski and snowboard slopes, but they also offer many other activities, such as rock climbing, hiking, mountain cycling and paragliding. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the valley and its peaks to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities.
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What are the most famous mountains in Cortina?
The town of Cortina d’Ampezzo is located in the province of Belluno and is surrounded by the Ampezzo Dolomites (that’s what they call the Cortina Dolomites), which include some of the most famous mountains in the area that reach 3244 meters.
The main mountains are Tofana di Mezzo, Sorapiss and Monte Cristallo, among the best known are the Tofane to the west, a mountain complex that dominates the city with its three peaks (Tofana di Rozes, Tofana di Mezzo and Tofana di Dentro).
The Tofane of Cortina are famous for their ski and snowboard slopes, but they are also a popular destination for rock climbing and the many routes of varying difficulty.
The Cristallo group to the north-east, which includes some of the highest peaks of the Veneto Dolomites (among which Monte Cristallo, Sorapiss, Monte Piana and Piz Popena). It has been an important site of mountaineering since the nineteenth century, when mountaineers such as Paul Grohmann and Francis Fox Tuckett opened the first routes on these mountains.
To these mountains of Cortina d’Ampezzo are added the Faloria to the west (famous for the ski slopes and the view of the valley and the surrounding peaks) and the Croda da Lago to the north (known for the panoramic view of the valley and the nearby mountains and hiking destination).
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What is Cortina famous for?
Loved by Agnelli and Savoia, Cortina d’Ampezzo became famous in the 1950s when it hosted the first Winter Olympics broadcast on television.
The Dolomites have become a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to their beauty and their geological, historical and cultural importance.
The Cortina area is a famous destination for ski and snowboard slopes that wind through the peaks of the surrounding mountains, the slopes attract over fifty thousand visitors in high season, but Cortina is also enjoyed on foot or by bike.
You can also enjoy the mountains of Cortina by hiking along the paths or by riding a mountain bike thanks to the many bike paths of varying difficulty: in both cases you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding nature.
For those who love aerial activities, paragliding is a unique and fascinating experience. From the mountains of Cortina you can take off with a paraglider and enjoy the view of the valleys and peaks from a unique perspective.
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The Winter Olympics in Cortina
Skiing is one of the main reasons to visit Cortina d’Ampezzo and the mountains of Cortina.
The resort hosted the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2021 while hosting the Winter Olympics in 2026 together with Milan and other centers known for tourism and winter sports in northern Italy such as Livigno and Bormio.
The Winter Olympics will alternate competitions Biathlon, Freestyle, Skating, Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing, Snowboarding, Ski jumping, Hockey, Ice skating and other disciplines, and will be an opportunity to show the natural beauty of the mountains of Cortina and to make known the cultural heritage of the area.
The event will be organized in collaboration with the city of Milan, which will host some of the races and provide logistical support. the decision to divide the event is taken in the optical to maximize the infrastructures and the competences
However, the choice of Cortina d’Ampezzo as the main venue for the Winter Olympics stems from its Olympic history and its experience in organising major sporting events.
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In addition to the races, the Winter Olympics will feature many other related activities that will take place in various areas of the Cortina mountains (Olympia Delle Tofane Cortina Sliding Centre and Cortina Olympic Stadium), but there will also be other points of interest, such as the Milano Hockey Arena for Hockey, the Forum of Assago for figure skating, the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium in Val di Fiemme for ski jumping or Livigno in Valtellina for snowboarding.
The event is an opportunity to try guided tours, cultural activities, tastings of local products and the opportunities that Cortina offers to the public who will attend the races as well as professionals. Waiting for the Olympics Cortina spreads its magic every day.
Copertina: initalia.virgilio.
