Cortina is the most exclusive place in the Dolomite Mountains, whose majestic peaks have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village, with its 50,000 inhabitants during holiday periods, has been able to preserve its heritage of traditions very well over time. This can be seen in the order and rigor with which they have regulated expansion and construction with respect to the territory, as well as in the traditional women’s costumes rich in colors and the use of the Ladin dialect with its sweet inflections. Over the years it’s become a destination for elite tourism. Actors, politicians and industrialists always spend Christmas or the summer holidays in these mountains, surrounded by green firs and pine trees.
For World War I buffs, Cortina is an open-air museum. In addition to monuments in memory of the fallen, such as the Ossuary of Pocol, you can still see traces of what was the front between Austria and Italy. The Ampezzo Valley is full of tunnels, trenches and fortifications. Some of the places that formed the backdrop of the fighting between the armies, have been partially restored.
Notwithstanding the echoes of war, the Ampezzo Valley and Cortina have often been chosen by directors and screenwriters to make films for the unparalleled beauty of the mountain landscapes. Among the most famous films shot in Cortina are Ladyhawke (1985), with Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer, and The Great Silence (1968), with Jean-Louis.
Skiing in Cortina
Cortina is a paradise for sports lovers. Not only skiing, but also climbing, walking, snowshoeing and heliskiing on the ice of the Marmolada, with a nearly 5,000-foot difference in altitude in the fresh snow. It’s an unforgettable experience, with thousands of square feet of virgin powder on which to let loose in a breathtaking landscape, accompanied by experienced Alpine guides able to carefully assess the best weather and snow conditions to make sure you stay safe while enjoying this beautiful activity.
Starting point: heliport of Fiames
Landing point: Cima Marmolada – Punta Rocca 10,660 feet
Point of return: heliport of Fiames
Difficulty: medium, good skiing level
If you love cross-country skiing, from the Fiames Sport Nordic Center ski school you should take the trail between Cortina and Dobbiaco, along the tracks of the old Dolomite railway. A route rich in history and charm, nestled amid spectacular natural beauty, well worth putting on the agenda.
Flowers
For those of you who love flowers, plants and table decoration, the right address is that of Annette Gottmann, a florist who came to Cortina from Frankfurt to learn Italian. She opened the Officina delle Piante, a special address for handcrafted floral decorations, woven baskets, herbal teas and ointments with arnica and pine. Here, on request, she teaches adults and children to decorate the table, to color the wool with natural pigments and to recognize the plants.