Cortina D'ampezzo Travel Guide, Italy

This fantastic winter sport resort is among the best known resorts in the world. Located in the province of Belluno, Veneto in the Dolomites Mountains, the Olympic town of Cortina d'Ampezzo is surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Tofana, the Monte Cristallo, Pomagagnon, Croda da Lago, the Sorapis Dolomites and let’s not forget the Boite river running through the town. Each part of these mountains have something special, the eastern slopes of the Pomagagon and Punta Fiames mountains are spectacular at sunset while Cristallo sparkles in the afternoon sun.

The whole area is characterized by the typical Dolomite environment with a fauna that include rein deers, chamoises, marmots, roe deers and hares. The area is home to Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti d'Ampezzo, a protected area that has been kept unspoiled for its alpine flora and fauna.

It is a resort famous for its most exclusive mountain locations in Europe, for its first-class hotels and shop, in winter for its incomparable skiing, in summer for its mountain climbing and hiking and for international events it hosts.

The famous events and the fact that you can meet here people from all over the world give the resort an international flair. Major part of the action happens in winter as it is now that the many important sports events take place. The list of events is worthy of an international resort. There are bob events, ice-polo tournaments, curling matches, ice-hockey matches, Nordic skiing events, the traditional Dobbiaco-Cortina contest and the World Cup Skiing event for women. Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, the 1941 Nordic and 1941 Alpine World Skiing Championships. It was also home of Olympic bobsledder Eugenio Monti who was the first winner of the de Coubertin medal for fair play.

There are sport activities for everyone for all tastes and all ages and they all happen in a secure environment as you will be watch over by professionals. Especially the VIPs and champions love this fashionable place and you are sure to meet them as you stroll up and down the Corso any time you come. This marvelous place with a rich society life has always attracted famous people from movie stars to politicians so everybody who’s anybody is here. This is the place where famous movies like Cliffhanger starring Sylvester Stallone or the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only were shot.

Besides rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, the most sought activity is skiing and here skiing can be practiced in perfect conditions as the area offers 140 km of ski slopes and 45 lifts servicing a network of over 65 miles. Snowboarding is also a loved winter sport and snowboarders looking for top enjoyment come here to meet it. Pocol & Socrepes areas are designated for beginners while 5 Torri and Faloria are for more experienced ones.

But winter sports are not the only favorite activities as Cortina d’Ampezzo is a year round resort. The warmer seasons attract just as many tourists who come here for the majesty of Cortina's compelling surroundings. It is one thing to see them on picture and another to be here and experience true beauty as the camera cannot capture the changing colors of the landscape.

Tourism in Cortina is highly developed and there are various ways of spending your time here in summer. Among them are walking along the pedestrian street in the elegant town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, hiking mountain biking and mountain climbing. The lift system functions in summer too and provides the hikers easy access to remote places. The healthy and dry climate is ideal for a summer holiday.

Cortina d’Ampezzo’s variety and quality of terrain, breathtaking alpine scenery and superb snow conditions combine to create a unique setting for unforgettable skiing experiences with family and friends.