For over 160 years the small village Cortina d'Ampezzo surrounded by magnificent Dolomite peaks of enchanted names like Tofana, Monte Cristallo or Misurina witness the crowds of rich, famous, ski lovers and just visitors who want to check if the resort is worth its name 'Queen of Dolomites'.
The books published by British and German travellers who were stunned by the limestone landscape , and the new railwaytrack connecting the village with the rest of the world started growing development of the area modelled following the experience of famous St.Moritz in Switzerland. At the beginning of the 20th century there were already several thousand visitors a year staying in the new build hotels, the growing fame and quality of slopes inspired for idea of hosting Winter Olympics in early 1940 ,but the outbreak of the war postponed the plans, that finally came into life in 1956.
for Olympic purposes there were constructed several new buildings, like the Ice Stadium and Ski Jump, which are used today ( afte some necessary maintenance modernisation ). The olympic downhill run named for the event accordingly Olimpia is still one of the most popular runs here,and every year hosts Woman Alpine World Cup competitions.
The ski resort Cortina with Skipass World Cortina includes four areas:
Cortina, San Vito di Cadore, Auronzo and Misurina.
Direcly near Cortina start slopes of over 3 000 m high mountain Tofane with skiing zone starting at 2 800 m down to the village at appr. 1 200 m. On the opposite side of Cortina the cable car goes to the mountain range Faloria with ski area at altitiude over 2 000 m, Faloria is connected with Misurina lifts. Located several miles from Cortina small villages San Vito and Auronzo feature small skiing areas totaling each just several km in length.
Worth seeing, and skiing is Pass Lagazuoi which features the longest run here, about 7,5 km long downhill to another small hamlet in the area - Armentarola.
Cross-Country skiing
total over 75 km of runs including 30 km Cortina - Dobbiaco track, host of popular ski marathon.
more about Cortina
more about Cortina