Located in the northeastern part of the Veneto, 72 kilometers from Belluno, its province, Cortina it is very close to the Trentino-Alto Adige region and is only 44 kilometers from the Austrian border. The valley is suspended at 1.224 meters above sea level, immersed in a scenario of incomparable beauty, among some of the most fascinating mountains in the world, which became part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage in 2009. A spectacle of nature that knows no comparison, exactly in the center of which stands the Queen.
The extraordinary position it enjoys – lying in a real basin with an almost circular shape and delimited by four passes at the cardinal points – has made it a breathtaking stage over the centuries from which to admire the famous mountains that crown it.
The peaks of Ampezzo, in fact, many of them beyond the 3.000 meters, derive their particular beauty from the fact that they are lighter, more nuanced and more monumental than other peaks, so much so that they seem almost architecturally modeled. But the Ampezzo valley is not only the queen of natural resources with an immeasurable charm, it is also a sporting destination known throughout the world – it was the site of the 1956 Olympics – for the definitely exclusive offer that sets it apart and for the big events it has always hosted. It is also a cultural salon of not only national importance and, from the second post-war period onwards, a privileged place for the sweet life. Finally, guardian of traditions, ancient knowledge and precious memories jealously preserved over time, which allow it to look to the future, strengthened by its past.
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Winter sports in Cortina
The Ampezzo basin has always been an unmissable destination for the most passionate sportsmen who, in addition to participating in numerous international events, can try their hand at all kinds of white sports and more, along slopes and trails often trodden by famous athletes in Worldwide.
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In addition to alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, freeride skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding and outings with alpine guides, in Cortina you can practice other winter sports that not only a few ski resorts offer.
curling
Already at the beginning of the twentieth century this sport was practiced in Cortina which, over time, grew and developed on the icy slopes of the prestigious Miramonti and Cristallo Hotels, frequented by personalities of the international jet set such as Alberto Sordi and Brigitte Bardot. But the Cortina-curling combination does not only mean worldliness: it is a story made up of friendship and competitive sports. In fact, for almost half a century, in the month of June, Cortina has hosted the City of Cortina Trophy, a competition that has seen and still sees the participation of teams from all over the world, made up of athletes who have achieved the highest competitive levels.
Snowkite
Landed in Cortina in 2007 thanks to the Kite4Freedom association and the Cortina Snowkite School, snowkiting has definitively entered the realm of trendy winter sports. And Passo Giau is one of the best places to fly a kite: perfect wind, large spaces and the possibility of eating in the nearby refuge have not gone unnoticed even by the multiple world champion Guillaume "Chasta" Chastagnol, a regular guest at the magnificent pass. Do not miss the Cortina Snowkite Contest which every year offers spectators thrilling jumps, tractions and accelerations with the best European riders who perform in adrenaline-pumping evolutions between snow and air.
Tobogganing
In the locality of Guargné, near the municipal swimming pool of Cortina, a special toboggan run allows exciting descents on snow bobs and ascents on the chairlift. The slope is about a kilometer long and is served by the Mietres chairlift, at the foot of which snow bobs can be hired.
The kitchen of Cortina
Cortina has always been a borderland, embodying all the flavors of the Veneto and Tyrol, powers that historically fought for domination of the area. Both traditions are still present in Ampezzo cuisine today. All the typical specialties and many more can be tasted in the many restaurants and inside the characteristic refuges which combine the local gastronomy with love for the mountains and suggestive panoramas. The best-known and most typical Ampezzo dish is casunziei, half-moon-shaped ravioli that can be red if filled with turnips or green if mixed with spinach or edible herbs that grow spontaneously on the meadows in spring.
Apres Ski and night life
To such a vast and tasty culinary offer are added the initiatives and places devoted to après-ski and nightlife. Aperitifs to sip after hours spent in the snow – we must not forget that Veneto is the land of prosecco and spritz – exclusive places that combine the unmistakable flavor of the Venetian tradition with the latest trends in terms of experimentation and attention to detail, up to get to the nightclubs, where you can spend the whole evening, waiting, why not, for the sun to rise again behind the Faloria to savor a new day among the exclusive offers of a unique location in the world.
Shopping in the snow
Cortina has always been at the forefront of trends, customs and fashion. In fact, since the XNUMXs, the basin has held the record as the most fashionable holiday resort in Italy where, walking through the streets of the centre, one can anticipate what will be the new trends of the coming seasons. This privileged relationship that the Ampezzo valley has always had with the world of elegance is symbolized by the famous "via dello struscio", Corso Italia, where famous trendy brands are flanked by windows with a more traditional flavour.
2 Popular Comments
The most beautiful mountain place in the world.
Simply lovely, how expensive (prices)! Exciting slopes also because they don't have many people, unlike other areas in the Dolomites. Point of great demerit for somewhat old facilities and for the lack of ski connections between the skiable areas: elsewhere they have united…. the world, as well as the mountains!