Located to the northeast of Trento in the eastern Dolomites, Cortina, the Alpine town that gave its name to a popular car, and hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, remains an upmarket winter sports resort. A cosmopolitan atmosphere combined with great skiing, plus artistic and cultural events, make the resort a Mecca ski destination.
Dramatic Dolomitic crags surround Cortina d’Ampezzo (known as the ‘pearl of the Dolomites’) adding to the resort’s picturesque appeal. This fashionable town has a commendable historical background and boasts 250 fine shops and boutiques, rivalling those in Milan and Rome. It is also noted for its cultural activities and art exhibits.
Cortina d’Ampezzo has a range of lodgings in price and style, from private homes and apartments to five-star hotels and castles; there are over 23,000 beds in total. Après-ski facilities include an ice stadium, swimming pools and fitness suites. Additionally, there are 100 restaurants and snack bars offering fast food and fine dining. Night-time entertainment is provided by live concerts, numerous bars and discos.
Skiing and snowboarding in Cortina d’Ampezzo is for all levels, with an emphasis on intermediates, and there is some excellent off-piste. Fifty-one lifts, including six cableways, 29 chairlifts and 16 surface lifts, service Cortina’s 101 runs over 140kms of pistes. The lifts have an hourly capacity for 60,000 skiers and snowboarders, while 90 per cent of pistes have snowmaking machines.
Cortina also makes an excellent base for walking and climbing in the nearby Dolomites, and is a popular starting point for a drive along the beautiful Strada delle Dolomiti, the Great Dolomite Road, which winds for 108kms westwards to Bolzano. Cortina is only a couple of hours away from romantic Venice, with its extensive canals and world class museums.
The ski season at Cortina d’Ampezzo runs from late November to mid-April, and there are cheaper rates before the Christmas holidays. The most practical way to get to the resort is to fly to Treviso Airport and transfer by free coach.
