Cortina d'Ampezzo Favorites

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Favorite thing: One of my fondest memories is the beautiful scenery during the train journey from Venice to Calalzo Di Cadore (please visit my VT Calalzo page) followed by the 1 hour bus journey from Calalzo Di Cadore to Cortina d'Ampezzo. You will start in the sea lagoons and flat land of Venice and the Veneto plains, then slowly work your way up to green hills, deep valleys, lakes, rivers etc and finally to the imposing Dolomite Mountains region.

Favorite thing: This group of mountains - the 5 towers - we passed on our way into Cortina and saw from the cable-car trips. Torre del Barancio, Lusy, Romana, Grande, Terza, Quarta and Inglese are the names of of the "Five Towers".
They are located between the passes of Falzarego and Giau are have become more renowned since Sylvester Stallons filmed the mountain climbing film "Cliffhanger" here.

Favorite thing: One of the first ski resorts .

The Dolomites look fantastic.

Skiing is broken into a number of areas that are not integrated with each other.

Cortina is a Jet Set resort . Restaurants on the mountains are very expensive .

Favorite thing: In case you are not intermediates or competent skier, then I recommend you to leave the area of Cortina behind. The next point is the area of Alta Badia, beautiful nature and ski resort recommendable for novices and cross-country skiing.

Favorite thing: This is restaurant and motel at Passo Falzarego, the last one in the area before entering to Alta Badia. Here you can worm you up or have excellent mountain dish.
From the terrace of the restaurant you can observe dramatic cable car, the Funivia Faloria, which takes visitors to 2.800 meters high peak. This is your last chance to think twice, weather stay in the secure and relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant or going up with that fragile look gondola.

Favorite thing: Ski passes are issued for from 1 to 21 days, which can include the lifts around Cortina - about 50 - or all the ski lifts in the Dolomites, around 464. The Dolomiti super ski pass allows unlimited access to a vast network of chairlifts and gondolas stretching over Cortina and the mountains at least ten other resorts.
The single-day pass is 33 euros, children under 8 ski free.

Favorite thing: Cortina boasts eight distinct ski areas, each with its own challenges and charms. The most appealing are the Tofana, Forcella Rossa and Faloria-Tondi complexes. The Pocol, Mietres and Socapres areas are specifically for novices, while the Falzarego for a very competent skiers only.

Favorite thing: Since it is Italy's premier ski resort, Cortina boasts more than 50 cable cars and lifts spread out across the valley the Boite river. Besides of clearly designated ski trails, there are a virtually unlimited number of off-piste trails for cross-country enthusiasts.
During winter, ski lifts are open daily 9am to 4-5pm, depending on the time of sunset.