What to see in Cortina d'Ampezzo: historic center and surroundings

Cortina d'Ampezzo represents a very popular travel destination for those who love the mountains and want to spend a regenerating holiday in what is called the Queen of the Dolomites .

In Cortina you can enjoy different types of holidays: from the most luxurious and VIP to the relaxing and nature-exploring one to the most affordable and party-oriented. This makes Cortina a perfect destination for couples, groups of friends and solitary travellers . Without taking into account that Cortina is a fantastic holiday destination from which to visit cities such as Venice , Treviso and Belluno .

The historic center of Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina d'Ampezzo offers appreciable views in all seasons and is a lively mountain town ideal for pleasant walks capable of restoring the body and spirit. For a long time, Cortina has been considered one of the cult destinations for Italian mountain holidays , with its connection to the Christmas holiday . Today's Cortina d'Ampezzo is more varied and lends itself to travelers and holidaymakers of all types and has deviated greatly from that imagery without losing exclusivity.

The town is quite small and characteristic, with its high mountain architecture. Corso Italia is the main street of Cortina full of shops, bars and restaurants where you can meet at all hours to experience the atmosphere of calm and serenity that the mountain transmits. Furthermore, this is where people go to buy special souvenirs, including typical products of the Dolomites, or even sports items for the mountains and designer clothes. The protagonist of Corso Italia, however, is the Basilica of Saints Filippo and Giacomo, the residence called Ciasa de Ra Regoles, a splendid nineteenth-century palace recognizable for the Austrian features of its architecture. Inside this structure is the Museum of Modern Art which houses the collection of Mario Rimoldi, a great art enthusiast who was also mayor of the city. Collected here are works by important Italian artists of the 20th century such as De Chirico, Savinio, Guttuso, De Pisis, Depero and many others.

Cortina d'Ampezzo allows you to take a cultural dive among the fossil finds from the Triassic era found in the surrounding areas inside the Rinaldo Zardini Paleontological Museum . Here you can retrace the history of the formation of the Dolomites, going back to the time when this territory was covered with water. For those interested in the anthropological side, the Regole d'Ampezzo Ethnographic Museum is ideal for learning about the culture and popular traditions of life in the valley.

What to see in the surroundings of Cortina

The historic center of Cortina is an interesting starting and meeting point to set off towards the most typical mountain adventures and reach exceptional locations, such as the famous Lake Braies which is more or less 50 km away, for an hour's cars surrounded by scenery that is nothing short of marvelous. Ideal to see at dawn or dusk to be able to immerse yourself in an almost unnatural atmosphere.

However, one of the most beautiful lakes in these territories remains that of Sorapis , reachable via trekking paths, some of which have exposed sections. You cannot take a holiday in Cortina d'Ampezzo without seeing the Tre cime di Lavaredo , these high and imposing rocky ridges that stand out majestically in the landscape. Even if it is a crowded destination in every season, you can reach the Three Peaks by car and then go on a suggestive trek to reach truly unforgettable points of view.

And for winter sports lovers? Don't miss the peaks of Tofane, Cristallo and Pomagagnon . Here you will find ski slopes, snowboard slopes, sleds and paths ideal for snowshoeing. Furthermore, the Ampezzo Dolomites Natural Park is the protected territory that protects wild animals such as deer, chamois, eagles and marmots, the symbol of these peaks.

For these and many other reasons one cannot blame the rather high prices of a stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Cortina is a surprising mountain resort that has been able to perfectly mix the magnificence of nature with cultural research and the desire for fun, managing to maintain an aura of exclusivity that makes it an unmissable destination for every season. To overcome this inconvenience it is possible to book an apartment online without stress in such a way as to ensure that everything falls within an acceptable budget and leaves the possibility of exploring the area.