Cortina D’Ampezzo History and Culture
A skier's heaven
Cortina's most famous ski resort is Faloria-Cristallo, which consists of eight distinct ski areas that can accommodate anyone from beginner to expert. While much of the terrain peaks at 7,000 feet, considerably lower than most of Europe's famous ski resorts, excellent winter snow conditions, 19 miles of slopes, and a variety of terrain make up for this relative lack of vertical. Hardcore skiers, however, have long been satisfied by more elevated terrain at nearly 10,000 feet, and the long, riveting, and at times terrifying steep slopes at the Falzarego complex. Winter guests must also take advantage of Cortina's Freccia nel Cielo (Arrow to Heaven), which is a giant gondola-cable car traveling from the base of the Olympic Stadium at about 4,000 feet to the mountain's summit at nearly 11,000 feet. There are three segments to this journey that stop at 6,000 and 8,000 feet respectively. The views from the Freccia are as captivating as any in Italy and in the world, for that matter. So captivating is the journey, that it borders on religious as it is not uncommon for people to feel that they have passed through Heaven itself (hence the gondola's name!). Cross-country skiing is particularly excellent in Cortina, with the trails beginning just two miles outside of town. And, naturally, Cortina's Olympic areas offer guests an assortment of fun activities like ice-skating at the Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio, which even operates during the summer.
Cortina's spring and summer tourism is just as exciting and meticulously manicured as its winter, most notably through its clearly marked and mapped out network of hiking trails. Finding an appropriate trail that suits your level is as easy as contacting or visiting the Associazione Guide Alpine (Association of Alpine Guides), who will help to create the perfect hiking itinerary for you. Be sure to have solid hiking shoes, warm clothing, and a waterproof jacket, as at Cortina's high altitude storms erupt rather frequently. Hiking gurus with a taste for the finer things in life will be happy to know that an overnight stay can be accommodated at a mount cabin (refugio), which are generally extremely delightful, if on the rustic side. As one might expect, the exotic vegetation is magnificent, most famous for edelweiss. Be mindful, though, that many of these are endangered species, for which picking is illegal and will incur stiff fines.

Whether skiing, hiking, or simply enjoying Cortina's endearingly charming streets, evenings are spent cozily winding down with fine food and drink. Due to its proximity to Austria, and that fact that it was an Austrian village before World War I, Cortina's cuisine is vastly different from the rest of Italy's. Olive oil is exchanged for lard (which is very tasty if less healthful), along with the inclusion of more gamey meats. A specialty that is, at least, partially Italian is the casunieri (beet-filled ravioli). Venison and poultry are also favorites, along with a slew of interesting pasta dishes such a pappardelle (like fettucine) with rabbit sauce. Like its fare, the regional wine is distinct from the rest of Italy and crafted in the German-Austrian style. While the Veneto's mainstays like Amarone and Vapoliccela make their presence felt here, along with an excellent selection of international wines, Cortina's cuisine is cooked with the assumption that it will be drunk with locally produced wine. Wines here are dubbed food-wines, because they characteristics stand up to and perfectly balance the heaviness of local flavors. Wines to try are Chardonnay, Pinot Blanco (similar to the Alsatian Pinot Blanc), Riesling, Muller Thurgau, and Traminer; for red wine, local Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) is also very good and distinct, and any meal in Cortina must include the region's most noble grape Marzemino.
Vacations you may enjoy in Cortina:
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