Cortina d'Ampezzo is the most charming ski resort in Italy, near the north-eastern border with Austria.

The village, boasting a thousand-year old remarkable historical background, has nearly 7,000 inhabitants. It attracts visitors from all over the world for its lively international atmosphere, its fashionable shops, and excellent restaurants.

Cortina is also known as the "Regina delle Dolomiti" - Queen of the Dolomites - since it is in the heart of the wonderful Dolomites.

It is surrounded by forests and wide ski slopes, below the towering craggy red rock mountains. It offers something for everyone and most keen skiers will be willing to visit it.

A number of worldwide famous movies have been shot in Cortina. Among them:

Ash Wednesday starring Elizabeth Taylor and Henry Fonda
The Pink Panther starring David Niven and Peter Sellers
For Your Eyes Only starring Roger Moore
VonRyan Express starring Frank Sinatra
Cliffhanger starring Sylvester Stallone

The Queen of the Dolomites is a pole of attraction for famous artists all over the world. Among these are De Pisis, De Chirico, Hemingway, Mahler, Comisso, Alberto Moravia, Montale. Other artists and writers have chosen it as the place to settle in, such as Squitteri, Balsamo, Milena Milani, Rolly Marchi.

Many writers like to come to Cortina to present their new books, and many famous people like to meet here for conferences and congresses.


Also among its native people does Cortina have some famous artists.

In Cortina there is an Art High School since 1846. Many local craftsmen come from this school. Some of them are extraordinary artists who work on timber, iron, glass, materials, brass, and painting on timber and glass.


Also many influences from abroad complement the local artistic tradition. For instance the indian technique of Tar-Kashi is well developed, with the decoration of timber with mother-of-pearl, silver, and other materials

Musical tradition is very important in the Ampezzo valley. Since 1861 there is the Cortina Musical Band, which successfully runs a Music School with more than 150 pupils.

Musical Band of Cortina >>>



The Cortina Choir, with its 30 singers, has now been in activity for 30 years. With its vast and varied repertoire is one of the best male choirs in Italy, and its singing is appreciated all over the world.

The Schola Cantorum is a polyphonic choir consisting of 40 singers specialised in holy music. From its beginning, back in 1882, the choir accompanies Sunday Mass at 10am and all the most important religious moments in the main Cortina church. One of these most special occasion is Midnight Mass on the 24th December.

Discovering the churches

Walking among the imposing scenarios of the Dolomites, you will encounter, from time to time, mystical sites filled with spirituality. A tour of Cortina’s churches is the perfect occasion to rediscover the harmonious connection between art, spirituality and nature. If you enter a church of Ampezzo you feel the deep tie between culture and the mountain environment.

Cortina’s true and most renowned symbol is the steeple of the church dedicated to Saints Filippo and Giacomo. The church of St. Filippo & Giacomo was built in 1775 with the direction of architect Promperg.
Several artists have contributed to the building. There are sculptures by Andrea Brustolon, paintings by Francesco A. Zeiler, Giuseppe Zanchi, Luigi Gillarduzzi and Giuseppe Ghedina.
Between 1851 and 1858 the tower bell was built. This is today one of the symbols of Cortina.
The church also hosts religious music concerts and every Sunday it becomes the stage for the performances of the Schola Cantorum, the polyphonic choir founded in 1882.

As the serious risk of a barbaric invasion was avoided, tradition says that the building of the church "Santuario della Difesa" was commissioned in 1480, as thanking to the Madonna. The church was later rebuilt in 1743. There are some nice sculptures in the rococo style, and frescoes by Zeiler.


In the church of the Holy Trinity of Majon, close to the Castel de Zanna castle, visitors may admire the painting of the Santissima Trinità in Trono, (literally “Holy Trinity on the Throne”), attributed to Jacopo Negretti, or pause to admire the majestic wooden altars.


Following the old road which used to connect Venice and the plains to the bordering countries beyond the Alps, it is possible to visit the church of Saint Nicolò in the town of Ospitale, the church of Saint Candido in Campo di Sopra, and the church of Saint Rocco in Zuel.


The village has nearly 7,000 inhabitants and it is located at 1224m. a.s.l.
Some of the surrounding peaks are higher than 3000m:
Tofàna 3243m, Cristallo 3218m, Sorapìs 3205m.
Geographically it is included in the Belluno province and it is 72 km. from the town of Belluno. It is located between Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige regions, the border between the two regions is at Cimabanche Pass (1530m.) 13 km. from Cortina.

The Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites
 
The Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites was established on 1990 and spreads out over an area of 11,000 hectares to the north of Cortina d'Ampezzo on the border with Alto Adige (South Tyrol) in the heart of the Eastern Dolomites. The Park has been recognised by the European Community as a community heritage site.
The protected area wedged into the Fanes - Senes Braies Natural Park, forming with it a territory of homogeneous environmental features for a total extension of 37,000 hectares.
 
Established with the approval of the General Meeting of Regolieri, management of the Park has been entrusted by the Region to the Comunanza delle "Regole d'Ampezzo" by virtue of the specificity of the ancient forms of management of the Ampezzo natural heritage, by them preserved and protected for hundreds of years”. The establishment of the park has considerably boosted cultural and scientific activities, as well as helped enhance the Ampezzo countryside and culture.

Various differentiated access roads exist at the disposal of visitors - from the main roads leading to the Falzarego, Cimabanche and Tre Croci passes, dozens of forest trails and paths depart, creating a network 300 kilometres long. Among the tourist routes are 8 metalled roads and 6 equipped trails, some of which are what remains of the mountain roads used during the Great War.

There are 11 alpine huts in the Park and in the vicinity; on the Lagazuoi, Tofana and Cristallo massifs cableways operate throughout the summer months as well, reaching fairly high altitudes, while along the access road to Malga ra Stua, in the Croda Rossa group, a public shuttle service is available.