Cortina D'ampezzo, Italy Summary

The 1956 Winter Olympics were staged at CORTINA D’AMPEZZO (it still has the Pista Olimpica di Bob), an event which began the transformation of the town from a small resort to a city in the mountains. Its main reason for existing now is the skiing season – roughly Christmas to Easter – when the population rises from 7000 to around 40,000, packing out the designer-clothes and antiques shops, as well as the slopes around the city. Cortina is the Italian equivalent of Saint Moritz, attracting actors, artists – and the rich. The place encourages a kind of Hollywood existence: taking sleighs down the mountain after a meal at a glamorous restaurant, or renting helicopters to seek out off-piste skiing. Out of season the place is dead; although it has a summer hiking season of sorts, between July and September when the cable cars operate. The ranges are less crowded on the side that faces away from the city, and are better approached from the smaller resorts of Corvara, Alleghe and San Vigilio di Marebbe. The setting is stunning, however, surrounded by a great circle of mountains which includes Monte Pelmo and Antelao, the Gruppo delle Marmarole, and Monte Sorapiss, Cristallo and Tofane.