THE DOLOMITES

The Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

This monumental mountain range features some of the most spectacular landscapes worldwide: vertical walls, sheer cliffs, a variety of spectacular vertical forms such as steeples, pinnacles, spires and towers and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys.

DISCOVER THE BEAUTY

"Each mountain in the Dolomites is like a piece of art"

– Reinhold Messner

"Each mountain in the Dolomites is like a piece of art"

– Reinhold Messner

The Dolomites are a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps, numbering 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 meters. The Dolomites are located in the regions of Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

This monumental mountain range features some of the most spectacular landscapes worldwide: vertical walls, sheer cliffs, a variety of spectacular vertical forms such as steeples, pinnacles, spires and towers and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys.

history & nature

The Dolomites, a unique territory: history and nature

Two hundred and fifty million years ago, these mountains were a mass of shells, corals and algae, submerged in tropical seas. Emerging 70 million years ago, and eroded by time and weather, today they represent a magnificent geological treasure and give the landscape an incomparable beauty. The Dolomites are named after Déodat de Dolomieu, a French naturalist who was the first to study the particular type of rock, predominant in this region, in the second half of the 18th century. The unique combination of minerals in the rock gives the mountains a special light shade, which is why they are also called the pale mountains. However, at sunrise and sunset, the Dolomites are set ablaze by the sunlight in a spectacle of colors: from pink and purple to orange and fiery red, before fading into the night. This phenomenon is the famous Enrosadira, or Alpenglow. The natural architecture of the Dolomites, splendid in their harmony, offers unrivaled and majes­tic views, softened by forest-covered ridges that gently descend toward the valley. Indeed the sublime, monumental and colorful landscapes of the Dolomites have long attracted travelers, alpinists, scientists and art lovers and the magical mountains, lakes and meadows entered into novels, paintings, poems and film productions. In 2009, the Dolomites were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their exceptional natural beauty and geo-morphological and geological properties. The property comprises parts of a national park, several provincial nature parks and Natura 2000 sites, and a natural monument.
culture & traditions

The Dolomites, a unique territory: culture and traditions

The Dolomites are the perfect playground for outdoor lovers, as they offer the ideal location for a great variety of sporting activities all year round, with unparalleled landscapes, great cuisine and a rich history. 

A trip to the Dolomites is much more than a sightseeing holiday or an outdoor adventure. It is an opportunity to experience the unique and diverse culture of the people who live there. Visitors can experience the past while witnessing handcrafted masterpieces, hearing locals speaking Ladin, savoring traditional dishes as well as being able to visit open-air museums while hiking or skiing. 

A part of the region was indeed Austrian until after World War I. Thus; the cultural, architectural and linguistic identity is still today a blend of Italian, Austrian and Ladin cultures, making the experience of those who stay in the Dolomites really authentic and unique. Ladin speakers are the minority, however some 30,000 people still use the ancient dialect, which was spoken by the first inhabitants of the Dolomites. The remaining residents speak Italian or German.

The cuisine of the Dolomites also provides a wonderful combination of the different cultural influences of the area, offering a really diverse food and wine experience.

SPORTS & FUN

The Dolomites: a paradise for sports lovers

The Dolomites are a real paradise for sports and nature enthusiasts, all year round. There are hundreds of kilometers of trails for those who love hiking, trail running and mountain biking in the summer season. The majestic mountain walls are also the ideal playground for climbing or for via ferrata routes.

In winter, there are hundreds of kilometers of ski slopes and a great variety of spectacular areas for ski touring and snowshoeing.

The exceptional conformation of the mountain range, with many valleys connected to each other and mountains all around, make it just perfect for long-distance multi-day hiking (alte vie), biking and skiing – skiing on the slopes (ski safaris) or ski mountaineering – with stops every night in a different rifugio.

VALLEYS & TOWN

The Dolomites: valleys, towns, peaks and parks

The Dolomites include many towns, villages and valleys in different Regions and Provinces. Some of the most well known are Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val Badia, Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, Val Pusteria and Val di Fiemme. In the Veneto Region, other destinations are Val d’Ansiei, Val Comelico, Cadore, Marmolada, Vallata Agordina, Valbelluna, Arabba and Val di Zoldo. 

Some of the major and most spectacular Dolomite peaks and ranges are: Marmolada, the highest peak of the mountain range, Antelao, Tofane, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Pelmo, Civetta, Sella Group, Pale di San Martino, Sassolungo, Puez – Odle, Marmarole.

In the Dolomites there are several Natural Parks, such as the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags, the Natural Park of the Pale di San Martin, the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park and the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.

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