Dolomites Italy. Going to the Italian Alps How to get to the Dolomites

Kristina Maistrova works as a QA engineer, tests the strength of everything she sees, and in her free time she draws illustrations, snowboards and leads blog about drawing and travel. For 34travel, the girl talked about an eventful trip to Italy - to the Dolomites.

Why Dolomites?

For the last couple of years I have been dreaming of mountains. My husband and I have already managed to travel to the Caucasus and the Balkans. Of course, the Alps were not enough for complete happiness. I read about mountain lakes, cozy chalets and crazy landscapes. But the final kick was the legend of the Dolomites. It says that the Dolomites used to be a blooming rose garden and served as home to the dwarves and their king. But it just so happened that one day the roses could not hide their magical ruler from pursuit, and he cursed them, shouting that he did not want to see them day or night. Fortunately, the king forgot about sunrises and sunsets, leaving us the opportunity to see how the mountains bloom in the rays of the setting and rising sun. So we went to the mountains in search of the “rose garden”, and along the way we decided to take a ride around Garda.

“We were in no hurry at all, stopped at viewing points and followed the rules even when it really annoyed the hot-tempered Italian drivers.”

How to get there?

The most convenient way to fly from Moscow to Verona is by direct flight S7; it will cost about € 200-250 per person. This amount did not fit into our budget. It was decided to buy Pobeda tickets. She often pleases with prices, but always disappoints with quality. At the start of sales, a ticket cost € 60 roundtrip per person. But according to Pobeda’s favorite scheme, I had to pay extra for everything: luggage (10 kg – €7), the opportunity to sit next to my husband (about €5), commission for paying by card (10%).

Our flight arrived at the small airport of Treviso, which is next to. After an hour of queuing at customs and another hour of fiddling with paperwork at the car rental company, we picked up our pre-booked one on the Rentalcars website. They also took out additional insurance with deductible coverage. Its cost was equal to the cost of the car, but peace of mind was more valuable. On the spot we also had to pay extra for snow chains. Chains are required from November 15th to April 15th. Renting with insurance and all expenses for 6 days cost € 120.

From Treviso airport to Lake Garda you can travel cheaply, beautifully and for a long time - along regional highways through Trento - or expensively and quickly - along the toll motorways A4 and A22 through Verona (€ 15). We chose the long way and did not regret it, because the road went along picturesque slopes, mountain rivers, small towns and very small villages. We spent about 4 hours on the road, but at the same time we were in no hurry, stopped at viewing points and followed the rules even when it really annoyed the hot Italian drivers.

Day 1. Fogs on Lake Garda

They decided to live in the town of Torbol in the very north of the lake near Riva del Garda. Both cities stretch along the coast, flowing from one to the other. If you wish, you can walk right through them while walking along the embankment. Torbol, quiet and calm, is loved by Austrian and German tourists from June to August. In April, many hotels are free, restaurants are half empty and prices are 1.5 times cheaper than in the season. If you want to stay in a room with a view of the lake, you will have to shell out €50-60. Or be cunning and rely on the favor of hoteliers.

The path lay to the capital of the province - the city of Bolzano, also known as Bozen. You can get there via the toll motorway A22 or its toll freeway SS12. In South Tyrol, the names of all cities are duplicated in Italian and German, because most of the inhabitants speak either German or the local dialect - Ladin. And even the passports of Tyroleans are written in two languages. Unfortunately, not everyone understands English.

In the city, if you want to save on parking, you can leave your car in the parking lot of a shopping center and not worry about it being towed away. Usually parking there is either free, conditionally free (for 1-2 hours), or very cheap. Of the minuses: such shopping centers are located far from the historical center. We left the car at the shopping center Twenty (Via G. Galilei, 20). A bonus was a pleasant walk along the mountain river on which the city stands. It took us about an hour to get to the center.

The historical center of Bolzano is not too big (you can walk around it in 2-3 hours), but very cozy. It feels like you are in a fairy tale. There are forged signs, stucco moldings, arched galleries everywhere, and every now and then you come across figures of gnomes in red caps. And there is a fair on one of the streets. Products here are much more expensive than in local supermarkets, but those on market shelves look tastier and more interesting. They say that the market sells farm products, and local residents prefer them, especially those grown and produced in their province. And I understand them very much, despite all the Italian abundance, Tyrolean mature cheeses and speck were most memorable.

After walking around the old town, we bought some ice cream and went to relax on Walterplatz. Along the perimeter of the square there are cafes, restaurants and even food trucks for every budget. You can have lunch here for €10 or €100. But sitting under the umbrellas, although comfortable, is still not as interesting as on the edge of the fountain, under the warm spring sun and the shadow of the Walter monument. It is from this square that many tourist routes start and a web of streets disperses - it is not for nothing that it is called the living room of the city. The main cathedral of the region also stands here. Duomo di Bolzano, and in December the Christmas market begins its work. The cathedral itself was built on the site of three basilicas, the ruins of which are still preserved inside the cathedral. You can get inside from 10 am to 5 pm for free.

One of the most famous attractions in Bolzano is Renon cable car, connecting Lower and Upper Bolzano with the Renon plateau. The guidebooks promise stunning views and a ride on a historic tram. Alas, we decided against this trip. There was very little time left, and the ticket price of € 14 per person motivated us to return to the car and get to the mountains on our own.

Dwarven paths. Castelrotto

We immediately abandoned the fast and direct motorway, as well as its free backup. Adventurers can't go on the highway, they'll get bored. Adventurers need to go to the mountains to see narrow paths, overhanging mountains and small villages on their slopes. So we turned off the SS12 regional motorway onto the narrow serpentine road LS24, which passes through the historic village Castelrotto. That's where we needed to go. The road rises into the mountains to almost 2000 meters above sea level, and at the pass I began to get quite stormy, which did not stop me from stopping at all the viewpoints. Life hack: if you don’t want fines, don’t leave your car near the side of the road, it’s better to wait for observation platforms or roadside cafes.

Tyrolean village roads surprised us with their not the highest quality. I firmly believed that there were no bad roads in Europe, but here it felt like we were in the suburbs of Saratov. But everything could be forgiven for the incredible alpine landscapes. And if echoes of Italy were still felt in Bolzano, then Austria begins behind it. No one here understands Italian anymore, and the locals look different: fair-haired, tall, with soft features. Prayer islands with the image of the Virgin Mary along the roads give way to huge wooden crucifixes. And it's even a little scary. These crucifixes are everywhere: on the roads, on houses, inside houses, among cities. We even saw a store that sells these two-meter crosses. In the dining room of the farm where we stayed, there was also a cross on the entire wall.

Castelrotto or Kastelrut, translated as “ruined castle” and is located near Mount Schrut. Trostburg Castle There really is one nearby, only now it has been restored and is available for visiting. Unfortunately, the tour is only available for groups in Italian and German. Price € 8. I really wanted to look at the famous houses with frescoes, each of which is 500 years old. The painting is based on Christian parables and local legends, so you get the feeling that you are looking not at a city, but at picture books. We were not very lucky with the weather: if in Bolzano it was +20, then in Castelrotto the temperature dropped to 13 degrees Celsius. It took us an hour to explore the city. If it were warmer, we would certainly go for a walk along one of the walking routes that start from the village.

On an alpine farm

We chose a farm for the night. Saderhof (Tötschling, 57, Bressanone) , located 15 minutes from the city Bressanone(or Brixen). We booked the farm through their website because it was much cheaper than through booking. A room for two nights with breakfast cost € 80 for two. Saderhof is a real working farm with horses, goats, sociable donkeys and rabbits. The owner here is an Austrian woman, Monika, and her two daughters. They all speak pretty poor English and don’t speak Italian at all, but they are very friendly and welcoming. Every morning Monica was waiting for us in the kitchen with a huge pot of coffee and an equally sized pinscher with frothed milk. With this she literally stole my heart. The coffee was accompanied by hot buns, Tyrolean cheeses, speck and incredible Alpine butter. There were some fruits and pastries, but they didn’t interest us at all. , which is located in the center of the reserve of the same name. From the farm to the lake it takes about two hours to travel along the SS49 road. Traffic in Tyrol is completely different from the rest of Italy. Drivers most often follow the rules, do not overtake and do not press the horn when you slow down to 60. You get the feeling that the rhythm of life here is completely different and people are calmer. That's why we were in absolutely no hurry. Moreover, all the way we were followed by rain turning into snow.

The closer we got to the lake, the more I felt a sense of foreboding. There was more and more snow along the roads, and the temperature gauge was trending towards minus. We arrived at an empty nearby parking lot, left the car and, under the snow and drifts, went to watch “how the shadows of the trees drown in the emerald water.” Hope dies last, right? So, mine is buried under the ice that covered the fabulous Lake Braies in April. Even in winter colors it is, of course, beautiful there. But expectations and reality diverged in different directions. A miracle still happened to us, but later, when an avalanche fell from one of the mountains surrounding the lake. It was far from us, and only thanks to its favorable location we could watch how the avalanche bends the Christmas tree, and were not afraid of ending up in its clutches.

We wandered around the lake some more. We were completely frozen in our light clothes. I really wanted to warm up and drink coffee, but the hotel, located on the shore of the lake, was closed in the off-season. We had to pay €5 for 20 minutes in an empty parking lot. Frustrated and tired from the altitude difference, we drove back.

Day 5. Cities hidden in the Dolomites

In the remaining time we went to see the mountain towns: Brunico(Brunesque) and Bressanone(Brixen). Brunico is located in the Val Pusteria at the foot of the Brunico Castle. The old town has almost completely preserved its medieval image. Houses with stucco, forged elements and frescoes on the walls resemble gingerbread houses. Each building, be it a tavern, a residential building or storefronts, is interesting to look at from various small details from the bell system to river shutters and balconies. The city is filled with shops selling clothing for rock climbing and mountain trekking. We eagerly ran into the first one we came across, hoping to buy ourselves everything. But, unfortunately, local prices did not leave us a chance. Even gas for our burner cost from € 8, and the cheapest raincoat was € 100. After walking around the city, we went to the castle. It is from there that the best view of the city opens. Entrance to the castle itself is paid - € 10. But if you wish, you can just take a walk in the park around it for free. Several hiking trails start from here, but after the rain we didn’t dare follow them.

Bressanone was located next to our farm, from Bolzano it took about an hour to get there via the free city and 40 minutes along the A22 motorway. Brixen, the oldest city in Tyrol, was founded in 901 in the Isarco Valley. It is in many ways similar to other Tyrolean towns, just as small, cozy and charming. There are no big stores or huge shopping centers. But there is a cozy old town, many cafes with affordable prices and a wonderful Assumption Cathedral (Duomo di Maria Assunta) in Romanesque style. Entrance to the cathedral is free (as is the case with other churches in Italy). But if you want to visit the Bishop's Palace and the Diocesan Museum (Piazza Palazzo Vescovile, 2) , you will have to pay € 8.

To end the day we settled down on the terrace

The Dolomites are a beautiful creation of nature in Italy. Patriotic Italians claim that their country has everything you need for happiness. Some tourists are skeptical about this statement, but after seeing the creamy peaks of the Dolomites, they dream of returning here again and again. In the surrounding area you can enjoy the cleanest air and beautiful nature. Fans of active sports will be pleased with the kilometers of ski slopes. Moreover, the Dolomites are divided between several resorts and areas, each of which has its own flavor.

Geographical characteristics

Millions of years ago, instead of high mountains, a warm sea splashed in this area. Gradually, the movement of continents and seismic activity led to its drying out and the formation of mountain ranges. In memory of those times, the remains of coral deposits have been preserved. The Dolomites get their name from dolomite, the main rock from which they are composed. They also contain a lot of lime deposits.

The mountain range is located in the east of the Alps and covers an area of ​​almost 16 thousand km². The highest point is Mount Marmolada (3342 m). In total, there are 16 mountains in the range, the height of which exceeds 3 km.

The mountains look very picturesque. Among them there are many gorges and rocky cliffs. Landslides and avalanches often occur in this area.














The peaks have a rocky structure, and the slopes below are densely covered with vegetation. Between the mountains there are narrow plains covered with emerald grass. Among the meadows there are pine and deciduous forests. In spring, the slopes are covered with orchid flowers. The fauna is dominated by marmots, martens, ferrets, hares and squirrels. Sometimes you can see brown bears and mountain goats.

Historical facts

On the slopes of the Dolomites there are traces of the fierce battles that took place nearby. Some consider this area an open-air museum. During the First World War, fierce battles broke out between the Italian and Austrian armies near the mountains. It was convenient to attack and track enemy actions from a height, so the number of casualties was quite large. In total, about 8,200 soldiers on both sides died in 1915-1917.

Among the natural landscapes, many trenches and tunnels were discovered, forming a huge labyrinth. Entire fortresses and forts were built near the mountains, which were then destroyed by the enemy army. To preserve the memory of terrible events, there are routes to the Marmolada glacier, mountains Tofane, Chinku, Pelmo, Latsagua and others.

Regions of the Dolomites

In the cozy plains there are many small villages that seem to have come straight from the pages of a book. However, they are inhabited by ordinary people, busy with everyday concerns. The entire territory is divided into several regions. Tourists can purchase a single pass for all routes, their length is more than 1200 km.

Valley of Fiemme

At the very entrance to the Dolomites lies the wide Val di Fiemme. Cozy villages are scattered on the emerald plain. The most popular among tourists are Predazzo and Cavalese.

The mountain slopes of Val di Fiemme are suitable for all winter sports. Tourists can practice skiing, sledding and snowboarding, as well as figure skating. International competitions are periodically held here. In the valley there are moderate and more difficult trails, their total length is 100 km.

In between skiing, you can explore the sights of medieval Cavalese or visit museums in Predazzo. More modern entertainment options include saunas, swimming pools, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Valley of Fassa

It is located quite high and occupies the central part of the Dolomites. The lowest point is located at 1 km above sea level, and the peaks of the peaks reach up to 2.95 km. The valley is surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges. Local residents claim that these lands have long been a haven for good spirits. People cherish ancient legends and the language of their ancestors. The most popular resorts are Moena, Canazei, Vigo di Fassa, Campitello.

The valley offers a huge selection of trails of any complexity, from the simplest to the “black” descents. More than half are moderately difficult trails. The total length of the descents of the Fassa valley is 220 km.

After an active holiday, you can relax in small taverns or SPA centers. There are many of them in the small towns of the valley center. Sitting on the open terrace under the sun's rays, you can enjoy amazing mountain views and rocky peaks painted in reddish tones.

Gardena Valley

A very beautiful and wide valley at an altitude of 1236 m above sea level. For several decades, Val Gardena belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Residents still combine Italian emotionality with German pedantry. Tyrolean traditions are expressed in colorful German food and unusual outfits.

The most popular resorts are Santa Cristina, Ortisei and Selva. 175 km of trails of varying difficulty are suitable for beginners and extreme sports enthusiasts. There are also excellent downhill runs here.

Kronplatz

Another area with a Tyrolean flavor, where German is spoken more often than Italian. The most popular towns are San Vigilio di Marebbe, Reischach, Olang.

The Kronplatz area offers beautiful panoramas and a variety of trails. There are many slopes for beginners, but more experienced skiers will also not be bored. The total length of the trails is 90 km. For snowboard lovers there is an excellent halfpipe. For cross-country skiing, there is a 200 km long track.

After descending from the peaks, you can relax in a restaurant or visit a cinema. More active entertainment includes bowling, tennis or horseback riding.

Ampezzo Valley

Cortina d'Ampezzo is a city and resort for respectable holidays for wealthy tourists in the Ampezzo Valley. There are many comfortable villas and boutiques here. In the evenings, chic holidays are often held, where ladies come in fur coats, and gentlemen sport costumes of famous fashion designers. Most tourists prefer to relax in the valley itself rather than skiing.

The valley is characterized by an abundance of sun and warm air. High ridges protect it from gusts of cold wind. On the adjacent slopes there are trails for beginners and intermediate difficulty. The total length of the slopes is 140 km. To ensure comfortable skiing, snow cannons are installed on the slopes. They constantly maintain the required level of snow cover. Those interested can practice snowboarding, skiing, bobsleigh and snow rafting.

You can relax from intense training in the swimming pool, cinema or SPA center.

What is a ski pass?

To use the ski lifts or ski slopes, you must purchase a special plastic card - a ski pass. There are various programs on which the cost of the card depends. The validity period of the ski pass is 1-28 days. In addition to the standard price, a system of discounts has been developed for students, pensioners and children. You can calculate the price of different types of cards on the official website of the Dolomites: www.dolomitisuperski.com.

How to get there

There are several ways to get to the ski resorts of the Dolomites:

  • By plane. The nearest international airports are in Innsbruck, Bolzano, Venice, Verona. During the season, in addition to regular flights, charters arrive here.
  • By train. In the nearest cities there are railway stations, from which tourist buses run to the hotels.
  • By car. This method allows you to arbitrarily plan your vacation. It is worth planning a route to the chosen resort in advance.

The Dolomites in Italy are one of the best regions for holidays and skiing in Europe . Under this name, 12 large valleys with villages and small resort towns are combined. Modern slopes and ski lifts coexist here with comfortable hotels, villas and chalets. Shops offer sports equipment, branded clothing and shoes, as well as all kinds of souvenirs. Numerous cafés and restaurants serve local delicacies and Italian wines. Noisy parties, exhibitions, carnivals take place here - there is entertainment for every guest.

Business card

In 2009, the Dolomites were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique natural site. The region has many ski slopes of different levels, there are cross-country ski tracks, skating rinks, snow parks and sports centers. For many years, European and world competitions have been held here, for example the Biathlon World Cup. The number of resort towns and villages exceeds 50, each of them has its own unique atmosphere.

Trails, slopes, lifts

The Dolomites in Italy combine more than 1,200 km of ski slopes of various levels. They are served by about 500 lifts, which are constantly being modernized. The famous Sella Ronda, the “Dolomite Carousel”, runs here. This is the name for the system of trails and lifts, with the help of which you can, without taking off your skis, travel several tens of kilometers and visit the resorts of Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, Alta Badia, Arabba and many others. The ski infrastructure of the region is united by the universal Dolomiti Superski ski pass. This pass allows you to use the ski lifts in all 12 ski areas.

Entertainment and active recreation

The region's opportunities are not limited to skiing. In the Dolomites in Italy you can go cross-country skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering or paragliding. The village of Ortisei has a modern water sports center, and indoor heated pools are available in most resort towns. Here you can not only relax, but also learn about the history and traditions of the region. IN

Travelers who love the resorts of such a wonderful country as Italy should at least once visit its main attraction - the Dolomites. This massif is part of the Limestone Alps system in the eastern part of the mountain range. In this section of the mountains, every tourist can find entertainment for themselves. On the territory of the Dolomites there are a large number of villages that are rich in various attractions and historical monuments. For lovers of active recreation, Italy is perfect. This is where many ski resorts are located.

The Dolomites and their attractions

Italy boasts of its wide variety of recreation: resorts, SPA salons, shopping, beaches, nightlife. The Dolomites are also no exception. If you are already here, be sure to visit the town of Malyas - Marienberg Abbey is located here. From historical sources you can find out that its foundation dates back to 1149. Due to its location in the mountains, this building is recognized as the “highest” in Europe (1340 meters above sea level). The building is made in Baroque style. A large number of frescoes have been preserved in the halls of the Abbey. Throughout all these years, the Abbey suffered attacks, destruction and robberies. And in 1418 Marienberg was completely burned. Almost immediately, work began on its restoration.

In the village of Meran there is a beautiful Tyrolean Castle - the pride of all Italy. The castle is located on the hill of a mountain in the Dolomites. In this area, during excavations, a church was also discovered dating back to antiquity. The building was built in several stages. It all began in 1100 and came to an end in the second half of the 13th century. For a long time the castle was the residence of the leaders of Tyrol. At the beginning of the 18th century, part of the castle was destroyed due to cliffs, and it was sold. But already in the 19th century, work began on its restoration, and it was decided to preserve the castle as a cultural monument. Inside, the building is rich in frescoes, paintings, portals, sculptures and images of mythical heroes.

The highest peak of the Dolomites is Mount Marmolada. On the western side, the mountain forms a steep cliff, reminiscent of a smooth, even wall. Its length is several kilometers. The northern side is covered with glaciers. This is the only year in the entire Dolomites where glaciers have been preserved. The first person who was able to conquer this peak was the Austrian writer Paul Grohmann (1864). During the war years, multiple tunnels passed through these mountains. Inside there were catacombs with ammunition and uniforms. Due to global warming, glaciers are gradually thawing and the remains of ammunition and clothing of soldiers from the First World War appear on the surface of the mountains.

Other attractions are definitely worth mentioning:

  • Trauttmansdorf Castle;
  • Tre Cime di Lavaredo;
  • Cinque Torri;
  • Parish Church;
  • Lake Santa Croce.

Ski resorts of the Dolomites

All the highest quality ski resorts in Italy are gathered here. There are 12 ski regions here, and about 40 resorts. So everyone can choose the right one for themselves. The trails here are quite extensive, with plenty of room to roam. The slopes of all resorts are conveniently combined into a single lift system. Italy is famous for its resort in the Dolomites, Val di Fasa. Both residents of Italy and visiting tourists strive to get here. This attraction is located in the town of Trentino. Here are the most high-quality tracks and convenient transport interchange in the entire Dolomites.
A wide variety of routes allows you not to repeat the routes, but to choose something new and unknown for yourself every day. And by purchasing a special pass, you can visit any slopes of this ski resort and lifts at any time. Val di Fasa is perfect for both professionals and beginners. The most famous ski area of ​​this resort is Tre Valley. For beginners, shorter trails with a soft descent are recommended. This area is located between Vigo di Fassa, Pera di Fassa and Pozza di Fassa. In one of these villages (Pozza di Fassa) there are mineral springs. So the Alps will help every tourist not only to actively relax, but also to improve their health. These ski resorts have a lot of entertainment:

  • Luge tracks;
  • Open and closed skating rinks;
  • Sport complexes;
  • Trails for children;
  • Winter kindergartens.

For nightlife lovers, there is a wide variety of nightclubs, bars and restaurants. In this small town in Italy, the famous Andrea Soparetta gallery hosts annual exhibitions where handmade products are presented. All resort hotels are presented to choose from - from a cozy budget house to luxurious apartments of a five-star hotel. Not far from the resort, just forty minutes by bus, there are cities such as Milan, Venice, Verona.

Italy and the Dolomites boast a real paradise - the ski resort of Val Gardena. This mountain range is located on the border of Germany, Italy and Austria. This zone has its three centers: Selva, Ortisei and Santa Cristina. A holiday in this valley is perfect for spending time with the whole family. Here all the slopes are quite soft and there are many places for entertainment. This is where Italian schoolchildren go for the winter holidays. Many trails are equipped for children of different ages. There are also trails for snowboarders and cross-country skiers. The nature of this area has the greatest beauty. To get here, you should know the location of this area: Milan - 300 km, Bolzano - 40 km, Venice - 250 km, Rome - 700 km.
In this valley there are also trails for real professionals, which any confident tourist can visit. It is in this part of Italy that all world alpine skiing championships are held. It will be important information for travelers that the instructors here do not speak Russian. Therefore, it is worth improving your Italian, German or English. If you decide to go to all the slopes on a common lift system, then first check their operating hours. Because you risk making a mistake and going to the hotel by taxi, for whose services you will have to pay a lot of money.
A picturesque skiing region in the Dolomites is Alta Badia. This territory is famous for its pink mountain peaks. The ski resorts here are as follows: Corvara, Colfosco, San Cassiano, La Val. It is in this valley that the Sella Ronda circular route is located. Corvala is the liveliest resort of the Dolomites. A large number of restaurants, clubs, bars, and cinemas are concentrated here. Local trails are multi-level. By purchasing a ski pass you can visit all four resorts using a common lift system. This service will allow you to save a lot of money.

Other Dolomites ski resorts also deserve attention:

  • Tre Valley - length of trails 100 km;
  • Val di Fiemme - length of pistes 107 km;
  • Cortina d'Ampezzo - 140 km;
  • Kronplatz;
  • Arabba–Marmolada;
  • Valle Isarco.

Italy is a diverse country that you should definitely visit in your life. Italy receives great opportunities and privileges due to the Alps located on its territory. Significant replenishment of the country's budget is determined precisely by the presence of tourism infrastructure. The Dolomites bring revenue into Italy's budget all year round.

The Dolomites are perhaps the most beautiful in the entire mountain system. They were formerly called Monte Pallidi, which means Pale Mountains in Italian. Indeed, the Dolomites are not like the other Alps. Rocky, with bizarre, tower-like peaks, they are made of light stone. Its mineral composition - CaMg2 - was described in the 18th century by the French geologist Deodat de Dolomew. In honor of him, the mountains began to be called the Dolomites. This rock is of sedimentary origin. Many millions of years ago, a shallow, warm sea splashed here, populated by corals and mollusks. When the earth's surface began to rise, the water left, leaving behind a memory in the form of lagoons, fjords and reefs. As a result, high mountains appeared, more than three thousand meters above sea level, melting the warmth of the prehistoric ocean in their depths.

Dolomite effect

In this region, as in the entire mountain system, there are many But it is not because of this that the Dolomites, photos of which probably everyone has seen, were included in the UNESCO list in 2009 as a unique natural site. What is their phenomenon? How does Monte Pallidi differ from the rest of the Alps? This phenomenon is called Enrosadira - this is what the inhabitants of the high-mountain Ladin valleys call it. And the Austrians call it Alpengluhen - Alpine ignition. What does it mean? At dawn and sunset, the sun hanging low above the horizon illuminates the dolomite mineral with its light for several minutes. And it reflects the rays of the sun, visually becoming purple-orange, later changing color to creamy pink. Now imagine this landscape in winter, when the sparkle of alpine snow is added to the riot of colors! Truly, Le Corbusier was right when he called these mountains “the most beautiful natural architecture in the world.”

Legend of the Dolomites

Residents of high mountain valleys explain the effect of alpine ignition in their own way. There is a legend that once in these places there was a beautiful kingdom of gnomes, ruled by King Laurino. Its territory was completely planted with beautiful roses. The state of the gnomes did not have fortress walls, ditches, or anti-tank hedgehogs. Only a thin silk thread marked the cordons of the kingdom. In vain did the dwarves hope for the decency of their neighbors. They were not slow in invading and capturing the beautiful region. The legend is silent about who it was - Austria or Italy. The Dolomites bristled with rugged peaks because Laurino cast a spell on his garden. From now on, roses could not be seen either day or night. But Laurino forgot about dawn and sunset. It is at this time that you can admire the wonderful garden of the disappeared kingdom for a few minutes.

Dolomites Resorts

In such a beautiful area, God himself ordered the construction of places for recreation. Previously, some valleys were part of Austria. They were transferred to the Italian Republic only after the First World War. The Ladian language is still spoken in these lands, and Austrian speech is heard more often than Italian. Accuracy and punctuality also distinguish the valleys from the other lands of Trentino, Val d'Adige and Veneto. Tourists from all over the world come here all year round. Rock climbing, trekking, river rafting, mountaineering - lovers of outdoor activities will not be bored here. But still the most common type local entertainment - the Dolomites are home to interesting know-how.To attract winter tourists, twelve ski regions decided to join forces and established a single ski pass.

Dolomiti Superski - relaxation without limits

The Dolomites cover two regions of Italy - Alto Adige and Trentino, as well as the province of Belluno in Veneto. Now, looking at the map, imagine the scale of this gigazone of skiing! Without taking off your skis and with one ticket, you can ride 470 and try 1220 kilometers of excellent ski slopes. The ski area includes twelve valleys and resorts: Arabba/Marmolada, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val di Fiemme, Kronplatz, Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Val di Fasa, Alta Pusteria, San Martino di Castrozza, Valle Isarco, Tre Vali and Civetta . Some towns are located in close proximity to each other, others are at a considerable distance. Then there is a bus service between them.

Sella mountain range

On the slopes of this peak, reaching 3152 meters, there are four ski areas. These are Araba, Alta Badia, Val Gardena and Di Fasa. They are connected to each other by a network of lifts and cable cars. You can travel along the slopes without taking off your skis. Therefore, the Sella Ronda route is very popular among winter tourists. Since it is a circle, you can move clockwise or counterclockwise and start your journey from any point. The Dolomites in Sella form a kind of crown, a monolithic group of inaccessible peaks with steep cliffs. The chasms reach 600-800 meters. Moving along a circular route, you can go around all the peaks - Miara, Meisulez, Quima Pissado, Lek, Sass Pordoi and this ridge - Boe (3151). You don't even have to buy guidebooks - the trail is well marked. The length of Rondo is about forty kilometers. The entire journey will take about five hours.

Other resorts in the ski area

The total number of ski spots in Dolomiti Superski is difficult to calculate, since new artificial villages and even towns appear every year. Now there are about forty of them. All of them are good: with well-equipped slopes, fast ski lifts, and excellent tourist infrastructure. But there are also local peculiarities. For example, Civetta is located on the slopes of the mountain of the same name, three thousand two hundred and twenty meters high, and the highest skiing point at this resort does not exceed 2100 m. Kronplatz is praised for its ultra-modern lift system. The Dolomites are very diverse in terms of ski holidays. There are resorts with noisy après-ski, and there are quiet villages aimed at families with children (the Italians themselves prefer them). Some of these places have gained fame for sports, they host international competitions, while others are chic, such as Cortina d'Ampezzo, which is called the Queen of the Dolomites.