Get to Know Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo, known as the Queen of the Dolomites, is an incredibly chic ski resort town that hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and is set to co-host the Winter Olympics again in 2026. In the seven decades between the town’s two Olympic stints, James Bond skied down Cortina’s slopes in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, and generations of glamorous and sporty skiers swooped from piste to peak. Cortina is equally cinematic in the summer months, when outdoor enthusiasts can cycle or hike the rugged trails and climb the via ferrata routes, traversing a landscape of dramatic, panoramic views. The town itself is Alpine charm incarnate, with high-end boutiques on Corso Italia and a Michelin-starred dining scene. Some of Cortina's most beloved restaurants are in rifugios, or mountain huts, which are only accessible via hiking or gondolas, and offer breathtaking vistas and gourmet meals as rewards for scaling the heights.

Living in the Dolomites

The Dolomites are an Alpine wonderland, with sophisticated and picturesque villages tucked in between the valleys and crags of this spectacular mountain range. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Dolomites sit on the border of northeast Italy and Austria, and over the centuries, the region has developed its own unique cultural identity. Three languages are used in everyday and official life here: Italian, German, and Ladin, a romance language native to the area. The result of these diverse influences includes distinct architectural styles and culinary traditions, as well as world-class opportunities for outdoor pursuits. In winter, the skiing and snowboarding is superb, and in the summer, there’s hiking, mountain biking, climbing on the via ferrata routes, and boating and swimming in the many lakes. And at sunrise and sunset, experience Alpenglow or enrosadira, when the light turns the horizon pink, enveloping everything is a beautiful, rosy glow.