CORTINA D' AMPEZZO
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
Located in northern Italys Dolomite mountain ranges, Cortina d'Ampezzo is an exclusive, stylish and popular resort with magnificent views of the surrounding mountain peaks and a good reliable snow record.
Cortina Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain
The skiing and snowboarding terrain at Cortina is split into six different interlinked areas; Faloria, Cristallo, Mietres, Tofana, Cinque Torri and Falzarego-Lagazuoi all supported by a fast, modern and efficient lift system.
Overall 62% of the terrain is suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders, 33% to beginners and only 5% suited for advanced skiers and snowboarders. Expect to find extremely long linking groomed trails, wide open powder bowls and gentle beginner areas.
Cortina is included in the world famous interconnected Dolomiti Superski Pass covering over 1,200 kilometres of skiing and snowboarding terrain in the Dolomites.
The hands free Dolomiti Superski Pass encompasses the following twelve ski areas; Cortina d'Ampezzo, Kronplatz, Alta Badia, Val di Fassa/Carezza, Arabba/Marmolada, Alta Pusteria, Val di Fiemme/Obereggen, San Martino di Castrozza/Passo Rolle, Valle Isarco, Tre Valli - Moena/P.sso S. Pellegrino/Falcade, Civetta and Val Gardena.
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
For fast and steep challenging mogul skiing and snowboarding go to the Olimpia run in the Tofana area where the World Cup Women's Downhill competition is held every year. The cliffs and chutes dropping down to the Olimpia run will certainly test your fast turning ability in deep powder snow.
After a good snowfall go to the Cristallo area where some breakneck speedy GS turns can be had on the steep Canalone Staunies run.
Extreme skiing and snowboarding tours are available with professional guides taking you to the best off piste powder spots in the surrounding Dolomite mountain ranges. It is not wise to venture too far off piste by yourself as there are some seriously large cliff drops and crevasses to be found in the area.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediate skiers and snowboarders are spoilt for choice at Cortina with all six areas having wide open linking groomed trails.
In the Falzarego-Lagazuoi area the most popular and exciting run is the nine kilometre long groomed Armentarola trail that winds down around the mountain from the top of the Lagazuoi Cable Car.
From the centre of the Cortina village catch the Faloria Cable Car up to the Faloria area for lots more wide long and fast groomed cruising trails leading back down into the village.
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
Beginner skiers and snowboarders learn on long wide gently sloping runs rising up from the Cortina village before venturing onto some of the steeper intermediate long trails on the upper areas.
Cortina has four ski and snowboard schools offering group, day long and private lessons to all ages and ability levels. There is also a mountain guide company in Cortina offering off piste guided skiing and snowboarding tours.
Recent Lift Updates at Cortina
In the last couple of winters new updates have been made to some of the older existing chairlifts. In the Cristallo area a new four seater chairlift, the Pian de ra Bigontina, has replaced the old two seater chairlift making the turnaround time a lot faster.
In the Tofana area a six seater chairlift has replaced both the Col Taron and Pie Merlo chairlifts which will help ease congestion during the peak holiday periods.
Cortina Terrain Park and Halfpipe
The terrain park with rails, boxes, kickers and jumps of various different sizes and well shaped professional halfpipe are located in the Faloria area.
Other Activities at Cortina
Other activities available at Cortina include snow rafting, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, swimming in the public pool, ice skating and tobogganing on the long slopes in the Mietres ski and snowboarding area.
Indoor activities include going to the cinema, exploring the local museums and receiving beauty and massage treatments.
Cortina Shopping
The car free main street in Cortina, the Corso Italia has a wide array of shops stocking the latest ski and snowboard equipment and rental gear, top designer fashion boutiques, jewellery stores, antique stores, photography galleries, homewares shops and gift and souvenir stores.
Cortina also has well stocked grocery markets, delicatessens, butchers and wine stores.
Cortina Restaurants
Cortina has more than forty restaurants, pizzerias and cafes serving sensational Italian cuisine.
The popular Pizzeria al Passotto serves over 60 different types of gourmet wood fired pizzas and has a wide variety of home made pasta dishes.
The Leone & Anna Restaurant serve traditional local Sardinian cuisine; start off with cheese ravioli in a butter, basil and orange sauce then move onto homemade dumplings with tomato and salami sauce or try the suckling pig.
The a la carte restaurant in the Hotel Cortina serves four course Italian and international dishes accompanied by an excellent wine list while the family run and welcoming Rio Gere Restaurant use only the finest local ingredients to produce rustic Italian meals followed by beautiful desserts.
Takeaway snack bars selling slices of pizza and toasted sandwiches are scattered throughout the village. Make sure you also visit the bakeries for some sweet delights.
Cortina Nightlife
After skiing and snowboarding all day the Italians tend to have an evening stroll along the main street before having a glass of wine in one of the many wine bars.
After dinner go to the trendy VIP Club in the Hotel Europa for a cocktail; the bar turns into a disco after midnight remaining open until the early hours of the morning. Another popular disco is the Belvedere Club which hosts top DJs throughout the season.
The Monkey Club in the Hotel Cristallo has frequent theme nights and live band performances, jazz nights and great comedy nights.
More About Cortina
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