The Dolomites (the Italian Alps) in Italy is one of the most beautiful alpine regions in the world and one not to be missed. We were headed to the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy for our stay that evening. We would be taking Tre Cime Road to the Dolomites the next morning. Dreaming of hiking the Dolomites in Italy, the Cime Panoramic Road would take us to the place we wanted to be!

The Dolomites in Italy have our attention!

The glow on the Dolomites gave us a feel of the spectacular beauty that was ahead for us the next day. We were excited! The sun was beginning to set on the Italian Alps before we reached our destination of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Where to Stay in Cortina?

We chose Hotel Columbia & Spa located in the little mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo for our stay. Though known for its winter ski resorts, Cortina is also one of the areas best known summer vacation towns. During the warmer months, Cortina is a favorite of hikers, bikers and mountain climbers. In addition to extensive hiking and biking trails in unforgettable scenery, Cortina offers excellent local food that can be enjoyed in the many restaurants in town.

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Hi! We are Lou and Barbara, a world traveling, nature loving couple searching out new and interesting places to explore, photograph and share with you our readers.CONTINUE READING

Hotel Columbia in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

The Hotel Columbia is fashioned after an old Alpine Hotel. The interior featured carved wood and Alpine style paintings throughout the hotel. Our room was beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean. The view from our balcony was spectacular. Breakfast was plentiful and served in an attractive dining area. The staff at The Columbia Hotel was helpful in offering information and directions for restaurants and things to do in the area. We would highly recommend this hotel for your stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Where to Eat in Cortina?

We chose the Croda Café located at the north end of the shopping center in Cortina for dinner. We ordered pizza and calzones for our dinner and both were delicious. Top that off with a nice cold beer and you have the perfect meal to end the perfect day. Only a 10 minute walk from our hotel we found the town center to have everything we needed. You will find shops, restaurants and pharmacies available here.

See the sign with the green cross? This is the easily recognizable sign of a pharmacy. Good to know should you be in need of a prescription refill or an over the counter pain medication. Pharmacies are rarely found in supermarkets in Europe where you can purchase over the counter drugs, contrary to North America, so look for the flashing green cross for your pharmacy needs, it’s easy to spot!

The quaint town of Cortina d’Ampezzo at night

The Dolomites in Italy

Starting out early in the morning, passing this view of the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, we headed to the Tre Cime Road to the Tre Cime Park. We were excited to be heading right to the center of the Italian mountains. The Tre Cime Road is a toll road but well worth the price as you will see once you reach the top. It’s only a 30 minute drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo here and at the end of the road you will find plenty of parking in the large parking area. You can find lodging deals for any season in Cortina d’Ampezzo at Booking.com.

At the Tre Cime Park in the Dolomites you will see many hikers, walking and biking through this extraordinary scenery. Words cannot express the overwhelming beauty of the Italian Alps. The view alone is worth the trip.

More Things To See & Do In Italy!

Venice – Things to See & Photograph
Pompeii – The Lost City
Tuscany – Walled City of Montepulciano

Amazing vistas at the top of the Cime Panoramic Road

We visited the Dolomites in the fall. It was cool at this high altitude but the skies were sunny and clear. You can see the town of Misurina and Lake Misurina in this photograph. Make this a part of your drive through the Dolomites for sure. The memories will last a lifetime.

The Dolomites have many historic hiking trails to enjoy. Pick up a trail guide and head out for an enjoyable day of hiking. Be sure to check the weather forecast and take plenty of water and nourishment for the length of time you plan to be on the trails. Remember, your situation can change at any minute and you need to be prepared.

Spectacular scenery can be viewed at the end of Tre Cime Road. We parked our car and walked for a short distance and this is the scene we were rewarded with…amazing! I will never forget this spectacular view of the Italian Alps.

The Little Town of Misurina in The Dolomites

After driving the Cime Panoramic Road we stopped at this lake

After admiring the beauty of the surrounding Dolomites, we drove down to Misurina to do a little shopping. The view of Lake Misurina with the Dolomites in background was stunning. We sat on a bench next to the lake for quite some time admiring the peaceful beauty that surrounded us. What an amazing place to sit, relax and reflect on the wonderful day we experienced in the Italian Alps. I can’t put into words how it feels to stand in the midst of such overwhelming beauty, but I know we loved our visit to the Dolomites!

Have you been to the Dolomites in Italy? We’d love to hear about your experience too.

Please leave your comments below.

Related Vacation & Travel Ideas

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2 Comments

Anthony Simmons on January 1, 2014 at 1:31 pm

Plan to visit this beautiful area in the summer of 2014 from Texas!
- Barbara on January 2, 2014 at 9:20 am
  
  Anthony, the Dolomites in Italy are amazingly beautiful. Enjoy your trip there and please come back and tell us about your experience, we would love to hear about your trip too! We have visited Texas many times and have enjoyed the natural beauty there as well as the many historic sites. There’s a lot to see and do in Texas!

The Dolomites, Italy