Cortina d’Ampezzo sits in the heart of the Italian Dolomites like a glittering crown jewel. Visitors know it as a luxury ski resort filled with high-end fashion boutiques and five-star hotels. However, this alpine town holds history that dates back to prehistoric times and ancient Roman settlements. Furthermore, Hollywood directors have chosen its dramatic peaks for some of the most famous action movies ever made. Surprisingly, the local culture remains deeply rooted in ancient traditions despite the modern glamour. Prepare to ski down the slopes of the Queen of the Dolomites.
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Roger Moore filmed a famous James Bond ski chase here. Specifically, the spy skied down the actual Olympic bobsled run in the movie For Your Eyes Only. Consequently, this stunt remains one of the most memorable scenes in the franchise.
The town hosted the first televised Winter Olympics in history. In 1956, cameras broadcast the games to a global audience for the very first time. Thus, Cortina d’Ampezzo changed how the world watches sports forever.
Unfortunately, the Olympic torchbearer tripped during the opening ceremony. Speed skater Guido Caroli skated into the stadium but stumbled over a television cable. Luckily, the flame stayed lit, and he finished his lap successfully.
Geologists discovered the oldest amber in the world here. Surprisingly, the fossilized resin dates back 230 million years to the Triassic period. Therefore, these mountains contain biological secrets older than the dinosaurs.
The local bell tower plays the chimes of Big Ben. Uniquely, the melody matches the famous bells of Westminster Abbey in London perfectly. Thus, a piece of British culture echoes through the Italian Alps daily.
Workers melted real gold coins to coat the church sphere. Specifically, the copper ball on top of the bell tower contains sixty gold ducats. Consequently, it shines brilliantly against the backdrop of the grey mountains.
Emperor Charles I personally saved the town’s bells. During World War I, armies melted church bells to make cannons and ammunition. However, the Emperor loved the sound of these bells so much that he protected them.
Sylvester Stallone hung from these peaks in the movie Cliffhanger. Although the film takes place in the Rocky Mountains, the crew shot the climbing scenes in the Dolomites. Thus, the dramatic Tofane mountains doubled for Colorado.
Ernest Hemingway stayed in Cortina d’Ampezzo to write his short stories. He lived at the Hotel de la Poste and often drank in the bar. Eventually, he wrote about the town in his book A Farewell to Arms.
Locals still speak an ancient language called Ladin. This Rhaeto-Romance language survives only in a few valleys in the Dolomites. Therefore, the culture remains distinct from the rest of Italy.
The mountains turn pink at sunset due to a phenomenon called Enrosadira. Chemically, the calcium carbonate and magnesium in the rock react with the low light. Consequently, the grey peaks glow with a magical rose color every evening.
A collective organization manages the forests instead of private owners. The “Regole d’Ampezzo” system has protected the land for hundreds of years. Thus, original families share the resources and maintain the environment together.
The old railway line is now a popular bike path. Trains stopped running in 1964, but the track remained intact. Today, cyclists ride the “Long Dolomites Road” through tunnels and over bridges.
It will host the Winter Olympics again in 2026. Exactly seventy years after its first games, the town will welcome the world back. This time, Cortina d’Ampezzo shares the hosting duties with the city of Milan.
Finally, prehistoric lizards once roamed this valley. Paleontologists found a well-preserved reptile fossil named Megachirella wachtleri in the area. Thus, the region was a tropical paradise long before it became a ski resort.
