Cortina

As Italy’s most fashionable resort, Cortina boasts an international ambience. ‘Cortina d’Ampezzo’, as it is known locally, is set in a wide valley surrounded by magnificent towering mountains, perhaps the most dramatic of any ski town. It is no wonder that several James Bond films and Stallone’s Cliffhanger were filmed here.

The main street of Cortina is the Corso Italia. This pedestrian only street is lined with the most fashionable shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes. In the afternoons after skiing it comes alive with people promenading (the “passeggiata”), window-shopping and people-watching. There are five ski areas that make up the Cortina, from great long cruisey runs to the World Cup downhill course. There is a bus link into the Alta Badia ski region.

Cortina Ski Facts

• Elevation: Top 2,930m. Base 1,224m.
• Vertical: 1,706m. Longest run 11km.
• Slopes: Beginner 25%, Int. 40%, Adv. 35%
• Ski Hire: Skis, boots & poles $130/week
• Lessons (private): $60 per hour.