Regarded by many as one the most
beautiful resorts in the world, Cortina d'Ampezzo, or
Cortina as it is often simply called, overlooks the spectacular
Dolomites region of the Italian Alps. Located in northeastern Italy,
the resort is popular with international celebrities, the in-crowd
from Milan and Rome (many of whom own private chalets), as well as
those who can afford it from elsewhere in Europe and North America.
Skiing:
There is something for everyone at Cortina with some fantastic
groomed runs for beginners and intermediates and some of the most
daring skiing for experts, depending on the snow. Snowboarders are
very welcome in Cortina.
Shopping: Cortina offers some of
the best and most upmarket shopping of any European ski resorts with
a number of clothing boutiques and enough sport shops selling ski
and snowboarding equipment, including Morotto Sports Equipment and
Piccin Sports, which during summer focus on all mountain biking
needs. Other novelty shops include Zardini Stoves producing some of
the greatest stoves around.
Restaurants: Traditional Italian
fare is what it is all about in Cortina with delightful, cosy
restaurants offering good times and great views. Leone & Anna is
one of the best known restaurants in Cortina serving mouth-watering
Sardinian cuisine in a very cosy atmosphere. Tivoli is small and
welcoming with a spectacular view of the Dolomites and delicious
traditionally made pasta. Pizzeria Vienna serves wonderful dishes of
pasta, pizza in a friendly environment with great service and
reasonably priced too. For some fine dining there is Baita
Fraina, Da Beppe Sello and Lago Scin, all internationally acclaimed
and all incredibly difficult to get a table at.
Nightlife: Cortina is easily as
popular for its skiing as it is for the amazing nightlife. Enoteca
is a stylish old wine bar, very popular, and one can expect to see
the furs out here. Terrezza Viennese serves some delicious Austrian
pastries with piano music calming the atmosphere in the background.
Birreria Hacker Pschorrz is where to head for some fun, cheap
drinking and generally some diverse music. And the VIP Club and
Metro Club may often be the most popular hangouts crowd depending.
Activities: The Olympic Bobsled
is most definitely worth some attention and the chance to gain
speeds of 75 mph (120km/h) can be enjoyed by those brave (and
professional) enough. Sledding is another popular activity for those
needing a break from ski or snowboarding boots as are snowshoeing
and hiking trails. Day trips to Venice can be arranged.
Negatives: Cortina can get
crowded with day visitors during peak periods and is quite expensive
as Italian resorts go. Snow reliability can vary.
Courmayeur
Located below Mont Blanc on the Italian side of the mountain in
the Aosta Valley, the atmospheric resort of Courmayeur is full of
character with grand old buildings, narrow cobbled streets and
plenty of traditional Italian village charm. The scenery is also
spectacular with views towards the Mont Blanc, and is surrounded by
fourteen 13,123ft (4,000m) mountain peaks at the junction of Italy,
France and Switzerland. The village was once known as a spa town and
base for climbing, but became recognised as a ski resort with the
opening of the Mont Blanc Tunnel to provide easy access from
Chamonix and Geneva International Airport.
Skiing: By European standards the
ski area in Courmayeur is small, with 63 miles (100km) of its own
pistes and short but numerous runs that cater to mainly intermediate
and beginner skiers and snowboarders. However access is provided to
the other resorts in the Aosta Valley, with a combined area of
almost 497 miles (800km) of runs and 32 miles (51km) of
cross-country trails available. Chamonix is just across the border
and is lift-linked to one of the resort's ski areas, offering a wide
range of skiing options and off-piste routes on both sides of the
border. Courmayeur offers skiing and boarding for all standards, but
the groomed slopes are best suited for intermediates, while advanced
skiers will find plenty of off-piste opportunities and high mountain
ski areas to challenge the experts. There are two main ski areas at
Courmayeur. Checrouit-Val Veny, directly above the resort, is mostly
suited to intermediates and beginners although the nursery slopes
lower down are limited and can be crowded. Absolute beginners can
also ski at Dolonne in the village. The most famous run is the 13-mile
(20km) descent of the Vallée Blanche from Helbronner Point at
11,053ft (3,369m) down to Chamonix, which is daunting and demanding,
but can be undertaken by intermediate skiers and snowboarders. The
skiing from Cresta Youla at 8,700ft (2,652m) is excellent, but
higher up at Cresta Arp the terrain is for experts only and should
be undertaken with a guide. The second ski area is Mont Blanc and is
for advanced skiers and boarders; a guide should accompany skiers on
the high mountain terrain and the glacier. Snow is reliable and
there are widespread snowmaking facilities.
Shopping: Many stylish little
shops and speciality shops make shopping an Italian experience and
there are a variety of goods to choose from.
Restaurants: Like most Italian
ski resorts, evenings begin with the passeggiata, a stroll down the
main street before a late dinner that typically lasts late into the
night. Courmayeur has numerous restaurants, cafes, pizzerias and
trattorias to suit all tastes and budgets, and eating out is almost
as popular as time spent on the slopes. Most establishments are
informal, relaxed and fabulous, but restaurants like Pierre Alexis
offer more romantic and exclusive dining. One of the best spots for
traditional Valdostana fare is the charming Leone Rosso, while the
popular Pizzeria Tunnel has great pizzas.
Nightlife: Après-ski is a drawn
out, rather laid back affair with bars spilling out onto the main
street, such as the old-world Bar Roma that serves free snacks and
the fire-warmed Café della Posta. The newer Cadran Solaire caters
for the ritzy folk from the big cities, while the Red Lion and
American Bar are more traditional bars. Late night options include
discos such as Poppy's Pub, the Jimmy Night Café and Planet Disco
Bar.
Activities: There is plenty of
winter and summer action to be had in Courmayeur, but also plenty
for those seeking some inactivity in beautiful surroundings, such as
extensive lunches, cable car rides or soaking up the sun at high
altitude swimming pools. Besides the skiing and snowboarding in
winter, there is also cross-country skiing, heli-skiing and heli-boarding,
snowshoeing, dog-sledding, snow biking, ice skating, paragliding and
curling. A sports centre has tennis and squash courts, a fitness
club and climbing wall. In summer there is hiking, parachuting,
mountain biking and trout fishing available.
Negatives: On weekends the
waiting time for lifts can be long.
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