Why Cortina is a timeless hotspot in the Dolomites

For Italy, Cortina d’Ampezzo is what Lech is to Austria, Val d’Isère to France, or Gstaad to Switzerland—the country’s most exclusive ski resort. Its rise to fame began in 1956 when it hosted the Winter Olympics, transforming the once-sleepy mountain village into an internationally renowned destination. In the following years, Cortina boomed. Wealthy Venetians, Milanese, and even Romans built homes and purchased apartments, while fashion and design boutiques, hotels, and restaurants sprang up, solidifying its status as a luxury hotspot.