mountain pass
Passo Tre Croci
A forested 1,805 m pass east of Cortina d'Ampezzo beneath Monte Cristallo, the road link toward Lake Misurina and the Tre Cime, with sweeping Dolomite views on the descent.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeItalyVeneto
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Veneto, Italy · Europe
About Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo works well as a base: 20 minutes from San Vito, 9km from Passo di Giau.
Cortina d'Ampezzo is in Veneto, Italy, with about 5,400 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is San Vito, about 10 km away.
Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italian: [korˈtiːna damˈpɛttso]; local Ladin: Anpezo, elsewhere Ampëz; historical Austrian German: Hayden), often abbreviated to Cortina, is a town and comune (municipality) in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. Situated on the Boite river, in an alpine valley in theRead more
heart of the southern Dolomitic Alps, it is an upscale summer and winter sport resort known for its skiing trails, scenery, accommodation, shops and its jet-set-dominated après-ski scene. It is part of the linguistic and cultural region of Ladinia. The town's Latin motto, granted in 1928 on its flag and coat of arms, reads: MODO VIVO AC TUTA QUIESCO (roughly, "I live frugally and rest quietly".)
During the Middle Ages, Cortina d'Ampezzo fell under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Aquileia and the Holy Roman Empire. In 1420 it was conquered by the Republic of Venice. From 1508, it then spent much of its history under Habsburg rule, briefly undergoing some territorial changes under Napoleon, before being returned to the Austrian Empire (later Austria-Hungary), which held it until 1918. From the 19th century, Cortina d'Ampezzo became a regional centre for crafts. The local handmade products were appreciated by early British and German holidaymakers as tourism emerged in the late 19th century. Among the specializations of the town were crafting wood for furniture, the production of tiled stoves, and iron, copper and glass items.
Today, the local economy thrives on tourism, particularly during the winter season, when the population of the town typically increases from about 7,000 to 40,000. The Basilica Minore dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo was built between 1769 and 1775 on the site of two former 13th- and 16th-century churches; it is home to the parish and the deanery of Cortina d'Ampezzo. The town also contains the Rinaldo Zardini Palaeontology Museum, the Mario Rimoldi Modern Art Museum, and the Regole of Ampezzo Ethnographic Museum.
Although Cortina d'Ampezzo was unable to go ahead with the scheduled 1944 Winter Olympics because of World War II, it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and subsequently hosted a number of world winter-sports events. In 2026, Cortina d'Ampezzo hosted the Winter Olympics for a second time, co-hosting with Milan. The town is home to SG Cortina, a top league professional ice hockey team, and is also the start and end point of the annual Dolomites Gold Cup Race.
Several films have been shot in the town, most notably The Pink Panther (1963), For Your Eyes Only (1981), and Cliffhanger (1993).
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Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Cortina d'Ampezzo.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Cortina d'Ampezzo?
Within an hour or so of Cortina d'Ampezzo: Passo Tre Croci (5 km), Passo Giau (9 km), Passo Giau Ra Gusela Viewpoint (9 km), Passo di Giau (9 km).
Are there any good drives near Cortina d'Ampezzo?
The nearest famous roads are Passo Tre Croci, Passo di Giau and Passo Giau.
Where is Cortina d'Ampezzo?
Cortina d'Ampezzo is in Veneto, Italy, about 10 km from San Vito.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 5,423
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Veneto
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 46.5369, 12.1390
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Cortina d'Ampezzo
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
mountain pass
Passo Giau
A 2,236 m pass of relentless hairpins offering arguably the most jaw-dropping Dolomite panorama near Cortina.
9 km · about 15 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Passo Giau Ra Gusela Viewpoint
The viewpoint at the top of Passo Giau looking to the fang of Ra Gusela and the Nuvolau, the most photographed spot on the pass.
9 km · about 15 min drive
famous road
Passo di Giau
29 hairpins to 2,236m with an uninterrupted amphitheatre of Dolomite peaks - a favourite of driving photographers.
9 km · about 15 min drive
mountain pass
Passo Falzarego
A 2,105 m pass near Cortina with WWI tunnels and a cable car to Lagazuoi's panoramic Dolomite terrace.
10 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Lago di Misurina
A lake mirroring the Sorapiss and Cristallo peaks, and the gateway to the toll road up to Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
10 km · about 20 min drive
famous road
Passo di Falzarego
A wide, fast Dolomite pass at 2,105m between Cortina and Andraz, with a cable car to Lagazuoi and WWI tunnels.
10 km · about 20 min drive
mountain pass
Valparola Pass
A 2,168 m Dolomites pass linking Falzarego with Alta Badia, running past WWI fortifications and the Tre Sassi fort museum amid stark scree fields and pale rock towers.
11 km · about 20 min drive
Driving roads near Cortina d'Ampezzo
26 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- Right herePasso Tre CrociA forested 1,805 m pass east of Cortina d'Ampezzo beneath Monte Cristallo, the road link toward Lake Misurina and the Tre Cime, with sweeping Dolomite views on the descent.
- Right herePasso GiauA 2,236 m pass of relentless hairpins offering arguably the most jaw-dropping Dolomite panorama near Cortina.
- Right herePasso Giau Ra Gusela ViewpointThe viewpoint at the top of Passo Giau looking to the fang of Ra Gusela and the Nuvolau, the most photographed spot on the pass.
- Right herePasso di Giau29 hairpins to 2,236m with an uninterrupted amphitheatre of Dolomite peaks - a favourite of driving photographers.
- Right herePasso FalzaregoA 2,105 m pass near Cortina with WWI tunnels and a cable car to Lagazuoi's panoramic Dolomite terrace.
- Right herePasso di FalzaregoA wide, fast Dolomite pass at 2,105m between Cortina and Andraz, with a cable car to Lagazuoi and WWI tunnels.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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