Great Dolomite Road from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo Driving Tour
This itinerary crosses three regions: Sudtirol, Trentino and Veneto. It is a
classic itinerary to visit some of the most scenic parts of the Dolomites.
Bolzano
The itinerary starts from Bolzano (in German Bozen), capital of the autonomous province of the same name, in
Sudtirol, that lies
in a fertile basin at the junction of the River Isarco (Eisack), coming from
the Brenner, with the Talvera (Talfer), coming from Val Sarentina. The
Isarco, thus reinforced, flows into the Adige
(Etsch) to the south of the town.
The background to the east is formed by the magnificent Catinaccio group,
with the Torri del Vaiolet, typical Dolomite peaks. Situated at the
intersection of important through routes and at the starting point of
popular mountain roads, Bolzano has a busy transit traffic, but its
convenient situation and beautiful surroundings also make it an excellent
base from which to explore the region.
Karneld
Not far from Bolzano we cross the
Brenner motorway and climb the steep gorge in the Eggen valley through which flows
the Karneld stream. On a steep rocky height on the left stands Karneld
Castle (13th century, restored about
1880; chapel and frescoes) that is above the village of the same name.
In Kardaun
there is
the Eisack power station, beyond which a road bridge crosses the Eggen
valley waterfall. Then the valley broadens out, near Birchabruck (Ponte
Nova; 877m/2,728ft) there is on the right a fine view of the Laternar and
the Rosengarten on the left. Beyond Birchabruck the Dolomite Road
leaves the Eggen valley and ascends the Welschofen valley.
Welschnofen/Nova Levante
The village of Welschnofen, picturesquely situated on
the hillside, is popular both as a summer and as a winter sports resort.
From the Hainzer sawmill a chair-lift goes up to the Frommer Alm
(1,730m/5,678ft) and continues to the Kilner Hutte, (2,337m/7,679ft). From
the Cologne Path (Kilner Weg) it is possible to reach in about 1.25 hours walk the Paolina Hut
(2,127m/6,981ft) above the Karer Pass.
Carezza Lake
After almost 6km/4 mi we reach the little hotel settlement
of Karersee (Carezza al Lago; 1,609m/5,281ft) not far above the Carezza
Lake (Lago di Carezza;
1,530m/5,121ft; nature reserve), in which are reflected the rough rocky
walls of the Laternar (2,794m/8,611ft) which rises in the south. In the
northeast towers the Rotwand (2,806m/9,209ft). The Carezza Lake is a classic
tourist destination, the walk around the lake is recommended, easy and can be done in
about 20 minutes.
Passo di Costalunga
The Dolomite Road continues from Carezza Lake downhill above
meadows to the Passo di Costalunga (1,753m/5,753ft) on the German/Ladin
language frontier between the Laternar and the Rotwand. High above the top
of the pass stands a monument to the Dolomite pioneer Theodor Cristomanos.
At the Pass the road enters the province of Trento.
Vigo di Fassa
On the
far side of the summit of the pass is Vigo di Fassa (1,382m/4,536ft), a
popular holiday and winter sports resort on the slopes above the Fassa
valley.
In the 15th century parish church in the community of San Giovanni
can be seen frescoes dating from the 16th century. Above the village is a
military cemetery.
Further
up the Fassa valley in which flows the River Avisio lies the resort of Pozza
di Fassa (1,290m/4,234ft), with a chair-lift to the Buffaure slope
(2,020m / 6,629ft; ski-lifts).
Campitello di Fassa
Campitello di Fassa, dominated by the jagged peaks of the Langkofel, is much
visited both in summer and in winter. A chair-lift goes up to the Col
Rodella (2,387m / 7,834ft); it takes about 15 minutes to climb to the Rodella
(2,485m / 8,156ft; TV transmission antenna; refuge hut).
At the end of the Val Lastie lies Canazei a very popular touring base and winter
sports resort of the upper Fassa Valley.
Pecol
A cableway leads to Pecol on the road over the Pordoi ridge where
there is an extensive skiing area. A chair-lift ascends to the Belvedere
(2,389m/7,841ft; refuge hut). From the Pordoi ridge the Viel dal Pan track
leads in 2.5 hours via the Viel dal Pan Refugio (2,346m/7,746ft; refuge hut)
to the Refugio Marmolada / Castiglioni on the artificially dammed Fadaia Lake
(2,046m/6,715ft).
Alba road to the Fadaia Pass
On the
road leading south from Canazei to the Fadaia Pass is the village of Alba
(cableway to Ciampac, 2,136m/7,010ft; skiing area).
The road to the pass
reaches the picturesque mountain village of Penia (1,556m/5,107ft) and,
above Pian Trevisam (1,717m/5,635ft; Refugio Villetta Maria), continues to
the Fedaia Lake and the Fedaia Pass, where the road enters the Province of
Belluno in the Region of Veneto.
Pieve di Livinallongo
The Dolomite Road now follows the Livinallongo Valley watered by the
Cordevole river, first along the floor of the valley and later high on the
northern slope and over a gorge. Then we reach Pieve di Livinallongo, the
administrative center of the extensive district of Livinallongo del Col di Lana.
Southeast below Pieve is the Sacrario di Pian di Salesi, an Italian military
cemetery. The road to it continues south to Caprile and Alleghe on the lake
of the same name.
Col di Lana
To the
north above Pieve di Livinallongo towers the 2,462m/8,080ft-high Col di Lana
which can be reached on foot in three hours via the Refugio Gaetani
(1,835m/6,022ft). The summit was the scene of intense fighting in 1915 to
1918; Italian alpine troops drove a tunnel under the positions of the
Austrian Imperial infantry on the summit and on April 17th/18th 1916 blew it
up. Near the summit stands a memorial chapel and remains of the military
positions; from the top there is an exceptional panorama.
Falzarego Pass, Passo di Falzarego
Beyond Pieve di Livinallongo the Dolomite Road turns north and climbs the
2,177m/7,145ft-high Falzarego Pass, a broad depression which is overlooked
on the west by the Sasso di Stria ("witches' rock"; 2,477m/8,130ft), on the
east by the curiously named Cinque Torri ("five towers"; 2,362m/7,752ft) and
on the south by Nuvolauo (2,575m/8,451ft). North of the pass a cableway goes
up to the Piccolo Lagazuoi (2,728m/8,953ft).
Valparola Ridge
From the
Falzarego Pass a road leads northwest along the beautiful Lago di Valparola
to the 2,192m/7,194ft-high Valparola ridge, overlooked on the northeast by
the Lagazuoi (2,803m/9,199ft), then winds downhill to Armentarola
(1,640m/5,382ft); from here we continue through the charmingly situated
village of San Cassiano (1,537m/5,044ft) to the village of La Villa (Stern;
1,483m/4,867ft), high in the valley of the Gader. The
Dolomite Road continues in curves and S-bends
steadily downhill; on the left is the mighty rock wall of Tofana.
Cinque Torri
A good
5km/3 mi beyond the summit of the pass a road branches off to the Refugio
Cinque Torri (2,131m/6,994ft); from here there are climbs on the rocks of
the Cinque Torri ("five towers"; main summit 2,362m/7,752ft). About 15
minutes west of the hut is the Refugio Scoiattoli (2,230m/7,319ft;
ski-lift), from where a chair-lift descends to the Refugio Bai de Dones
(1,900m/6,236ft) on the Dolomite Road.
Tofana
About 7km/4.5mi beyond the summit of the Falzarego
Pass a 6km/4mi-long military road branches off to the Refugio Cantore (2,545m/8,353ft), the
starting point for climbing the 3,244m/10,647ft-high Tofana. Via Pocol we
reach in 9km/5.5mi the winter sports resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Cortina d’Ampezzo
The internationally renowned tourist center of Cortina d'Ampezzo,
Italy's most popular winter sports
resort, lies at the eastern end of the Strada delle Dolomiti in a wide
valley enclosed by the high peaks of the Dolomites.
The Winter Olympics 1956
took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Since hosting the Winter Olympics in 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo has become known
as the Italian ski resort for the jet set. Expensive furs and fancy cars
with shops to match dot the town that boasts a picturesque center and access
to three separate ski areas. A haven for beginners and intermediates, the
town is flanked by two mountain ridges with Mount Cristallo (a 9,613-foot
peak) and Faloria (at 7,690 feet) to the east and Tofana (9,317 feet) and
Pocol and Socrepes (7,487 feet) to the west. These areas are linked by bus
and taxi but schedules are not necessarily that convenient so skiers tend to
pick an area for a morning or afternoon or the entire day and try another
area the next day.
