Walking down a brick pathway in Aspen, Colorado I wondered exactly who was under the ski goggles and fur coats I was passing by Fast-forward a few years, and I had the same question as I walked down cobblestone streets in Italy's Cortina d'Ampezzo I discovered ski towns home to rich history and striking landscapes but I left partial to the one with impressive architecture and affordable options A quick look at each destination's population reflects how large each town felt Cortina d'Ampezzo was bustling with people and cars As my friend and I explored the downtown area it felt like we had only scratched the surface — there were plenty of winding streets we didn't walk down Aspen covers only 3.66 square miles; after one trip The destinations felt comparable in terms of restaurants and shopping but Cortina d'Ampezzo's options stretch across mountains While glitz and glam can be spotted across both Aspen and Cortina d'Ampezzo Aspen originated as a hunting camp for the Ute people they were pushed out by white settlers seeking silver The town quickly boomed with 12,000 residents Signs of Aspen's mining history surround the region. A short drive away is Ashcroft a nearby abandoned mining town with 10 standing buildings It's also easy to explore Aspen's history with a walk around town. I've had a drink in Hotel Jerome's J-Bar the town was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Austrian influence still exists — from Venetian-Austrian cuisine such as casunziei (ravioli stuffed with red beets) While snowboarding at each destination was thrilling catching glimpses into each region's rich history added an element to the ski trips I wasn't expecting I felt a bit out of place in both Cortina d'Ampezzo and Aspen It was clear that both Aspen and Cortina d'Ampezzo targeted wealthy travelers The Galena Street corridor in Aspen is dotted with Prada Ski passes in the Dolomites cost me $73 versus $244 in Aspen There were also more affordable food options in Italy I spent one afternoon eating on the mountain in Cortina d'Ampezzo for less than $20 whereas slopeside meals in Aspen cost me about $40 more than 10 hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo offer rates lower than $300 a night there are just two hotels with prices lower than $300 the highlight of both areas is their nature and proximity to the mountains In Cortina d'Ampezzo, hut-to-hut hiking is popular in the summer. Come winter, visitors have access to three areas with 72 slopes. Parts of Cortina d'Ampezzo and Aspen felt similar — the travelers, the stores, and the skiing. Beyond that, the two areas were largely different, whether it be the cuisine, culture, or history. I ultimately preferred walking down Cortina d'Ampezzo's historic streets, soaking in saunas at affordable hotels, and dining on cheap pasta, but I'd argue each destination is worth a visit. These Games marked the debut of the USSR team, which immediately won more medals than any other nation. Their speed skaters won three of the four events, while their ice hockey team ended Canada’s domination. Pavel Kolchin of the USSR became the first non-Scandinavian to earn a medal in cross country skiing. Madeleine Berthod of Switzerland celebrated her birthday by winning the downhill by an amazing 4.7 seconds. The U.S. dominated figure skating: Tenley Albright won the women’s title and Hayes Alan Jenkins led an all-American medal sweep on the men’s side. Austrian Toni Sailer became the first Alpine skier to win three Olympic gold medals. He began by winning the giant slalom by 6.2 seconds, the largest margin of victory in Olympic history. He then won the slalom, recording the fastest time in both runs, and the downhill by 3.5 seconds. The Olympic Oath was sworn by a female athlete for the first time. The honour was given to the Italian Alpine skier Giuliana Chenal-Minuzzo, bronze medallist in the downhill at the 1952 Oslo Games. A symbolic flame is lit in Rome's ancient capitol. The Cortina Games were the last Games at which the figure skating competitions took place outdoors. In the ski jumping competition, the Finnish team inaugurated a new aerodynamic style, which consisted of holding the arms flat against the body rather than over the head in a diving position. 26 January 1956, Cortina. Opening Ceremony: Giuliana Chenal Minuzzo pronounces the Olympic Oath. The officials' oath at an Olympic Winter Games was first sworn in 1972 at Sapporo. Medal TableSee the list of teams and medals won by each. The MedalsBeginning as an olive wreath, medal designs have evolved over the years.Medals The TorchAn iconic part of any Olympic Games each host offers their unique version.Torch Building on the strength of our teams and of our holistic ecosystem of leading brands personalized services & expert solutions we break new ground to reimagine hospitality and inspire new ways to experience the world Another Record Year: Full-Year 2024 Results in Key Figures Invel Real Estate and Prodea Investments proudly announce the signing of Hotel Bellevue Cortina d’Ampezzo marking the brand’s first property in Italy this iconic property will offer a captivating alpine club experience in the renowned destination of Cortina d’Ampezzo “Hotel Bellevue Cortina d’Ampezzo perfectly embodies the essence of the Emblems brand: refined and exclusive hospitality in which luxury and intimacy come together this new destination is a true source of pride for us as it seamlessly blends luxury and nature I extend my sincere gratitude to Invel Real Estate and Prodea Investments for their trust in this magnificent project.” The signing of Hotel Bellevue Cortina d’Ampezzo Emblems Collection represents a defining moment in the brand’s global expansion—honoring a legacy while forging a new icon in the heart of the Dolomites This project marks the beginning of a promising partnership with visionary owners from South-East Europe who share Accor’s ambition of redefining luxury through heritage “We are committed to shaping the future of luxury hospitality by preserving heritage while embracing innovation We are thrilled to partner with Accor in leading the iconic Bellevue into a new era of excellence by restoring its prominence in one of Europe’s most prestigious alpine destinations coupled with our selection of the Emblems brand reflects our dedication to creating a lasting legacy—ensuring the resort remains a benchmark for sustainable world-class hospitality for generations to come.” Emblems Collection is located on Corso Italia with roots dating back to the late 19th century the property’s architecture seamlessly blends traditional alpine charm with a contemporary aesthetic creating an elegant and authentic mountain retreat Renowned Tihany Design studio imagined the interiors capturing the essence of 'Embrace Cortina'—an invitation to reconnect with nature The interiors highlight rich materials and local craftsmanship including timeworn marble mosaics crafted from Bianco Antico stone from the Veneto region finished to evoke the polished charm of Italy’s historic buildings "We aimed to capture the essence of this legendary mountain retreat—where mid-century glamour meets the raw beauty of the Dolomites and the vibrant spirit of après-ski life Deeply inspired by the surrounding landscape our design integrates locally sourced materials—stone and handcrafted textiles—that echo the textures and colors of the mountains The rich craftsmanship of the region is reflected in every bespoke detail from Dolomite-inspired furnishings to artisanal finishes creating a seamless dialogue between the interiors and the alpine scenery." Paying tribute to the beauty of the Dolomites and capturing the elegance of Cortina’s golden age the decor features custom-made Dolomite-inspired furnishings transforming every space into a living reflection of Cortina’s stunning surroundings The design embodies organic alpine elegance the hotel will feature 80 luxury rooms including 27 suites with views of the mountains As part of its commitment to holistic well-being offering a serene retreat for post-ski relaxation Guests can unwind in one of three treatment rooms indulging in a thoughtfully curated selection of wellness experiences designed for the modern alpinist The intimate wellness center features both an indoor and an outdoor pool inviting guests to immerse themselves in self-guided healing and rejuvenating bathing rituals Regarding the dining and entertainment experience the hotel will propose a world-class venue bringing to new heights the guest experience the hotel will offer creative culinary stages with the Bellevue Terrace where every season will find its beat and a main dining venue that will serve as a central gathering spot Aligned with the brand’s commitment to responsible hospitality the Hotel Bellevue Cortina d’Ampezzo project will incorporate energy-efficient design practices meeting the Group’s stringent Luxury & Lifestyle Sustainability Standards "Cortina d’Ampezzo is the ideal setting for Italy’s first Emblems Collection hotel - an emblem of heritage this project is a landmark that redefines alpine hospitality offering an unparalleled experience in one of Europe’s most iconic mountain resorts With two Emblems properties already in the pipeline across Southern Europe and several deals in advanced negotiations we are setting a new benchmark for the region.” Regional Vice President Development Luxury Brands France The transformation of Hotel Bellevue into Emblems Collection is a testament to the power of Accor’s luxury brands in elevating existing properties into flagship destinations Emblems Collection specializes in conversions leveraging Accor’s global luxury ecosystem in sales Emblems Collection will redefine luxury hospitality in the Italian Alps offering guests an unforgettable alpine experience that blends sophisticated design and the natural beauty of one of Italy’s most celebrated destinations Invel Real Estate (“Invel”) is an independent private equity real estate firm founded in 2013 The firm is focused on value-add and opportunistic strategies and has built a market-leading position in Southern Europe with north of €3.5bn of assets under management Invel’s largest investment to-date has been the acquisition of PRODEA investments from National Bank of Greece in 2013 Under Invel’s steering and strategic guidance PRODEA has become one of the largest REICs in Southern Europe expanding in the areas of luxury hospitality  Invel’s hands-on approach and dominant position in its target markets has enabled it to achieve an outstanding track record over the last 12 years With a dedicated team of 35 experienced professionals and the support of its broader ecosystem of circa 80 professionals who are part of the companies created over the years Invel has deployed over €1.7 billion of capital since its inception on behalf of global institutional clients through both fund and fund/ co-investment vehicles PRODEA Investments is the largest real estate investment company in Greece listed on the Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX) It engages in the acquisition and management of real estate assets in the best-performing sectors of the region with selective placements in the residential market PRODEA maintains a well-balanced and diversified asset exposure in key locations across Greece and Cyprus along with selective positioning in other significant markets in Southeastern Europe Its portfolio is expertly managed by seasoned professionals to ensure strategic growth and value creation Committed to leading innovation across all sectors in which it operates PRODEA Investments delivers high-quality assets and services to its clientele within a sustainable framework Tihany Design creates stunning custom interiors that achieve each property’s most captivating and ultimately elevate the luxury lifestyle experience The esteemed NYC-based atelier continues to build an enduring and influential body of work in luxury hospitality and travel around the globe who assumed ownership of the multi-disciplinary interior design studio in 2024 Tihany Design’ talented team produces sensational one-of-a-kind spaces that enchant the senses timeless elegance and an authentic sense of place imprinted with the client’s distinctive values Since its founding in 1978 by namesake Adam D Tihany Design has partnered with some of the world’s most iconic and premium brands Four Seasons DIFC Dubai and The Oberoi New Delhi as well as pioneering work for Seabourn’s ultra-luxury expedition cruise ships and award-winning restaurants for celebrity chefs such as Thomas Keller Emblems Collection is a curated portfolio of exceptional luxury hotels and resorts worldwide From iconic Heritage mansions to serene nature Retreats and striking architectural Signatures With a refined sense of place and understated elegance Emblems offers exclusive experiences for discerning travelers Found in prime city locations or breathtaking natural settings residential charm with world-class hospitality The first Emblems properties will debut in Europe in 2025 with a goal of 60 establishments globally by 2032 a world-leading hospitality group with 5,600 hotels in over 110 countries and the ALL a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards emblemscollection.com | all.com | group.accor.com Senior Director Corporate CommunicationAudrey.de-sousa@accor.com   © 2025 Accor, powered by epresspack Sports | Jan 18 In her second downhill since coming back from her 2019 World Cup retirement Lindsey Vonn looked destined for another jaw-dropping result in Cortina d’Ampezzo Vonn charged the lower half of the Olympia delle Tofane course — where she’s won 12 times in her career — posting the second-fastest third sector and fifth-best fourth But the 40-year-old caught an edge near the part of the course where she crashed in Thursday’s training run “I’m a little bit disappointed with my mistake today,” the 82-time World Cup winner told U.S Ski and Snowboard’s Sierra Ryder after finishing 20th in the 51-skier field “I think I was on pace to have another good and you know that’s what happens in ski racing.” Sofia Goggia captured her fourth win in Cortina d’Ampezzo proving her status as the downhill favorite when the Olympics return to her home soil next winter it’s always a special place in Cortina and today I felt like I had my heart in my throat,” Goggia told FIS The 2018 Olympic downhill champion said she was focused on herself coming out of the start gate as the last of the high seeds “I didn’t know who was leading who was third,” the 32-year-old added “I just had the strategy in my mind.” Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie finished 0.42 back in second while Federica Brignone rounded out the podium Lauren Macuga was the top American in 16th her first in six years — Saturday’s course presented larger jumps and more terrain than the Austrian slopes she competed on last weekend “I haven’t skied much terrain; St Anton there really wasn’t many jumps and in training it’s hard to get jumps “You know it’s almost like training for me.” the eight-time downhill crystal globe winner said she hasn’t spent much time working downhill gates lately “My technician was in the hospital a couple weeks ago so I’ve been going back and forth between technicians,” she said “I’m just trying to get in a good rhythm I’m trying to get the skis figured out I’m still testing boots — there’s so much going on I can’t expect every race is going to be perfect Today I made a mistake and unfortunately it cost me a good result but I’m skiing well and I’m very happy about that.” Vonn retired in 2019 after battling persistent injuries throughout the final years of her career She had knee surgery in April and announced her comeback to the World Cup in November She stated Saturday that she doesn’t even think about her knee while racing “My butt was a little bit sore from my crash two days ago,” Vonn said “My knee is really the last thing on my mind but now I just have to ski a little bit better (and) clean up my mistakes.”  Vonn told the Associated Press on Thursday that she plans to retire again after the 2026 Olympics which will be held on the Olympia delle Tofane course “I’ve dreamed of being back here so many times,” she said after Saturday’s event “It’s probably the most fun downhill I’ve ever run.” The World Cup weekend continues with a super-G on Sunday Construction work takes place at the Cortina Sliding Center luge and skeleton disciplines at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Italy appears to be one big step closer to having the sliding events at next year’s Milan-Cortina Olympics on its own track after all The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said Friday that it has declared this week’s testing period at the Cortina d’Ampezzo track “successful” and that it looks forward to the 2026 Olympics being held at the rebuilt track tested the track this week in what is called pre-homologation “Minor adaptions still need to be done and the main focus must remain on the finalization of the construction works,” IBSF president Ivo Ferriani said in a news release distributed Friday “The feedback we received from our technical experts and the coaches and athletes on site this week We are thrilled about this outcome and the entire bobsleigh and skeleton community cannot wait to come back here for our World Cup in November further training — and then of course the pinnacle of all competition Work is scheduled to continue at the site until Nov at which time the facility — which still needs a roof and event-support buildings — will be handed over to Milan-Cortina organizers the Italian government agency in charge of the 118 million euro ($128 million) project reported positive results for the test runs International Luge Federation and the IOC who determine whether to bestow preliminary certification for the track Ferriani’s words were an indicator that the IBSF is on board Luge athletes are scheduled to have an international training period at the new track from Oct then return for a test event there in the final week of November The bobsled and skeleton tours will hold their international training period from Nov followed by the season-opening World Cup races there from Nov The 1.749-kilometer (1.09-mile) Cortina track features 16 curves with an estimated top speed of 145 kph (90 mph) and with run times slated for 55-60 seconds whose history is so often defined by a plummy group of Brits fixated on high-altitude tomfoolery are challenging enough for intermediates (and ludicrously beautiful) the serious summer hiking and year-round pink sunsets For a ski resort that has it all (and perhaps as a symptom of its Italian authenticity and well-heeled family chalets) it has woefully lagged behind its contemporaries in the hotel department But with Hotel de LEN’s lavish minimalism having recently elbowed its way into the Victorian hotel scene Cristallo recently being snapped up by Mandarin Oriental and five-star and fully Nordic Hotel Tofana dubbed to open in December 2024 Here, we round up the best hotels in Cortina D'Ampezzo. For more inspiration, visit our edit of the best hotels in St. Moritz and the best hotels in Switzerland with the Faloria ski area the only one directly accessible via a cable car in the town centre scenic runs and have pinpointed all the best mountain hut pit stops along the way the spa pulls in the humbling scenery to thrilling effect top-floor wellness perch gives the sensation of being suspended amid all the jagged-peaked drama particularly at sunset when the peaks move through their infamous shades of pink ‘emotional showers’ and an outdoor hot tub that puffs into the cool mountain air Another old timer that’s tipped into the modern-luxe camp in a bid to stay relevant Faloria Mountain Spa Resort was thrust into the capable hands of architect Flaviano Capriotti for a head-to-toe makeover where Dolomite woods and stone have been chipped and carved into clean Nordic-simple rooms are animated with dazzling mountain light from floor-to-ceiling windows quiet colours and textures artfully frame and reflect the magnificent scenery outside spinning like a snow globe as you move from one spot to the next Perhaps the greatest beneficiary from the full-throttle review turquoise majolica-tiled pool takes centre stage amid a whopping 1000 square metres of saunas treatment rooms and larch-encased relaxation areas are an effective tonic for a hard day on the slopes This stalwart of the Dolomite winter leisure scene has seen it all: Leo Tolstoy palatial exterior lords over a Narnia-like valley red geraniums work like scarlet lipstick to accentuate to wake up its pale the blue-blooded loyalists and spa updates Cortina’s leading grande dame was beginning to lose its spark Not one to miss a heavyweight hotel in a highly-coveted location opportunity Mandarin Oriental has moved in on the Cristallo action fleshing out the palatial bones of this Dolomite original with its signature There are few things Oliver Corkhill of Viadi Group (parent company of luxury chalet ski holiday aficionados Leo Trippi) doesn’t know about Cortina D’Ampezzo He’s friends with the owners of legendary mountain huts such as Rifugio in Cinque Torri and knows what makes the crowd of frequent Cortina tick A highlight of Leo Trippi’s Cortina d’Ampezzo contingent is Chalet Serge traditional exterior and heart-thumping views of the Ampezzo Dolomites Contemporary art perks up the pine walls and weary ski muscles can make a beeline for the Finnish sauna Well-placed Cortina chalets are hard to come by (at least the ones not owned and permanently used by Roman or Venetian families) a mere three minutes away from the ski lifts and five minutes from the town centre gives it an edge over perhaps swankier but further flung chalets here Dialling up Cortina’s restaurant scene in 2017 without the fuss and frills the Michelin-star brigade are accustomed to Riccardo Gaspari draws on his native region for the seasonally shifting menu focusing on ‘regenerative cuisine.’ Most ingredients are sourced from the Gaspari farm or surrounding forests (milk from the dairy Cortina loyalist Oli Corkhill of Leo Trippi recommends the Sentiero tasting menu booking Gaspari’s Outdoor experience (they’ll unfold a kitchen and table on any mountain or lakeside spot imaginable Book online Tivoli (just outside the town centre) is considered one of Cortina’s swankiest establishments It’s the sort of Michelin-starred joint where mousse gel and froth feature abundantly across the menu regional ingredients and chef and owner Graziano Prest’s artfully composed plates that make you twitch for your iPhone camera All the unctuous seafood and perfectly cooked meats are finely tuned with wines from Prest’s impressive cellars Book online Al CaminThis always thrumming Cortina d’Ampezzo favourite spills onto a sun-trap terrace and performs an impressive balancing act The centrally-based restaurant is a polished take on a rustic Alpine chalet with heart-carved chairs and blonde wood framed with red curtains and Fabio Pompanin’s imaginative menus (and first-rate wine list) Book online ‘Gerry’s wine shop’ as it’s affectionately known (after its owner Girolamo Gaspari) is where well-washed well-dressed Italians head after an afternoon on the slopes for aperitivi dimly-lit interiors are comfortingly unchanged for decades olives and cured meats are a Godsend for tying you over until the Italian-style late supper traditionally inclined refuge overlooks Cortina from its Tofane ski area perch Save room for owner and pastry chef Ivan’s puddings and do your best to bag a spot on the terrace as soon as the Dolomites switch on the sunshine Book online As much a summer sensation for hikers as a cosy Rifugio Pomedes (positioned at the top of Pomedes) embodies just about everything good about skiing in the Dolomites The family-run joint whips up richly-flavoured Ampezzo-style plates (a hangover of the Austro-Hungarian border fluctuations); expect speck dumplings Standards are as high as the hut’s altitude and the setting unfathomably beautiful (Dolomite rock juts upwards alongside the terrace Book online Its position at the bottom of the Tofane ski area’s Duca d’Aosta chairlift accounts for many non-skiers Those eager to lean into the piste-side parade and the breath-snatching views without so much as leaning into one run for an entire week in Cortina It’s a phenomenon that’s becoming more and more common in the Dolomite resort and is best witnessed here spaghetti alla vodka and meringue paired with twinkling glasses of Eiswein Book online Italy14 December 2024ShareSaveAndrea CarloShareSaveAlamy(Credit: Alamy)As the world turns its gaze to Italy's Cortina d'Ampezzo as one of the hosts of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics veteran Olympic skier Kristian Ghedina shares his hometown picks Cortina's distinctive Tyrolean architecture has remained mostly untouched by modern developments Cortina d'Ampezzo has been largely unknown overseas – until now This sleepy ski town is about to attract a global audience as one of the hosts of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. But 2026 will hardly be its first Olympic foray; Cortina d'Ampezzo was also the host of the 1956 Winter Olympic Games It's further known for being the birthplace and home of retired Olympic downhill skier Kristian Ghedina "I've travelled the world… but I'm attached to my land It's a very strong bond that [you have] with snow and skiing." Kristian Ghedina is a Cortina d'Ampezzo born-and-bred skiing coach and 13-time World Cup gold medalist making him the second-most awarded Italian skier in downhill history chronicling his life and the history of skiing as a sport Ghedina has spent his life on the slopes; his mother was the town's first female instructor After qualifying for his first national competition at age 16 Ghedina won 13 World Cup gold medals and has become an ambassador for the sport and his hometown We asked this veteran ski champ about the best things to do eat and see during a settimana bianca in Cortina d'Ampezzo noting Cortina's status as a luxury resort "It's earned its image… It's a brand name by now one that Ghedina particularly loves – especially in the quieter months Formerly part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Cortina is multilingual – in addition to Italian and German, many locals speak Ladin, a local language similar to Romansch – and the region's culture in many ways more closely mirrors that of nearby Switzerland and Austria than what many consider quintessentially "Italian" Here are Ghedina's favourite ways to enjoy Cortina d'Ampezzo it has developed the infrastructure for many winter sports – including bobsleighing and figure skating – and pistes of different levels which can be reached from the centre via cable car Ghedina's top tip: "Make an effort to wake up early and take the first lifts at 08:00 or 08:30," he says "If you truly want to fully enjoy the beauty of our slopes I recommend doing this before it gets crowded." "The slopes are steep here," says Ghedina "People from the neighbouring valleys [Val Gardena and Val Bardia] come to ski in the winter Le Tofane stands at 1,778m high and allows skiers to schuss right to the centre of town amid stunning scenery of the surrounding Cinque Torri and rugged mountains It will host the Olympic women's and Paralympic Alpine skiing competitions during the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics the catch-all term "Italian cuisine" is overwhelmingly associated with Bolognese Roman and Southern Italian dishes like lasagna But up in snowy Cortina and the neighbouring regions buttery and calorie-dense: the perfect fuel for any wintry excursion While visitors will indeed find pizza and pasta at most of the area's restaurants traditional local recipes have a decidedly more Austro-Hungarian flavour ravioli made with potato and red or white turnip served with melted butter and poppy seeds," says Ghedina "Game also makes for a popular secondo (meat dish)." Amongst Cortina d'Ampezzo's best-known local specialties is the aptly named bombardino: a brandy and eggnog mixture served with whipped cream All of these can be savoured at Ghedina's local culinary pick; the Rifugio Scoiattoli. Opened in 1969 and is reached by skiers and hikers venturing up to the Cinque Torri mountain range Great food – from casunziei and polenta to deer fillet – aside Ghedina points out the chalet's scenery "There's a fantastic panorama of the [mountain range] it'll leave you speechless," he says Website:https://www.rifugioscoiattoli.it Instagram:@rifugioscoiattoli For the many devotees of the settimana bianca unwinding with a few drinks after a day of skiing is just as important as the sport itself snow chasers head to bars to mingle and unwind making après-ski the social highlight of the winter calendar While post-ski socialising has a relatively recent presence in Cortina d'Ampezzo the town's association with the shenanigans of the fashionable elite is certainly not new "[Already] at the beginning of the 1900s you had wealthy gentlemen coming for their holidays," says Ghedina In the following decades – prompted by the 1956 Winter Games and post-war Italian economic boom – winter tourism began to accelerate with well-to-do Italians from northern regions flocking to the Alps to ski Many businessmen have bought their homes and bring friends… it's a true hub especially in the high season," says Ghedina But tourism has not gone entirely unscathed from local disapproval: "Some traditionalists criticise the [wealthy] who come So to experience the hippest après-ski and the most fashionable scene Cortina has to offer, Ghedina suggests heading to Chalet Tofane "It's a fun place," he says The Chalet opened a mere six years ago – the brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Graziano Prest and expert sommelier Kristian Casanova – and has become a sought-after spot for parties and outdoor aperitivi (pre-meal drinks and light bites) famed for its stunning mountain-top views of the town Website: https://chalet-tofane.it Instagram: @chalettofanecortina the site was the battleground for Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops After the former managed to occupy Cortina soldiers blew up the "Castelletto" rock to finally be able to attack Habsburg troops the fields are no longer the site of bloody battles but rather a bucolic pathway that encircles Cortina d'Ampezzo and offers breathtaking views of the Marmolada and Tofane mountains remnants of the battles – including trenches – can still be found much to the satisfaction of history buffs as well as nature lovers The appeal of the Sentieri della Grande Guerra isn't strictly seasonal The 20km-long trail is just part of Cortina's cobweb of pathways choosing a specific panoramic spot in Cortina d'Ampezzo is quite the challenge as the area is not short on natural beauty Cortina boasts one of the crowning jewels of the rugged mountain range: the Cinque Torri ("Five Towers") a cluster of five jutting rocks made up of the area's distinctive grey limestone which have an almost rosy glimmer at sunset But when pressed to answer, Ghedina says that the views offered by the Rifugio Faloria are the area's best A rustic cabin sitting on the Faloria mountain the Rifugio Faloria's terrace reveals the full breadth of Cortina's valley and surrounding mountains "You have a terrace with a panoramic view of the entire village," says Ghedina "The advantage of having this wide-open valley is the stunning mountain frame quiet grandeur of Cortina's surroundings it's not hard to imagine why Ghedina fell in love with the slopes that took him to peaks of success Website: https://faloriacristallo.it/parliamoci/ Instagram: @faloria_cortina BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.  Rome's most stunning optical illusions revealedFrom the Malta Knights keyhole to a set of vanishing columns, discover the Eternal City's visual secrets. 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Invented to satiate pregnancy cravings, Dubai chocolate is a rare combination of creativity, flavours and social media success that has broken all industry records. according to environmental lobby Legambiente.That is evident in Cortina Snow guns and groomers ensure the perfect white of its ski tracks a regular World Cup venue and the course where the women's Alpine Ski events will be held.Besides cold temperatures water is the other essential ingredient in producing snow and keeping the pistes open from early December to April It is pumped from artificial basins gradually filled during the spring and the summer."We have very careful water management because we know that we do not have infinite resources," said engineer Alberto Gaspari a technician overseeing the operations of the Cortina pistes and cableway.Snow guns are provided by Italian specialist company TechnoAlpin which supplied the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and is set for a prominent role again in ensuring there is snow at the upcoming Games in its home nation.Nemanja Dogo the company's executive sales manager said there is less advance work needed this time because Italian resorts already have the requisite infrastructure in place."Cortina all these destinations have already had snow-making systems," he said citing two of the other Olympic host centres.Cortina enjoyed a welcome drop in temperatures and accompanying snowfall over the last week of January as the one-year countdown to the Games approaches The Paralympics will follow with the same co-hosts in March of next year.The town's hoteliers are looking forward to additional exposure that can help bring tourists all year round to the craggy Dolomites a UNESCO World Heritage site."Expectations are high," said Michael Zanatta "We are excited and we are sure that the Olympics will bring a lot."($1 = 0.9586 euros)Reporting by Elvira Pollina Claudia Greco; editing by Keith Weir and Mark Heinrich Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Picture by OCSBy Benedetta Acri and Alessandro PoggiOn Saturday, 18 January, and Sunday, 19 January, the Olympia delle Tofane in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will host the 2024/2025 women's FIS Alpine Ski World Cup as downhill and super-G specialists take on the iconic Italian course. This prestigious event doubles as a test for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, adding to its significance on the international calendar. Cortina’s connection with winter sports runs deep. Known as the "Queen of the Dolomites," it has been the stage for countless top-level competitions over the years. Read on to discover more about one of the key venues for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. A renowned ski and glamour destination nestled in the UNESCO-listed Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Olympic legacy began in 1956 when it hosted the Winter Games for the first time. Cortina 1956 welcomed 821 athletes (134 women and 687 men) competing in 24 events from 26 January to 5 February. Seventy years later, Cortina will once again host the Winter Games. On 26 January 2026, the Olympic flame will return to the "Queen of the Dolomites" to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Opening Ceremony. For Milano Cortina 2026, the famed alpine town will host women’s alpine skiing events, sliding sports (bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton), and curling. During the Paralympic Games, it will host Paralympic alpine skiing, wheelchair curling, and Paralympic snowboarding for the first time, along with the Paralympic Closing Ceremony. From 6–22 February 2026 and 6–15 March 2026, over 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete for 195 medals across 16 Olympic disciplines—including the Olympic debut of ski mountaineering—and six Paralympic sports, all against the breathtaking backdrop of Italy’s magnificent landscapes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina2026) will once again host thrilling races as the world’s best alpine skiers compete for glory at Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic alpine skiing athletes will also take on this iconic slope in pursuit of Paralympic medals A historic venue for major skiing events and legendary achievements the Olympia delle Tofane has been a centerpiece of the sport since hosting the men’s alpine skiing races during the 1956 Winter Olympics It is now recognised as one of the most prestigious courses on both the Italian and international circuits Stretching 2,560 metres with a vertical drop of 750 metres the majestic course has been a regular stop on the women’s Alpine Ski World Cup since 1993 it served as the stage for the World Championships in speed events and giant slalom For Italian superstar Sofia Goggia the Olympia delle Tofane holds a special place in her heart Goggia has triumphed here three times in the World Cup (2018 but her journey on this course has also been marked by setbacks Goggia suffered a serious crash that resulted in a knee sprain and a fibular microfracture—just weeks before the Winter Olympics Beijing 2022 she recovered in 23 days to claim Olympic silver in downhill The Olympia delle Tofane has witnessed countless other champions as well known as the "Black Lightning," claimed his first Olympic gold here on 3 February 1956 Italy’s Isolde Kostner is the most decorated athlete on this course including three consecutive wins from 1996 to 1998—an achievement unmatched to this day Fellow Italian Kristian Ghedina also tasted success here American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn, who returned to competition this season, has dominated the Olympia delle Tofane with 12 World Cup victories, earning the title of "queen" of this legendary slope. Could she make another appearance here at Milano Cortina 2026? She is working hard for it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cortina ISTA Ski Area (@cortinaistaskiarea) Cortina d’Ampezzo won’t just host the women’s alpine skiing and Paralympic alpine skiing events during Milano Cortina 2026 The Sliding Centre will be the stage for Olympic sliding sports: athletes in bobsleigh and luge will race at breakneck speeds on the icy track reviving a long-standing Ampezzo tradition Cortina hosted numerous World and European Championships in bobsleigh another historic venue is the Olympic Ice Stadium Built for the 1956 Winter Olympics—the first to be broadcast on television—it is a symbol of Italy’s rich sporting heritage the stadium is a hub for the local community and beyond The Olympic Ice Stadium will also host the wheelchair curling competitions, one of the highlights of the Paralympic Winter Games. For the first time in its history, Cortina will feature Paralympic snowboarding events, held at the Snowboard Park. With jaw-dropping jumps, acrobatics, and thrilling descents, the world’s best Paralympic snowboarders will put on a spectacular show as they vie for medals at the Winter Games. Finally, the Olympic Ice Stadium will host the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Winter Games, marking the farewell to Milano Cortina 2026. It will be a memorable occasion to celebrate the incredible moments of sport shared across Cortina’s mountains and venues. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Milano Cortina 2026 (@milanocortina2026) United States’ Lindsey Vonn reacts after crashing during an alpine ski United States’ Lindsey Vonn crashes during an alpine ski United States’ Lindsey Vonn stands up after crashing during an alpine ski United States’ Lindsey Vonn looks on after crashing during an alpine ski United States’ Lindsey Vonn lies on the snow after crashing during an alpine ski United States’ Lindsey Vonn speeds down the course during an alpine ski United States’ Lindsey Vonn takes a jump as she speeds down the course during an alpine ski inspects the course ahead of an alpine ski The protective air bag that most downhill skiers wear inflated under Vonn’s racing suit to help soften her fall Vonn got back up and skied to the finish area on the Olympia delle Tofane course but then went inside a tent for treatment “I’m good,” Vonn told The Associated Press during an interview later in the day at the U.S “I just caught a lot of air off the second-to-last jump and I just landed and my ski kind of caught funny “My bum is sore but otherwise I’m good,” she added indicating that she still plans to race this weekend The 40-year-old Vonn recently returned to ski racing after nearly six years of retirement So how did her right knee — the one with the titanium — feel after the fall my titanium knee is holding up a lot better than I think anyone would have expected.” Vonn holds the record of 12 wins in Cortina the stage for next year’s Milan-Cortina Olympics and I’m dialing everything in one day at a time so hopefully I can get on the podium this weekend,” Vonn said Another downhill training session is scheduled for Friday before downhill and super-G races Saturday and Sunday Vonn has been hurrying to figure out her new equipment during her comeback and she broke one of her boots during her fall “So I don’t know if I have to go on a new boot tomorrow Sofia Goggia and Nadia Delago finished 1-2-3 in the training session Together, these two towns are some of the most expensive ski destinations in the world Now that I've visited both, I've realized the costs don't compare. Even with a round-trip flight included I still saved money snowboarding in Cortina d'Ampezzo Italy's lift tickets were far cheaper than most of the ones I've seen in Colorado Skiers can access the Dolomites' dozen resorts lift tickets at popular resorts are often triple that price you'll also be paying a higher price to get on the mountain Snowboarding in Cortina cost me $145 versus the $488 it would cost in Aspen Whether it's a snowboard or a pair of skis Cortina d'Ampezzo had cheaper rentals than I've seen in Aspen Finding rentals that cheap is hard in a place like Aspen Christy Sports offers rentals in Aspen for $75 a day if you book in advance Aspen Skis charges $60 a day online for a similar package Thankfully, I didn't have to pay either of these costs since I own a snowboard, and checking it on my international flights didn't have any added costs I would've saved $54 by snowboarding in Italy If we compare Cortina d'Ampezzo to its North American twin lodging is another category in which the Dolomites were cheaper I spent $777 for a two-night stay at Camina Suite and Spa There were plenty of more luxe hotel options to choose from I could've spent more than $1,500 a night to stay in Cortina d'Ampezzo's nicest resorts like Hotel de Lën or Rosapetra Spa Resort Staying in Aspen's top resorts, like The Little Nell or St Cortina d'Ampezzo is home to many more affordable options more than 10 hotels offer rates lower than $300 a night there are just two hotels with prices lower than $300 a night I was in utter shock when the Italian man behind the bar told me my lunch cost 12 euros I ordered a sandwich and an Aperol spritz on the mountain and expected a cocktail alone to be more than that total In Colorado, I'm used to paying high prices for slopeside food A burger and fries on the mountain or at the base tend to cost around $40 after tax and tip and I haven't found a beer cheaper than $8 before tax high-end cuisine was still more affordable in Cortina compared to Aspen I could dine on a six-course Michelin-starred menu at Cortina's SanBrite for $156 a five-course menu at the one-star Bosq costs $195 I spent about $150 on food for two days in Italy traveling to Italy saved me at least $200 in food costs While every other aspect of a ski trip in Italy is much more affordable than Colorado the biggest financial hurdle was getting there My round-trip ticket between Denver and Venice cost about $1,200 If I had booked further in advance and been more strategic about when I visited I also rented a car to get to the mountains which added another $350 to my transportation costs The total cost for my weekend skiing in Cortina was about $2,700 a similar weekend in Aspen would cost about $2,960 there are ways to make both trips more reasonable — I splurged on meals and compared two of the world's most expensive ski towns But if you asked me if I'd rather spend a day skiing across Italy's Dolomites or in Aspen finishing 20th in the downhill World Cup event on Saturday (18 January) When Vonn appeared on the big screens at the starting gate with numerous star-spangled banners waving in the stands The US superstar gradually lost ground throughout the run reaching almost half a second at the midway point before committing another mistake in the final section Vonn smiled at the crowd and slightly shook her head The Vancouver 2010 Olympic downhill champion competed on the iconic Olympia delle Tofane course – which will host the women’s events at Milano Cortina 2026 – for the first time in six years Ahead of her return to Cortina, the three-time Olympic medallist revealed that her goal is to wrap up the “second chapter” of her career at the next Winter Olympic Games. Lindsey Vonn: Every Olympic medal raceRelive every medal-winning race from Alpine Ski queen Lindsey Vonn at the Olympics, including her unforgettable downhill gold in Vancouver. After the race Vonn had mixed feelings about her performance, saying: “The fact that I'm back here is a miracle in itself. Yes, I'm a little disappointed that I made that big mistake on the bottom - I made actually quite a few mistakes on the bottom. But I was on pace to be another top-five result and I have to be really happy with that.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by L I N D S E Y • V O N N (@lindseyvonn) who holds a record 12 wins on the Olympia delle Tofane saying: “This is the biggest crowd I've ever seen in Cortina I think they have everything set up really well for the Olympics next year I was up at the Duca d'Aosta restaurant and there were people all along the side of the mountain watching on the big screen I've never seen this type of atmosphere I wish I would have given a better show today but Sofi (Goggia) did a perfect job doing that to the point that she was even honoured with a pizza margherita named after her at one of the most popular restaurants in town “You don’t get pizzas for nothing!” she said with a laugh These might be called the Milano Cortina Winter Games but they will actually be held across a large swathe of northern Italy in the most widespread Winter Olympic and Paralympic games ever Italy (AP) — It’s not unusual for Olympic host cities to find themselves in a race against the clock to make all venues ready for competition might set an unofficial record for running late on preparations Last week marked one year to go before the Feb 2026 opening ceremony and the track in Cortina is still a half-completed construction site The IOC has set a deadline for the end of March for pre-certification of the Cortina track and nobody is saying for sure if it will pass the test the Italian government commissioner in charge of the 118 million euro ($123 million) project told The Associated Press during a recent visit that almost 70% of the track was completed — even if it was tough to tell inside the muddy and chaotic construction site the first ice is slated to be laid down on the track at the start of March “We have huge support from the construction firms the government and (Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo) Salvini,” Saldini said The IOC would have preferred to use an active track in nearby Austria or Switzerland instead of rebuilding the Cortina venue But it let the local organizing committee select the Plan B option “We chose Lake Placid because it was the only place where they offered us the track without requiring us to make any investments,” Milan-Cortina CEO Andrea Varnier told AP “But we’re counting on holding the sliding sports here in Cortina.” Added organizing committee president Giovanni Malagò about the Lake Placid backup plan: “It’s just a formality Environmental groups have protested over climate damage due to the Cortina track’s reconstruction “There were 800 trees cut down,” Saldini said And we’re going to plant 10,000 trees when we’re done.” General ticket sales for the games are about to start following a pre-registration process that drew in more than 350,000 requests — 70% of them from abroad from more than 210 countries Sliding is one of the Games’ most inexpensive attractions with luge events going for as low as 40 euros ($42) and bobsled for a maximum of 100 euros ($104) But what happens for ticket holders if the sliding track in Cortina isn’t ready and events are moved to Lake Placid “It will be a whole different experience,” said Paul Caine the president of hospitality package provider On Location about the prospect of moving from glitzy Cortina to upstate New York Caine noted that while “nobody wanted to go to Tahiti” for surfing events in French Polynesia during last year’s Paris Games hospitality packages were sold for the sailing competitions in Marseille which is located in southern France — 3 ½ hours by train from Paris On Location has received requests for hospitality packages from 62 countries so far biathlon and figure skating the most popular sports Private boxes for the opening ceremony at the iconic San Siro soccer stadium have already sold out “It’s very complicated due to the big distances and also because of all the different representatives in each region,” Varnier said “We have great relationships with everyone but everybody has their own way and style of doing things That’s the spirit of these Games: We adapt to the different territories and not vice versa.” One reason that the organizing committee is adapting to each and every venue is that most of these places have a long history of hosting World Cup races and world championships Bormio hosted the Alpine skiing worlds in 1985 and 2005; Cortina hosted the skiing worlds in 2021 and has been the site of more than 100 World Cup ski races; Anterselva has hosted six biathlon worlds dating back to 1975; Val di Fiemme has hosted three Nordic worlds ski legend is back competing on the Olympia delle Tofane course for the first time in six years as she looks to continue building momentum in her return to competitive skiing The 2010 Olympic gold medallist is no stranger to the Olympia delle Tofane course, having raced what appeared to be the final World Cup downhill of her career - until her recent comeback announcement - in January 2019. Vonn didn't compete again on the World Cup stage that season, retiring that February after battling through injury and pain to win a hard-earned World Championships bronze. She's won 12 times at Cortina d'Ampezzo, more than any other skier. The 40-year-old has been on the comeback trail since November. In recent weeks, Vonn has picked up momentum, finishing sixth in the downhill and fourth in the super G at the recent World Cup in St. Anton. This weekend, she will race in both, with the downhill set for Saturday (18 January) and the super G on Sunday (19 January). How can you watch her in action this weekend? Discover below. Lindsey Vonn: How Mikaela Shiffrin and I pushed the boundaries of skiingThe Vancouver 2010 gold medalist reflects on how her former teammate continues to drive the evolution of the sport with her record-breaking performances: "We all push each other to break new glass ceilings And she’s pushing it for the next generation and hopefully she inspires the next wave of American skiers," she said in this exclusive interview Below is the schedule for the two women's events in Cortina d'Ampezzo Watch now the trailer of the new original documentary chronicling the dramatic life of alpine skiing icon Picabo Street Street took the alpine skiing world by storm in the 1990’s by winning Olympic silver and gold but beneath the bravado and success lay a turbulent and complicated home life Vonn has 12 total wins on the slopes of Cortina d'Ampezzo with six wins in downhill (2018 Secure your spot now for an experience of lifetime at the Winter Olympic Games in the magical Italy This small town in Italy is called the "Queen of the Dolomites" — and it's one of the country's most exclusive destinations for winter vacations Invel Real Estate and Prodea Investments proudly announce the signing of Hotel Bellevue Cortina d'Ampezzo marking the brand's first property in Italy this iconic property will offer a captivating alpine club experience in the renowned destination of Cortina d'Ampezzo The signing of Hotel Bellevue Cortina d'Ampezzo Emblems Collection represents a defining moment in the brand's global expansion honoring a legacy while forging a new icon in the heart of the Dolomites who share Accor's ambition of redefining luxury through heritage the property's architecture seamlessly blends traditional alpine charm with a contemporary aesthetic finished to evoke the polished charm of Italy's historic buildings Paying tribute to the beauty of the Dolomites and capturing the elegance of Cortina's golden age transforming every space into a living reflection of Cortina's stunning surroundings Aligned with the brand's commitment to responsible hospitality the Hotel Bellevue Cortina d'Ampezzo project will incorporate energy-efficient design practices meeting the Group's stringent Luxury & Lifestyle Sustainability Standards The transformation of Hotel Bellevue into Emblems Collection is a testament to the power of Accor's luxury brands in elevating existing properties into flagship destinations leveraging Accor's global luxury ecosystem in sales and the natural beauty of one of Italy's most celebrated destinations Invel Real Estate ("Invel") is an independent private equity real estate firm founded in 2013 Invel's largest investment to-date has been the acquisition of PRODEA investments from National Bank of Greece in 2013 Under Invel's steering and strategic guidance Invel's hands-on approach and dominant position in its target markets has enabled it to achieve an outstanding track record over the last 12 years on behalf of global institutional clients through both fund and fund/ co-investment vehicles Tihany Design creates stunning custom interiors that achieve each property's most captivating Tihany Design' talented team produces sensational imprinted with the client's distinctive values Tihany Design has partnered with some of the world's most iconic and premium brands as well as pioneering work for Seabourn's ultra-luxury expedition cruise ships and award-winning restaurants for celebrity chefs such as Thomas Keller Brand OwnerAccor the first Olympic Games to be staged in Italy which were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War Two The Dolomite resort’s wait to stage the Games ended in 1956 giving Italy the chance to prove its organisational capabilities ahead of the Olympic Games Rome 1960 Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 was the first Olympic Winter Games to be broadcast live to a multinational audience across eight European countries This coverage bolstered the resort’s reputation as a quality tourist destination and helped attract growing numbers of visitors its population rises to 50,000 in the winter months These visitors are attracted by Cortina’s thousand-year history and excellent skiing conditions Cortina d’Ampezzo and its slopes form part of the Dolomiti Superski all of which hosted races at the 1956 Games and continue to attract both competitive and recreational skiers today The staging of the VII Olympic Winter Games left Cortina d’Ampezzo with facilities that continue to attract major sports competitions The venue for the 2021 FIS Alpine World Championships FIS World Cup skiing and snowboarding races and the 2010 World Men’s Curling Championships the resort will co-host the 2026 Olympic Winter Games with Milan Access to Cortina d’Ampezzo was greatly improved thanks to developments in the town’s road links and infrastructure in the years leading up to the VII Olympic Winter Games Though improvements to the existing road network were already planned the pace of their implementation was accelerated by the staging of the Games with the Italian government investing nearly 2 billion lire (equivalent to approximately EUR 50 million today) in them repaired and widened at the time still serve the region and were improved before Cortina hosted the 2021 FIS Alpine World Championships The VII Olympic Winter Games was also notable for several technological developments including significant advances in timekeeping The results of the cross-country skiing events were accurate to one-hundredth of a second setting a timekeeping standard that international sport federations decided to adopt for all future major international competitions starting gates were used for the first time The official start time was automatically triggered by an optical signal Starting gates have been used at every Olympic Winter Games since Source As I heaved my snowboard bag out of the trunk, onto my back, and across the Denver airport Inside the awkwardly heavy bag was everything I needed for my first European ski trip — my snowboard Bringing the 35-pound bag was a debated effort, especially since I have a dozen or so ski resorts just a drive away from my Denver apartment I knew snowboarding in Italy's Dolomites mountain range was an opportunity I couldn't pass up Snowboarding down them was going to be an entirely different experience Once you've made it to a ski resort in Colorado you'll have one or two options: a ski lift or a six-person gondola up the mountain I saw several options for scaling the slopes It was by far the largest gondola I've ridden and throughout my three days snowboarding in Italy I boarded these large gondolas along with smaller gondolas The consequence was that getting to the slopes often took longer since I spent time waiting for other people to board these large spaces I rarely sat in a lift line once on the mountain — a common occurrence on Colorado's crowded slopes I read through lists of recommended restaurants in Cortina d'Ampezzo and listened to locals share their favorite spots in the Dolomites to grab a quick bite I pulled up Google Maps to see how I could drive or walk to the spot I'd need to strap in my snowboard to get to their recommendations ski restaurants typically stick to the staples: chicken tenders While Colorado's mountainside restaurant scene may be changing — resorts like Snowmass and Arapahoe Basin have opened newer nicer restaurants in the past few years — my friends and I typically stick to packed sandwiches and granola bars basically quick bites consumed on chair lifts or at picnic tables Lunch some afternoons in Italy naturally led into après The French word is similar to America's concept of happy hour I could hear music echoing as I snowboarded down one slope While the concept of après has made its way to Colorado I rarely have friends who stick around a DJ set or carve out a few hours during the day for a sit-down meal I stared at my first ski map in Cortina d'Ampezzo and searched for familiar colors Then I remembered that Europe's grading system is different Orange marked the equivalent of double blacks and green dotted lines highlighted items like hiking trails most European ski maps use numbers instead of names to signify ski runs you might head down runs named Bittersweet I looked at numbers — like skiing down slopes 85 and 62 When it comes to the types of runs in Colorado Some skiers and snowboarders love narrow runs between groupings of trees you avoid both and stick to wide-open slopes The variety of runs was limited at the two resorts I visited in Italy Most of Italy's skiing happens above the treeline since trees stop growing at lower altitudes in the region That means you'll find very few runs carved through pines everything I snowboarded down in Italy was flat and open I walked up to my first gondola in Cortina d'Ampezzo, a wealthy ski town in Italy often compared to Colorado's ritzy Aspen and I was shocked to learn that a lift ticket for the day would cost a mere 70 euros Beyond the cost of getting on the mountain other parts of skiing in Italy were cheaper and gear was less than $50 a day for boots and skis or a snowboard The sport is expensive at resorts like Aspen I paid $84 for skis and boots; gear at Snowmass this year was $78 the fashion brand Guess was plastered across its walls I noticed each pole had a bright-red Prada advertisement I saw ads everywhere I looked in the Dolomites there are a few ads on the slopes — lunch advertisements fill lift safety bars and you might see a luxury-sponsored bar — but it's not nearly as common as it was in Italy I find Colorado's mountains breathtaking every time I end up on the slopes but I'll admit that the views of the Dolomites were some of the most impressive I've seen As I snowboarded across the Brixen resort during golden hour schedule and how to watch liveAlpine snowboarding’s finest will duel under the impressive gaze of the stunning Italian Dolomites during back-to-back world cup races on 12 and 14 December but they’ll certainly be on the forefront of every athlete’s mind during the FIS Snowboard World Cup Carezza and FIS Snowboard World Cup Cortina d’Ampezzo Of course, the prospect of competing on natural snow, and under the lights in Cortina d’Ampezzo on 14 December, will bring an air of excitement to both days of competition, with plenty of world cup points on the line for those daring enough to carve a path to victory. With more than 100 athletes, male and female, entered across both world cup stops, expect nothing short of action-packed, nail-biting racing on a pair of challenging parallel giant slalom courses. Read on to discover more about the FIS Snowboard World Cup Carezza and FIS Snowboard World Cup Cortina d’Ampezzo, including the full schedule for both stops, key athletes to follow and how to watch competitions live from the marvelous Italian Dolomites. The trio will hope to display a show of force ahead of their home Olympic Games with all three exhibiting the necessary credentials to become the first Italian man to win a medal in the parallel giant slalom at the Winter Olympic Games Coratti will look to recover from a premature exit at the second world cup stop in Yanqing while Bormolini will look to move one step higher on the podium after failing to finish during the big final Austria’s Benjamin Karl - winner of the crystal globe last season - will hope to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season, including a disqualification at the second world cup stop in Yanqing. However, the man to watch might be Slovenia's Tim Mastnak, as he attempts to reduce, or even surpass, Coratti’s lead in the world cup standings and build on a resume that already includes one world cup victory this season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FIS Snowboard Racing (@fissnowboardracing) She’ll enter both races with heightened expectations “It is really exciting to be here but I don’t feel extra pressure.” as they attempt to add more world cup hardware to their collections after finishing second and third behind Dalmasso in Yanqing who’s yet to find the form that won her the crystal glove last season Perhaps a little inspiration in the form of an Olympic backdrop will jump start her charge towards a second-consecutive crystal globe Be inspired by this compilation of some of our athletes' finest moments Don't miss out - early bird pricing* on specific sessions ends at 11:59 CEST on 6 May 2025 The next edition of the Winter Games promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as the Olympics and Paralympics return to Italy for the first time since Torino 2006. Over 3,500 athletes will compete for medals across 16 Olympic disciplines and six Paralympic sports, against the stunning backdrop of the Italian landscape. Book your tickets today to be a part of a unique and unforgettable sporting experience. *This exclusive pricing applies only to the following events: Nordic combined, cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering, luge, skeleton, women’s ice hockey preliminary rounds, curling round robin phases, wheelchair curling, Para snowboard, Para Alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing, Para biathlon and Para ice hockey. 🥇","event":null,"destination_url":"","entry_point_tag":"base","entry_point_type":"instory_campaign"}" data-tracking="click" href="https://www.olympics.com/en/sign-in?entry_point_type=instory_campaign&entry_point_tag=base&template=base&origin=https%3A%2F%2Folympics.com%2Fen%2Folympic-channel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Olympic Membership - Free Live Stream Sports & Original Series - join now Click the “Sign up now” button at the top of the page Fill out the simple registration form for the opportunity to purchase tickets to Milano Cortina 2026 Ticket prices for the Olympic Games will start at EUR 30 with 22 per cent of all tickets under EUR 40 Tickets for the Paralympics will start at EUR 10 for children under 14 with more than 200,000 tickets – accounting for nearly 90 per cent – available for less than EUR 35 Cortina and other prestigious locations will host the best of winter sports Enjoy nine adrenaline-filled days at the Paralympic Winter Games over 600 athletes will compete for 79 Paralympic titles on Tuesday 6 May for your chance to secure early bird tickets for the Games Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Dolomites Cortina d'Ampezzo stands as Italy's original winter playground for the elite While perhaps less frequented by European ski enthusiasts than its Swiss or French counterparts this historic resort is poised for a remarkable renaissance With the approaching 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon Cortina is elegantly bridging its storied past with a sustainable future while maintaining its position among the ranks of Val d'Isère Known as the "Queen of the Dolomites," Cortina's reputation for glamour dates back to the early days of winter tourism This is where Italy's nobility and international celebrities first discovered the allure of winter sports establishing a tradition of sophisticated Alpine lifestyle that continues today the town's elegant pedestrian thoroughfare you might find yourself sharing space with film stars or industrial magnates browsing the luxury boutiques or enjoying aperitivo at historic cafés The announcement of the 2026 Winter Olympics has catalyzed a wave of renovation and renewal across Cortina Historic hotels are undergoing ambitious modernization projects combining their classic charm with contemporary luxury and sustainability initiatives This transformation isn't just about updating facilities – it's about reimagining mountain luxury for a new era Cortina's hotels generally fall into three categories: many properties are incorporating sustainable practices: Cortina d'Ampezzo has seen some notable hotel developments recently The newest addition to Cortina's luxury landscape Hotel Tofana (opened December 2024) masterfully reimagines Alpine elegance for the modern era This five-star sanctuary seamlessly blends contemporary design with natural elements featuring rooms and suites crafted with Swiss pine wood and private balconies that frame the dramatic Dolomite views The property's extensive wellness facilities include a 15.5-meter heated indoor pool while its ¾ board culinary program elevates mountain dining with gourmet breakfasts the hotel's location offers coveted slope access via the nearby Olimpia chairlift though guests should note a short walk may be required to reach the actual ski run This slight distance is a small trade-off for the property's exceptional amenities and serene setting within Cortina's storied landscape Marking a new chapter in Cortina's storied hospitality scene The First Hotel Cortina is set to debut in late 2025 perfectly timed for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics This transformation of the former Hotel Splendid Venezia into a five-star boutique property exemplifies sustainable luxury at its finest Studio Marincola's innovative design emphasizes circular architecture principles featuring a striking ribbon of glass panels that creates a seamless dialogue with the UNESCO-protected Dolomites visible from each of the 63 rooms' spacious balconies Positioned on the prestigious Corso Italia the hotel promises to blend convenience (a five-minute shuttle to ski lifts) with indulgence offering two distinct dining venues – including a panoramic top-floor restaurant – alongside a sophisticated REVĪVŌ spa and wellness center Modern amenities like high-speed electric charging points and state-of-the-art Sonos sound systems underscore the property's commitment to contemporary luxury with an environmental conscience the historic Hotel Cortina has been welcoming guests since 1870 perfectly positioned opposite the church on Corso Italia masterfully preserves the essence of traditional Alpine hospitality offer a cozy retreat after a day in the mountains while the restaurant celebrates time-honored Italian recipes The hotel's terrace bar overlooking Corso Italia provides one of the town's finest vantage points for people-watching and a intimate wellness area with hot tub and Turkish bath adds a touch of modern comfort to this storied institution For travelers seeking authentic Cortina charm without the luxury price tag Hotel Natale offers a welcoming mountain haven just steps from the pedestrian zone This family-run establishment at 229 Corso Italia combines practical amenities – including on-site parking and a convenient ski bus stop at the door – with traditional mountain-style rooms featuring warm hardwood details While the hotel maintains a peaceful atmosphere (no children under 6 or pets) its central location and friendly service make it an excellent value choice for experiencing Cortina's magic Hotel Ancora is writing its next chapter through an ambitious transformation set to debut in early 2025 Under the visionary direction of Diesel founder Renzo Rosso's Red Circle investment company and New York-based design firm Charles & Co this historic gem is being meticulously reimagined while preserving its postcard-perfect charm The revitalized property will feature 38 rooms and its iconic terrace overlooking Cortina's heart With management by the esteemed Egnazia Ospitalità Italiana Hotel Ancora's return as a member of Leading Hotels of the World promises to set new standards for Alpine luxury just in time for the 2026 Winter Olympics Hotel Ambra Cortina Luxury & Fashion is a 4-star boutique hotel located just 50 meters from the pedestrian area of Cortina d'Ampezzo placing it amidst the town's trendiest shops and renowned spots each designed to reflect elements of fashion The hotel's design and decor pay homage to the rich cultural heritage of Cortina providing guests with an immersive experience that blends luxury with local traditions Hotel Ambra Cortina Luxury & Fashion is located in the center of Cortina d'Ampezzo and features rooms with free Wi-Fi and alpine décor and beautiful modern bathrooms the Hotel Cristallo in Cortina d'Ampezzo is closed for extensive renovations The property is undergoing a substantial transformation and is scheduled to reopen as a Mandarin Oriental resort in the summer of 2025 just in time for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics The renovation plans include a new extension designed by award-winning architects Herzog and de Meuron including 30 spacious suites offering beautiful views of the Dolomites The resort will also offer a range of restaurants and bars and an extensive spa and wellness facility which includes a swimming pool that transitions from inside to outside the building The historic Park Hotel Franceschi has undergone a significant renovation led by the architecture and interior design studio NOA The project aimed to transform the establishment into a year-round destination blending Cortina's heritage with a new form of Alpine elegance The redesign focuses on creating a refined and conscious mountain living experience enhancing both aesthetics and functionality located in the heart of Cortina's historic center has received a contemporary makeover with furnishings from LAGO Design The renovation harmoniously combines traditional alpine materials with modern design offering guests a fresh and luxurious experience The updated interiors aim to provide comfort and sophistication The Tofana - Freccia nel Cielo ski area is currently open up to Col Drusciè This area offers skiing opportunities and features two notable dining establishments:Col Drusciè Restaurant 1778: This restaurant provides a cozy atmosphere where guests can enjoy traditional mountain cuisine making it a perfect spot to relax after skiing or hiking More information Located at the first stop of the Freccia nel Cielo cable car the Masi Wine Bar offers a unique enological experience combining traditional flavors with the enchanting backdrop of the Dolomites More information Rifugio Averau is a renowned mountain hut located at an elevation of 2,413 meters nestled between the iconic peaks of Averau and the Cinque Torri in the Dolomites It's a favored destination for both hikers and skiers offering breathtaking panoramic views and authentic alpine experiences The hut is celebrated for its refined cuisine blending traditional Ampezzo and Friulian flavors and the menu changes seasonally to highlight regional specialties Guests can enjoy their meals on a spacious terrace that provides stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains allowing guests to immerse themselves in the serene mountain environment Staying overnight provides a unique opportunity to witness both sunrise and sunset over the Dolomites The hut is accessible via various routes: Summer: Hikers can reach Rifugio Averau by following trails that pass through the Cinque Torri area or from the Giau Pass Winter: Skiers can access the hut as part of the Lagazuoi 5 Torri ski area and it's also situated along the Super8 Ski Tour such as sunrise breakfasts and dinners with snowmobile ascents enhancing the mountain experience for its guests More information this event promotes the unique attractions of Cortina d'Ampezzo through a series of gastronomic and cultural activities More information Cortina d'Ampezzo does host the Italia Polo Challenge but not every year this is a snow polo tournament that attracts international teams and spectators the event features arena polo matches played under evening lights creating a captivating atmosphere against the snowy backdrop of the Dolomites The 2023 edition took place from February 14th to 18th with six teams from countries including Germany The Italia Polo Challenge has become a highlight of Cortina's winter season offering thrilling matches and a vibrant social scene for both participants and visitors More information Cortina d'Ampezzo is experiencing a defining moment in its history The combination of its historical prestige and a new focus on sustainable luxury positions it uniquely among Alpine resorts While maintaining its reputation for glamour and exclusivity the town is evolving to meet contemporary expectations for responsible tourism and authentic experiences The current wave of hotel renovations signals Cortina's commitment to maintaining its position among the world's premier mountain destinations While some familiar properties may be temporarily closed for upgrades this investment ensures that Cortina will continue to meet the expectations of the most discerning travelers while adapting to modern sustainability requirements Dolcevia® is a registered trademark - 2024-2025 Copyright Dolcevia.com Don't miss our new features for slow travelers - Experience a different Italy Not yet subscribed to VIP Zone? Click here More than 50 athletes representing 14 countries hurtled themselves down the venerable Olympia delle Tofane Downhill piste and just about every one of them emerged professing deep affection for the slope. The steep gradients, demanding curves, intimidating passages, and diverse terrain of the 2,560-meter course both challenges and breaks the hearts of the world’s top female racers. “Always in love here – it’s an amazing place, amazing food, amazing atmosphere, and skiing this snow today, I love it more,” said Federica Brignone (ITA/Rossignol), who won Sunday’s Super G, following a third-place finish in Saturday’s Downhill. Lauren Macuga (USA/Rossignol), on just her third date with the Cortina race weekend, has already fallen head-over-heels too. The 22-year-old arrived in the Italian resort with a big smile, fresh off her first career World Cup victory in St. Anton, Austria. The extroverted, bucket-hat wearing American was unable to repeat the magic, but still left with that grin intact. “It’s so cool, so pretty up there, as you start looking at the Dolomites and couldn’t ask for a better view,” Macuga said. “You come out of the start, you’re rolling along and then you have this cool jump between these huge rocks. It’s so sweet because you’re launching down this huge chute,” she says, referring to the signature Tofana Schuss. “It’s all just so much fun here.” History waits around every turn. The iconic course features, including the Tofana Schuss, the Duca d’Aosta Jump, Gran Curvone, and Scarpadon, has hosted women’s World Cup action for 51 years. Not to mention the 1956 Olympic Winter Games. It is no wonder that Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI/Head) – a four-time winner in Cortina, who finished second in Sunday’s Super G – views the place as a trusted and reliable old friend. “I love the way they prepare the course – there are ruts, but it’s not too icy,” said Ledecka, who finished eighth in the Downhill. “It’s hard but grippy and it was really nice to ski. It’s always fun to come here," Ledecka added. “Overall, I’d say there’s more jumps this year and there is a lot of air time, so that was cool.” One might presume that Valerie Grenier (CAN/Rossignol) would have a love-hate relationship with the venue considering she achieved her first Downhill podium last year, but then suffered a crash in the Super G, the next day. The torn ligaments sustained abruptly ended her season. But it has not put the Canadian off. “I love this place, honestly – obviously I had the crash here, so I had some nerves coming back here, but mostly I was excited, proud, and grateful to be back,” Grenier said. “I love this hill and the track is always perfect.” This past weekend’s races served as an important Olympic test event and one final golden opportunity for the women to charge down the Olympia delle Tofane track, before they pursue gold medals and golden moments at next year’s Olympic Games. The prospect of returning in 12 months is already intoxicating for the USA’s Isabella Wright (Atomic). “It’s so exciting to imagine it – this course is kind of like our Kitzbühel, so for the women to have the Olympics here on a course that everyone really enjoys, it’s just going to make the Olympics more entertaining and reliable too,” said Wright who is hoping to make her second Olympic team. “I think you’re going to see some major send during the Olympics and I think it will be very entertaining to watch.” Sofia Goggia (ITA/Atomic), who captured Saturday’s Downhill to claim her fourth victory in Cortina, is not expecting any surprises when they return for the big one. “It will be more or less like this weekend, because it’s 20 years now that it has been quite the same – I expect it to look just like this once again,” Goggia said of the slope that started hosting World Cup racing in 1974. “I’m so excited, this place is an already an iconic venue and now to have the Olympics here is just so cool,” Macuga added. Naturally, come Milano Cortina 2026, there will be tremendous Italian pride felt amongst the home nation’s athletes, however punching a ticket to represent the Italian Ski Team will be a hotly contested endeavor. “It’s pretty amazing for Italy to have this opportunity in this beautiful place,” said Roberta Melesi (ITA/Dynastar), who finished 14th in Sunday’s Super G. “For me, my team is very strong, but my hopes and dream is to be here for the Olympics.” Sabrina Simader (KEN/Kaestle), who grew up skiing in Austria, but competes for Kenya, is only beginning to anticipate what it might mean to represent the African nation at another Olympic Games. “I haven’t thought about it too much yet, but I’m really excited about the Olympics here next year,” Simader said. “I just love the energy and vibes here in Italy, and the crowd is so cool, so I’m really looking forward to these Olympics.” With less than 400 days until the start of the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, the female speed skiers have now departed to Garmisch-Partenkirchen with new business at hand. However, after another emotional, inspiring, and indelible experience cherished by racers this past weekend in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Olympic resort will surely remain close to their hearts – until they meet again, in February 2026. Olympic SolidarityAthletes soar on the road to Milano Cortina 2026 with Olympic Solidarity scholarships Milano Cortina 2026Milano Cortina 2026 unveils Olympic and Paralympic torches for upcoming Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026Milano Cortina 2026 general sale for Olympic tickets begins 8 April Milano Cortina 2026First-ever joint Chefs de Mission Seminar provides key insights into Milano Cortina 2026 preparations IOC SessionFuture of the Olympic Games on display at the IOC Session  Fight against dopingAnti-doping rules approved for Milano Cortina 2026 and Dakar 2026 Milano Cortina 2026Research highlights Italians’ strong support for Olympic values ahead of Milano Cortina 2026 Milano Cortina 2026World broadcasters meet with less than a year to go until Milano Cortina 2026 Milano Cortina 2026Milano Cortina 2026 and On Location unveil exclusive hospitality packages for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026Milano Cortina 2026 unveils official motto: “IT's Your Vibe” Milano Cortina 2026Winter Games Week boosts excitement as countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 continues Milano Cortina 2026Milano Cortina 2026 opens torchbearer application process  Our section for the Olympic fansFind out all about the athletes, sports, schedules, venues, mascot and much more. Milano Cortina 2026 documentsOfficial documents relating to Milano Cortina 2026, including programme, host contract, and qualification. Milano Cortina 2026 Organising CommitteePRESIDENT: Giovanni Malagò ADDRESS: The Milano Cortina Organising Committee of Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026, Torre Allianz – 43° piano, Piazza Tre Torri 3, 20145 Milan, Italy Milano Cortina 2026 Official Ticketing PlatformGet your tickets hereGalleryGallery12345678...Relive the announcementRelive the announcementCortina d’Ampezzo 1956 LegacyCortina d’Ampezzo 1956 LegacyOverviewEight venues were used at the Olympic Winter Games Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 Enhancing the status of a historic townThe staging of the VII Olympic Winter Games in 1956 boosted Cortina d’Ampezzo’s reputation as an internationally renowned tourist destination and left it with facilities that continue to attract major sports competitions Venues that continue to serve a purposeThe slopes and venues from the Olympic Winter Games Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 are still used for major national and international events A landmark moment for female athletesThe Olympic oath was sworn by a female athlete for the very first time at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956 Olympic Winter Games add lustre to the Queen of the DolomitesCortina d’Ampezzo owes its status as a first-rate winter sports tourist destination and host of major sporting events in no small part to the VII Olympic Winter Games Olympic Ice StadiumRefurbished on several occasions since the Games the Olympic Ice Stadium is a centrepiece of the sporting scene in Cortina d’Ampezzo Urban developmentAccessibility to Cortina d’Ampezzo was greatly improved thanks to developments in the town’s road links and infrastructure in the years leading up to the VII Olympic Winter Games Delivering Italian sporting excellenceStill operating over 50 years after its foundation the School of Sport continues to deliver training and education with the ultimate goal of helping Italy’s high-performance athletes achieve success Sporting innovationsCortina d’Ampezzo 1956 was notable for several technological developments Olympic Alpine competition runsThe four runs that hosted the Alpine skiing events at Cortina d’Ampezzo remain in use today this is a journey that no one's taken before," she said Italy was far from the return she had hoped for "I was skiing really well," the 40-year-old later explained to reporters "I definitely made some mistakes on the top but I got a little bit behind the course and tried to pull it off Then my skis kind of clicked together and I lost my balance." visibly frustrated as she struck the snow with her ski pole before skiing down the Olympia delle Tofane slope to warm applause from the local crowd Lindsey Vonn: Every Olympic medal raceRelive every medal-winning race from Alpine Ski queen Lindsey Vonn at the Olympics including her unforgettable downhill gold in Vancouver Despite an initial feeling of disappointment the American star prefers to focus on the silver linings: “I think in general this weekend was really positive I think it's going to take a little time I think last weekend went so well that everyone's expectations were really high.” shared that she wants to take a day-by-day approach after returning to competitive ski racing: “This is a journey that no one's taken before And I think it's actually kind of a good thing that I didn't do well this weekend because it leaves me really hungry for more and also hopefully for next year I don't have really any training and there's a lot of room for improvement.” Vonn is scheduled to race the downhill and Super G next weekend in Garmisch-Partenkirchen You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed culture and innovative spirit on a global stage This is the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s strategic roadmap which lays out the Games’ commitment to adapt to the economic social and environmental needs of its hosts and to create long-term benefits for their residents “As per the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020, Milano Cortina 2026 is adapting to the host regions, and not the other way around,” said Marie Sallois, IOC Director for Sustainability. Organisers promise to put the new “Italian Spirit” at the forefront, blending tradition with innovation. The Opening Ceremony at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium will set the stage for this fusion of sport and culture, while the Closing Ceremony in Verona’s historic Arena – renowned for its world-class opera performances – will celebrate Italy’s artistic heritage, reinforcing the Olympic values through storytelling, music and performance. Organisers have committed to reducing the Games' footprint through a variety of initiatives, including: Education, inclusion and regional development Organisers have also ensured that the legacy of Milano Cortina 2026 extends beyond sport, with lasting benefits for education, inclusion and regional development. Milano Cortina 2026 is unique in its ability to bridge the divide between urban and mountainous regions, ensuring a balanced distribution of benefits and contributing to the long-term development of the region. The Games’ aim is to boost the local mountain areas, increasing their capacity to host events and attract visitors year-round. Through the Impact 2026 procurement initiative, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in mountain regions have secured priority contracts, strengthening the local economy. Some 227 companies are now enrolled through Impact 2026, across sectors such as printing, hospitality and catering. The GEN26 Education Programme, already reaching close to one million students, brings Olympic and Paralympic values into schools, supporting future generations of athletes, leaders and sustainability champions. Milano Cortina 2026 has set three ambitions on the education side for the young people of tomorrow: disseminating the Olympic and Paralympic values; promoting the importance of daily physical activity for young people; and sharing sports sector expertise with young professionals of tomorrow. The Cultural Olympiad, a multidisciplinary and widespread programme to promote the Olympic and Paralympic values through culture, heritage and sport, engaged over one million people in 2024 thanks to the active participation of stakeholders such as the Lombardy Region. Partnering with the Italian Paralympic Committee, the Adaptive Winter Sport Programme is making winter sports more accessible for people with disabilities, introducing adaptive skiing and ice hockey programmes. Italia dei Giochi, an initiative ensuring that the Olympic and Paralympic spirit reaches communities across Italy, aims to engage over five million participants in local sporting events leading up to 2026. Milano Cortina 2026 will be the most gender-balanced Winter Games in history, with 47 per cent of quota places distributed to female athletes – the highest ever for an Olympic Winter Games. Fifty out of 116 events will be dedicated to women, with key additions like the women’s large hill ski jumping event. “As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 continues, the Games stand as more than just a celebration of sport,” said Marie Sallois. “They are a reflection of Italy’s ability to balance rich heritage with cutting-edge progress.” Torino 2006: transforming the perception of a cityThe Olympic Winter Games Torino 2006 transformed the international perception of Italy’s industrial north and brought new visibility to the leisure and cultural tourist attractions of the region. Its industrial image gave way to touristic charm. Cortina d’Ampezzo 1956: Olympic Winter Games add lustre to the Queen of the DolomitesCortina d’Ampezzo owes its status as a first-rate winter sports tourist destination and host of major sporting events in no small part to the VII Olympic Winter Games, the first Olympic Games to be staged in Italy. Kristin Kloster: Setting a new benchmark Milano Cortina 2026Milano Cortina 2026 reveals sports competition schedules Milano Cortina 2026Road to Milano Cortina 2026 gets into full swing with exciting test event programme Her presence and performance will also be highly symbolic, linking the future vision of the Olympic Movement with a time and setting, an iconic venue, from 70 years ago. The 25-year-old Constantini aims to compete in both mixed doubles and the women’s team event at her second Olympic Winter Games. The Olympic curling champion envisions the magical experience that Cortina d’Ampezzo and its paradisal surroundings will provide athletes, fans and visitors alike. “The good thing is that people can experience different cities and towns and moreover the whole country can benefit from it, both from a tourism perspective as well as general development of the nation,” Constantini says. “It could be a good opportunity to see and experience our wonderful places with unique vibes.” This text is part of a longer article written by Brian Pinelli for the Olympic Review. Discover the full story and more interesting about the upcoming Olympic Winter Games content here! While Vonn’s Downhill training run ended with a DNF Thursday’s training run was instead dominated by the Italians on homesoil USA’s Isabella Wright finished the training in eighth Vonn plans to compete in the weekend’s races This weekend will see a Downhill race on Saturday The 40-year-old’s comeback story has captivated the ski world since her announcement last October following a successful titanium knee replacement surgery in April this year Vonn retired in March 2019 as one of the sport’s most decorated athletes Her return to the FIS World Cup circuit began with a trial forerunner run in Beaver Creek where she posted an impressive time that secured her wildcard entry into December’s Super-G in St After finishing an impressive 14th at her first World Cup race in St Vonn went from strength to strength in her subsequent races placing sixth in the Downhill last weekend in St and fourth the following day in the Super-G race Today’s fall interrupted what has so far been a picture-perfect comeback journey but the legendary ski racer assures everyone she will be back for training tomorrow and will compete at Cortina on the weekend Many hold high expectations for Vonn for this weekend The Olympia delle Tofane course is often referred to as Vonn’s “living room” since she has won a total of 12 World Cups at Cortina Vonn made her competitive return to one of her favourite slopes The victory would be a major confidence boost for Goggia, with the weekend’s downhill and Super G racing the last opportunity to test the course ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games the two-time Olympic medallist was in fine fettle as she made a flying start dominating the opening section and never took her foot off the accelerator acknowledging the home crowd as she took a knee and a bow with her skis in hand The Italian finished 0.42 seconds ahead of the second-placed Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway, with compatriot Federica Brignone rounding out the podium in third place Three-time Olympic medallist Vonn has made an impressive return to the sport this season since she hung up her skis in 2019 finishing sixth in the downhill and fourth in the Super G at the recent World Cup event in St The American superstar was the 31st racer down the piste looking to make up for the crash in training on Thursday Vonn made an aggressive start to her run but could not find the speed and settled for 20th place Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Don’t miss Milano Cortina 2026Sign up now for the ticketing draw and enjoy exclusive access when tickets go live on 6 February 2025 every day to rebuild the century-old sliding center in Cortina The first ice will be laid on the track in March The International Olympic Committee has set a deadline for the end of next month for pre-certification of the track luge and skeleton events across the Atlantic to Lake Placid Zaia spoke to reporters Thursday marking exactly one year until the opening ceremony of the 2026 Games in Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium These are the first Olympic Games to embrace cost-cutting reforms installed by IOC President Thomas Bach those measures have scattered events all over northern Italy Tuesday also marks nine years until the Winter Games return to Utah the 2034 Games will use 13 existing venues from the 2002 Olympics and one temporary venue Skiing and snowboarding events will be at Deer Valley Resort Snowbasin Resort and the Utah Olympic Park A temporary structure in downtown Salt Lake City will host freeski and snowboard big air competitions The 40-year-old completed the Olympia delle Tofane course in 1:38.02 3.39 seconds behind Sofia Goggia’s leading time she even appeared to abandon the aerodynamic tuck position Vonn shook her head slightly and managed only a faint smile she had a lengthy discussion with her coach with her body language showing signs of discomfort Vonn later skipped interviews with the written press to head to physiotherapy sessions but otherwise I’m good,” she told the Associated Press on Thursday following her crash Vonn is set to compete in the women's downhill World Cup race on Saturday, and the women's Super G on Sunday at the course in Cortina, where she holds a record 12 victories. The Olympic Winter Games are just a TICKET away 🏂❄️🎿 Sign-up to get a reminder of when the next tickets go live and all the latest news of your favourite national Olympic teams and athletes trying to qualify Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy – In less than one year, athletes will be traveling from across the world to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. However, there is a possibility that a large group of athletes may have to compete over 4,000 miles away from Milan, Italy. During the bidding process, the committee proposed to renovate and restore the Eugenio Monti Olympic track located in Cortina. The sliding center would host bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions. The minimum cost was originally estimated at 14 million euros. In the official bid, the indicated cost could be up to 100 million euros. The original forecast was between 40 and 50 million euros. Eventually, a project of up to 85 million euros was approved. As time went on and material costs continued to rise, it was announced that the cost could cost them up to 120 million euros. Due to issues with costs and time restraints, a proposal was made to move the sliding sports venue location to the Igls Olympic Sliding Centre in Innsbruck, Austria, which is only about 100 miles away from Cortina d’Amprezzo, Italy. Keep in mind, that is closer to each other than Milan and Cortina are to each other. Those two Italian cities are about 250 miles apart. However, the Italian government wanted all the events to stay in Italy. So, it finally agreed to rebuild the Cortina track for a cost of 81 million euros. Work began less than two years until the opening ceremony. 180 workers are on the construction site from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. every single day to get the site complete by the date set by the International Olympic Committee, which is set to be the end of March 2025. With less than a month until the deadline, the race against time intensifies. The process will continue even after the venue is completely built, because the IOC must officially test and certify it before it can be used at the Olympics. Although completion is expected to be done by the deadline, a back-up option has been chosen if needed. The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run in Lake Placid, New York is the location athletes would have to go to if the track in Italy is not done in time. The IOC would have preferred to use the proposed track in Austria, and another proposed venue in Switzerland (St. Moritz), but the Lake Placid option came at no cost. The track was offered to the IOC without any investment requirements needed. However, the organizers are still holding onto hope that the venue in Cortina will be completed on time. The official Milano-Cortina 2026 website lists the “Cortina Sliding Centre” as one of the venues in a January 2nd article. According to the website “This venue will host bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge competitions, continuing the long-standing Ampezzo tradition of sliding sports”. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Hannah Music is an alumna of Oakland University and has been with Local 4 since March 2024. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Learning to love snowboarding has been a journey My first lesson ended with me unstrapping and walking down the mountain I left the trip with a better appreciation for Colorado's mountains and a new love for certain aspects of Italy's ski culture it's tough to get a meal for less than $30 I'll never stop talking about Colorado's beauty. The striking Rocky Mountains are why I left New York City and moved to Denver while I know it's a privilege to spend weekends snowboarding down the state's stunning mountains I have to admit that the Dolomites were even more impressive the mountain's 18 peaks are much more jagged whereas in Colorado it often feels as if I'm only viewing the mountains The Dolomites also take on a pinkish hue at sunrise and sunset each evening — colors I'd never seen in mountains before my friend and I could hear the bass of a nearby DJ we followed the sound and ended up at an après spot where a group of a hundred people were jamming to music We grabbed cheap drinks (cheaper than anything we'd find on a Colorado slope) and spent the next hour dancing Rarely do moments like that happen in Colorado I ended up at a mountainside DJ set in Steamboat Springs only a handful of people were there for the music most people were there to enjoy the views and sip beers It seems that après isn't the focus on mountains in Colorado practically every skier in Italy participates in the experience Getting to and from the mountains in Denver is an absolute drag what should be a 1 ½-hour drive typically turns into a three- or four-hour drive While popular towns like Cortina d'Ampezzo can get congested with cars the region doesn't seem to have nearly the same issue that skiers face in Colorado but the snow and conditions in Colorado tend to be better than in Italy Cortina d'Ampezzo's snowpack had a maximum of 14 inches and the Rio Pusteria-Bressanone area had 12 and other popular destinations like Steamboat have closer to 99 inches I slipped and slid down icy runs and longed for the fresh powder my friends were enjoying back home and end the day on groomed runs at the same resort in Colorado the variety of runs was limited to groomed trails While skiers and snowboarders can go off-piste so I stuck to groomed trails for my week of snowboarding And since the ski areas I visited in Italy sit above the tree line My visit to Italy made me appreciate the variety of snowboarding I have back home in Colorado The Dolomiti Superski area has 12 separate resorts covering 1,150 square miles While driving between resorts can take hours navigating a single resort can also be tough Both resorts I visited weren't traversable on skis or snowboards my friend and I had to call a cab to get to another part of the resort the town's buses ran only a few times a day It was a similar experience in Rio Pusteria-Bressanone We skipped an entire area of the resort mainly because there wasn't an easy way to get there This is drastically different from my Colorado experience Every resort I've visited in Colorado is skiable and connected once you're on the mountain but you rarely have to get on a bus or call a cab to reach a part of the mountain This makes exploring swaths of terrain easier and cheaper in Colorado compared with Italy my trip to Italy felt like a well-rounded experience sipped on cheap spritzes at the top of mountains and spent afternoons at DJ sets — all while getting in some fun snowboarding runs But I think Colorado wins if you consider the sport itself Almost 70 years after the Winter Olympics of 1956 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy is preparing to host Milano Cortina 2026 which will bring together the world’s best athletes is eagerly awaited by winter sports enthusiasts It will be an opportunity to celebrate the evolution of the sport and pay tribute to past Games while highlighting the innovations and new challenges of the Olympic world we have gathered the testimonies of two prominent skiers: Jean Mermet a former French athlete who took part in the 1956 Olympics an American Olympic champion who is considering a return to competition These testimonies provide a better understanding of how the Winter Olympics and skiing have evolved over the years Milano Cortina 2026 will mark the fourth time that Italy has hosted the Olympic Games The country has already hosted this major event three times The first Olympic Games to be held in Italy were the Winter Games of 1956 in Cortina d’Ampezzo These Games marked an important turning point for winter sports thanks in particular to technological advances in television broadcasting the Winter Olympic Games were broadcast live in several European countries thus offering unprecedented worldwide exposure to these disciplines These Games saw the emergence of iconic sports figures such as Cassius Clay (Mohamed Ali) in boxing and Wilma Rudolph in athletics which is still used today for major sporting events Italy once again became an Olympic host in 2006 with the Winter Games in Turin These Games showcased disciplines such as snowboarding and speed skating attracting millions of spectators from all over the world Turin 2006 also marked a step forward in the logistical organisation of the Games with modern infrastructure and a high degree of fluidity in the movement of athletes cross-country skiing was still far from being as popular and professionalised as it is today Jean Mermet remembers that this discipline received very little media coverage and suffered from comparison with alpine skiing ‘Cross-country skiing was the poor relation of skiing!’ he says ‘It was mainly practised in regions such as the Jura Cross-country skiers did not benefit from the same infrastructure or the same level of support as alpine skiers mainly because they were not full-time professionals it was more volunteer work than professionalism and only transport and accommodation were provided to participate in the Olympics.’ However this did not prevent Jean Mermet from performing well in competitions One of Jean Mermet’s most vivid memories is the lack of snow everything went well despite a major problem: there was very little snow!’ This lack of snow forced the organisers to modify certain courses the athletes had to adapt to conditions and terrain they were not familiar with adding an extra level of difficulty to the competition the planned training in Les Houches (Chamonix) was moved to the Aiguille plateau (Aiguille du Midi) with a difficult and unsuitable profile and poor snow conditions; moreover we did not know what the snow would be like there.’ Jean Mermet managed to achieve honourable placings in his three events team spirit remained ‘We shared all the training sessions and competitions together and even if the conditions were not always optimal we helped each other in all circumstances.’ physical trainers and psychologists to support them in their careers Jean Mermet is impressed by this development particularly with regard to the issue of mental health mental health was not a major concern for athletes: ‘Mental health was not discussed at all These were concepts that did not exist; we only saw the discipline and the events.’ The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set up specific programmes to help athletes manage the pressure a relaxation area set up in the Olympic villages which will allow athletes to recharge mentally This consideration of the overall well-being of the athletes marks a great step forward compared to the games of the past where only physical health was taken into account Milano Cortina 2026 will also be marked by the return of a legend of alpine skiing: Lindsey Vonn has announced that she is considering a return to competition ‘Cortina is where everything fell into place for me: it was there that I learnt how to approach a race that I realised that I was capable of winning’ Following repeated injuries, the skier had to take early retirement in 2019 and she rediscovered her motivation and desire to ski “Retiring from the sport was not so much a choice as a necessity my body was no longer cooperating and my right knee was damaged It was devastating to leave the sport I loved so much but I knew it was the only choice for my physical well-being.‘ She knows that the challenge will be difficult but her love of competition remains intact ’My return to competitive skiing was motivated by my love of the sport the speed and the exhilaration that drew me to the slopes.” One of the major challenges of Milano Cortina 2026 will be the participation of women which should reach a record level with around 47% of athletes in competition Lindsey Vonn is delighted with this progress ‘The Olympic Games serve as a stage to promote many progressive ideas foster change and set the tone for how the rest of the world approaches gender equality.’ Jean Mermet is pleased to see that women have taken a much more prominent place in cross-country skiing ‘It’s a very good thing that we see more women now.’ they are shaping up to be a memorable edition They symbolise both respect for the past and the desire to build a more inclusive and technological future for sport who followed the Paris 2024 Olympic Games closely is eager to see what Milano Cortina 2026 has to offer ‘I followed the Paris 2024 Olympics and I will also follow the Milano Cortina Olympics next year It’s an event I’m not going to miss!’ With an exceptional natural setting in the Dolomites modern infrastructure and legendary athletes these Winter Olympics promise to be a highlight in the history of sport Corcoran Magri Properties has announced the opening of its newest office in Cortina d’Ampezzo often referred to simply as ‘Cortina,’ is a picturesque alpine town nestled in the heart of Italy’s Dolomites Renowned as a premier destination for luxury and outdoor enthusiasts it’s celebrated for its world-class skiing its slopes attract skiers and snowboarders from across the globe while summer offers opportunities for hiking Cortina is also famed for its upscale boutiques offering a blend of natural beauty and cosmopolitan elegance The town’s upcoming role as a host for the 2026 Winter Olympics will cement Cortina’s reputation as a world-class destination “The Cortina d’Ampezzo real estate market continues to thrive and attract significant attention from Italian, European, and international consumers,” said Maddalena Magri and reputation as a high-end resort destination Cortina offers exceptional opportunities for buyers seeking luxury and lifestyle Our presence in this vibrant market ensures we can cater to the evolving needs of our clients while remaining at the forefront of one of Italy’s most prestigious and dynamic regions.” Founded as Immobiliare Magri in 1987 by Luigi Magri a renowned agent who began selling Garda-area real estate in the 1950s Corcoran Magri Properties is a family-run business acquired majority control of the firm in 2013 growing its reach and influence alongside co-owner Francesco Visentin the company became the first Corcoran brand affiliate in Europe with an expansion to nearby Verona following soon thereafter The Cortina area offers a range of high-end properties that cater to discerning audiences From elegant alpine chalets and historic villas to modern ski-in/ski-out apartments the market reflects the town’s status as a premier destination for both vacation homes and investment properties Cortina’s market has evolved significantly driven by increased interest from both domestic and international buyers seeking properties in one of the most scenic and prestigious alpine locations This increase in demand has led to a surge in premium new developments and properties with thoughtful renovations aimed at preserving the area’s unique architectural charm while introducing modern amenities Aligning with the planned opening of Corcoran Magri Properties’ new Cortina office is Cortina Fashion Weekend This annual glamorous event celebrates innovative style and alpine elegance Prestigious fashion labels often unveil limited collections and host unique experiences tailored to the town’s upscale audience and local consumers for the festive fashion weekend Corcoran and the Corcoran logos are trademarks of Corcoran Group LLC The Corcoran® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated The Corcoran System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act Known as one of the toughest courses on the women’s circuit last year’s slew of crashes caused concern leading into Saturday’s race and it was a showcase of thrilling competition Local favorite Sofia Goggia claimed victory on January 17 sharing the podium with Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie and Italy’s Federica Brignone USA’s Jacqui Wiles kicked off the day with bib 1 setting a solid benchmark of 1:34.94 minutes she was promptly unseated by Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie in bib 2 earned her a season-high seventh-place finish I really needed a solid result this season so I am really happy with the run that I put down.” The Cortina track remains a favorite among athletes for its challenging yet flowing nature while Elena Curtoni of Italy experienced heartbreak when she lost balance and missed a gate posted a competitive time but fell short of unseating Lie maybe due to still recovering from the flu it was only enough for sixth place for the Austrian impressed with her ability to pick up speed but made costly mistakes that left her fourth overall Her teammate Corinne Suter finished just 0.03 seconds behind her Federica Brignone delivered an exhilarating run coming within 0.13 seconds of Lie’s time before losing momentum in the final sector Despite her frustration at the finish line Brignone expressed pride in her performance something that I really wanted in my career and was really looking for.” Czechia’s Ester Ledecka put down a fast and furious run in her trademark style skiing into what was ultimately eighth place The Austrian however also failed to unseat Lie skiing across the finish line 0.82 seconds behind the Norwegian with a time that ultimately was only enough for 12th place Nicknamed “La Regina della Velocità” in her home country (“The Queen of Speed” in English) Goggia displayed her characteristic dominance Despite falling behind Vickhoff Lie’s pace coming out of the Tofana Schuss she unleashed a masterful performance in the technical middle section gaining nearly half a second over her rivals Goggia crossed the finish line 0.42 seconds ahead of Lie clinching her 19th World Cup Downhill victory and 31st overall victory and today I felt like I had my heart in my throat,” Goggia said The American contingent showed other strong performances where she walked away with her first career victory (and podium) competing in her fourth comeback race in bib 31 skied aggressively but made a critical error in the final sector “I am a little bit disappointed with my mistake today,” Vonn admitted “I think I was poised for another top-five result but that’s what happens in ski racing.” The Cortina crowd was naturally thrilled by the performances of their homegrown stars but also celebrated the legendary Vonn in the finish area Keely Cashman earned the Stifel Bibbo Award which goes to the skier that advances the most in rankings based on their bib number Goggia cemented her status as the “Queen of the Downhill” and solidified her position as a favorite for the Olympic Downhill gold medal on the same piste at Milano Cortina 2026 As the women’s tour moves toward Sunday’s Super-G With the weather and snow conditions expected to be as perfect as they were for the Downhill the stage is set for another exciting chapter at the Olimpia delle Tofane Two generations from Cortina reflect on the town's curling heritage ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and two young local players dreaming of competing in front of their home crowd and two young local players dreaming of competing in front of their home crowd.