Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

The 1956 Winter Olympics were staged at CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (it still has the Pista Olimpica di Bob), an event which began the transformation of the town from a small resort to a city in the mountains. Its main reason for existing now is the skiing season – roughly Christmas to Easter – when the population rises from 7000 to around 40,000, packing out the designer-clothes and antiques shops, as well as the slopes around the city. Cortina is the Italian equivalent of Saint Moritz, attracting actors, artists – and the rich. The place encourages a kind of Hollywood existence: taking sleighs down the … more »