In Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo and looking for a more relaxed setting to enjoy some skiing yourself ? Or perhaps you are getting inspired to plan a visit there in the wake of the Olympic coverage ? Either way the nearby mountains of the Dolomites are a great attraction for snow sports lovers who wish to experience incredible scenery and first rate Italian cuisine while hitting the slopes. I recently took a trip to the area to visit the Carezza ski area in the region and the nearby Cyprianerhof hotel – a five star destination resort in the very heart of the Dolomites.
The Dolomites
The Dolomite Mountains are part of the Southern Limestone Alps located in northeastern Italy. Also known as the Pale Mountains, the Dolomites take their name from the carbonate rock dolomite. This local rock has been shaped by the elements over millennia into dramatic formations. I found the resulting scenery with its jagged peaks, rocky pinnacles and steep valleys incredible. Some of the best-known spots include Marmolada, the highest peak of the range which reaches 3.343 meters, and the three Peaks of Lavaredo (also called the Drei Zinnen) in the Sexten Dolomites. All well worth viewing in person, even if from some distance below !.
The entire mountain range was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 – and with its unique geological features and incredible natural beauty that’s really no wonder!. It is also home to national parks such as the Adamello-Brenta UNESCO Global Geopark and the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. I found them great spots for hiking and enjoying the mountain air.
Skiing and Wintersports
Cortina d’Ampezzo is itself located in the Dolomites but the whole region is littered with a host of resorts of all sizes so you can find one that best suits your pace and plans. The Carezza Dolomites ski area near Bolzano is one of the smaller areas, but still offers 40 kilometres of slopes, 13 lifts, a snow park, fun slope and children’s ski park all in the shadow of the imposing local peaks. Numerous other ski resorts are easily accessible in the region including the Val diFiemme/Obereggen, Alpe Lusia/San Pellegrino and the famous Sella Ronda. The Dolomiti Superski pass allows users to access over 1,200 kilometres of slopes across the region – from the Alpe di Siusi to the Marmolada. This means that one basecamp can be used with this skipass to explore and enjoy the slopes of the region with complete flexibility.
A Landmark Resort
I think it would be hard to find anywhere better to make that base camp than the Cyprianerhof Resort. A beautiful 5 star hotel built in traditional wood and stone on its own manicured grounds, it stands with views of the surrounding natural beauty including the Catinaccio-Rosengarten group of rock formations in the nearby Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park. This is one of the oldest nature parks in South Tyrol. Absolutely stunning.
While the Dolomites generally have a pale hue, the Rosengarten has a characteristic pink shade. This is caused by the presence of minerals in the exposed rocks which appear to glow in the sunset. Viewing these from the hotel balconies, outdoor pools and sauna is breathtaking.
The Carezza ski area is accessible by cable car directly across from the Cyprianerhof Resort in only seven minutes. However this resort is by no means merely a simple ski lodge ! It prides itself on being a “Gourmet Hotel” and the standard of the cuisine certainly meets the high expectations I had for an Italian trip. Largely based on locally sourced products from the region, the menus reflect the “Cultura Dolomiti” which blends Italian and Germanic influences to turn simple ingredients of the highest qualify into mouth-watering combinations of healthy flavours. The resort also has an excellent selection of wines, again including many from the region that are not readily available internationally.
Another stand out feature of the resort is the spa and wellness area. Stretching over 2,400 square metres, the pool and sauna area contain all the features to be expected in a five-star resort hotel of this quality but also a number of unique elements which certainly add to its overall attraction. These include the Schupfensauna, located outside the main hotel building in the middle of the adjoining alpine meadow with an unobstructed view of the Catinaccio.
Getting there
Traveling to the Resort will normally be via the local regional centre of Bolzano which sits on the A22 Brenner autoroute. Bolzano is only 40 minutes from the Cyprianerhof Resort and is accessible by public bus, taxi or shared transfer. Bolzano itself is directly accessible by train and plane and is around 100km from Cortina. Other potentially accessible airports that are 2-3 hours from the Resort include Innsbruck, Verona, Munich, Milan Bergamo and Venice -all of which offer rail, transfer and hire car options.
I found it a beautiful spot in which to relax, enjoy some skiing and savour Northern Italian hospitality.
