Cortina is slowly entering “Olympics mode”. You can feel it in the air, in the shop windows, in the conversations at the bar and even in the way you look at the mountain: as if it were a stage again.
L’arrival of the Olympic Flame it’s a moment that has a special flavor here, among the Dolomiteswhere it becomes a reminder of history, of that strong bond that Cortina has carried with it for decades. In this article we have included the appointments and the things to do in Cortina during the period of winter olympics.
The arrival of the Olympic Flame
When the Fiamma enters Cortina everything changes: the rhythm, the sounds, the people who move along the streets to follow her even just for a while. It is one of those events that you can experience in two ways: chasing it stage after stage, or waiting for it in the most scenic spot to enjoy the arrival.
The passage passes through symbolic places of the Ampezzo valley: areas linked to sport, to the Olympic memory and then the heart of the centre, where the evening really lights up. The advice? If you want to see it well without going crazy, it’s better to choose a spot and stay there. If, however, you like the idea of the “movement”, you can follow the Fiamma in town, but a lot of people are expected and it may not be the most practical solution. Arrival is expected on January 26th at 3.50pm approximately to Pian da Lago. From there it will move along Trampolino Italia, Socrepes and the Olympia delle Tofane slope. Then it will reach the Sliding Center, the Ice Stadium, via del castello, via Cesare Battisti and Corso Italia with an expected arrival at 7.00 pm in Largo delle Poste.
Opening ceremony
The idea is new and a little ambitious: not just one ceremony in one place, but a “widespread” eventshared between cities and mountains. And Cortina will not act as a simple backdrop.
There will be a part of simultaneous ceremony with Milanwith an audience present and a big screen to follow the show. One of the strongest moments will be the simultaneous lighting of the braziers: one in Milan and one in Cortina. Two fires lit at the same time, two different squares, the same Olympics. It’s a powerful image, just thinking about it. The big event is expected on February 6 at 8.30pm.
Downtown tour
Cortina, these days, you can live very well even without chasing events, you just need to walk. Corso Italia it remains the natural point where sooner or later you end up: shop windows, buildings, elegant people but also families, tourists with boots and hats, those who stop just for a coffee.
If you want to add some real stages, without turning everything into a marathon:
- the Basilica of Saints Philip and Jameswith that bell tower that can be seen practically everywhere;
- the House of Ruleswhich alone is worth the visit just for the atmosphere;
- some quiet glimpses just outside the main flow, where Cortina becomes more “village” and less postcard-like.
Exhibitions and museums
There isn’t just the torch, and there isn’t just the snow. If you have a couple of hours to spare, Cortina has small museums, but full of character, perfect for breaking up the day.
- Mario Rimoldi Museum of Modern Art. Inside the House of Rules, it is a surprising visit: you don’t expect such a rich collection in a place like this. It’s one of those museums that make you change pace, you slow down without realizing it;
- Rinaldo Zardini Paleontological Museum. Here the Dolomites are told in a different way: fossils, very ancient stories, details that make you imagine when these mountains were completely different. Nice even if you’re not the “museum type”;
- Ethnographic Museum of the Regole d’Ampezzo. It is a dive into community life: objects, wood, traditions, work. It’s not a “cold” visit, it’s more of a story that comes to you.
Après-ski and evenings with a view
The Curtain après-ski it is a real ritual that can be experienced in a simple way, with an aperitif in the centre, or by choosing more panoramic places where the mountain seems very close and the day ends calmly, between lights and music. And even if you don’t ski, you still go up: cable cars, terraces, places at high altitude. It’s another way of seeing Cortina, slower and a bit cinematic.
And for those looking for other Winter Olympics-themed ideas, there are all the events in Val di Fiemme during the event and the Bormio calendar to discover.
