Page 219 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

THE VENE T O AREA B Y AREA  217

THE DOLOMITES

The name of the Dolomites conjures up a vision of spectacular
mountains, as noble and awe-inspiring as the Alps. To the south
of the region lie the cities of Feltre, Belluno and Vittorio Veneto.
To the north is the renowned ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
In between, travellers will encounter no more cities – just
spectacular panoramas unfolding endlessly before them
and pretty hamlets tucked into remarkably lush and sunny
south-facing valleys.

The Dolomites cover a substantial portion breakup of the Austro-Hungarian
of the Veneto’s landmass, and it is easy to empire at the end of World War I. Some
forget when visiting the cities of the flat of that war’s fiercest fighting took place
Veneto Plain that behind them lies this in the Dolomites, as both sides tried to
range of mountains rising to heights of wrest control of the strategic valley
more than 2,000 m (6,500 ft). Catering for passes linking Italy and Austria-Hungary.
an urban population hungry for fresh air Striking war memorials in many
and freedom, the towns and villages of villages and towns provide a sad
the Dolomites have striven to balance the reminder of that time.
needs of tourism and nature. The region is renowned for its winter
Italian is the region’s principal language, sports facilities. International cross-
but in the northwest a German influence country ski competitions were held in
can sometimes be heard, reflecting the Cortina d’Ampezzo as early as 1902,
region’s strong historic links with the and in 1956 the town hosted the Winter
Austrian Tyrol. Once ruled by the Olympics. Today, Cortina is considered to
Habsburgs, certain areas of the region be Italy’s most exclusive resort – the winter
only became part of Italy in 1918, after the playground of film stars and royalty.

Town square at the historic Feltre in the Dolomites
Dito di Dio (God’s Finger) mountain reflected in Lake Sorapiss at sunrise

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