The Dolomites

The most beautiful mountains in the world and a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site UNESCO was enchanted by the beauty of the Dolomites, as were the great poet Goethe, the writer Mario Rigoni Stern and the architect Le Corbusier – pointed spires, jagged summits and glorious colors that change throughout the day. At sunset the Dolomites turn a fiery red, then change to violet before disappearing into the night. This is the “Enrosadira” – a phenomenon caused by the unusual chemical composition of dolomite – a natural spectacle that is beyond compare.

Rising from the depths of the primordial ocean 250 million years ago, the Dolomites were shaped by the relentless effects of water, wind and ice, which sculpted this natural masterpiece. Named for the geologist who first studied them, Déodat de Dolomieu, and protected by numerous parks, the Dolomites rise to an altitude of more than 3,000 m. The best known peaks, such as Marmolada (3,342 m), Tofana di Rozes (3,225 m), Three Peaks of Lavaredo (2,999 m), the Rosengarten (3,000 m) and the Latemar (2,700 m), the Mount Pelmo (3,169 m) and the Pale di San Martino (3,192 m) are the centerpieces of one of the most charming mountain landscapes on the planet. And this is expressed in the concluding report of the IUCN’s international commission of experts, which judged the Dolomites, with their particular geological, botanical and scenic qualities, to be unique in the world. From glorious scenic overlooks such as Sass Pordoi (2,950 m), Lagazuoi (2,800 m) and Forcella Staunies on Mount Cristallo (2,930 m), all reachable by cable car, you can look down and admire the charming shepherds’ huts at the foot of soaring cliffs.