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The Queen
Arabba and Malga Ciapela bring you the sight of wonderful
giant mountain formations and the experience of spectacular excursions
as well as skiing runs you can only dream about, such as the legendary
Sellaronda or a day trip on the 3,342 metre high Marmolada, the
'queen of the Dolomites'. None of the Dolomite peaks is higher,
none makes such an impression. From Malga Ciapela there are cable
cars which lead right to the peak. We start off in Arabba, then
the tour moves on to Porta Vescovo, which is formed just like a
bishop's cap. This point offers a breathtaking view of the majestic
Marmolada glacier. To warm ourselves up the very fast 'Ornella'
run leads us towards Pescoi. Over the ridge of the Passo Padon the
tour follows on to the Passo Fedaia and from there in three stages
to Punta Rocca covering more than 1,300 metres in height, reaching
at 3,269 metres the highest point in the whole of the Dolomiti Superski
resort area, just a few metres under the Marmolada summit.
Conquering the peak
The scene before us is unforgettable. Just like a real queen the
mountain receives visitors, her snow covered head held high. On
the summit you have the feeling that the whole world lies at your
feet ! Seeing this for the first time takes one's breath away. It
took 270 million years for all of this to come into being. To the
south an 800 metre cliff stands vertical, to the north we can make
out the glistening sugar coated silhouette of the giant on Lago
Fedaia. Yet another colossus, Monte Pelmo, makes its presence felt
here, once conquered as the first three thousand metre peak. We
simply have to sit up and take notice of the 12 kilometre long run
! Worldwide there are very few of this length and even fewer are
so lovely. This is skiing in its most spectacular form!
Tip: the Museum of the Great War (1915-1918)
in Marmolada.
The Museum of Marmolada, the highest in Europe, is placed at 2.950
mt. in the
cable car station of Serauta, on the edge of the glacier. It recalls
the mountain front of the First World War (1915-18). The fallen
and those who fought are remembered here regardless of nationality
or ideological persuasion. They struggled and many died on these
icy mountains. War relics, photographs and historical documents
are on show.
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