Welcome to the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Grown from the seabed to the sky

Our majestic mountains have a 200-million-year (or more!) history. From a huge coral reef in the prehistoric sea, parts of the Dolomites now stretch up to over 3,000 metres into the sky. World-famous architect Le Corbusier called our mountains the “most beautiful natural architecture in the world”. Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2009, the Dolomites are indeed impressive not only because of their spectacular rock formations and their history, but because of how they have developed into a world-class winter sport region – Dolomiti Superski. This exceptional region is incredibly valuable, and we all share a duty to protect it.

Eldorado for researchers and scientists

The Dolomites, in the northern Italian provinces of South Tyrol, Trentino and Belluno aren’t just attractive because of how beautiful they are. They’re also a popular research destination for scores of scientists. Their craggy, somewhat bizarre rock formations tell a story spanning millions of years. Back in the 18^th century, researchers appeared from across Europe to try to discover the secrets of these “pale mountains”.

And when UNESCO granted the Dolomites World Heritage status, that was much more than a recognition of how beautiful they are. It also recognised their geological and geomorphological significance, unparallelled anywhere else in the world. The unusual variety of rock formations and unique traces from the Mesozoic and Triassic period played a role in the decision to grant World Heritage status, too.

Over 100 years of alpine skiing history

A century ago, only a few brave pioneers braved the slopes down to the valley on simple wooden skis. In recent decades, though, this area has grown to become one of Italy’s most well-known skiing destinations. Right after the 19^th century gave way to the 20^th, tourism and sports in the Dolomites began to develop rapidly. The first steps towards this were taken by the Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Club, founded in 1903, and the first races on the Seiser Alm were held in 1905. Since then, the ski region has gone from strength to strength, and our guests have loved the slopes ever since.