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The background to the east is formed by the magnificent Catinaccio group, with the Torri del Vaiolet, typical Dolomite peaks. Situated at the intersection of important through routes and at the starting point of popular mountain roads, Bolzano has a busy transit traffic, but its convenient situation and beautiful surroundings also make it an excellent base from which to explore the region. KarneldNot far from Bolzano we cross the Brenner motorway and climb the steep gorge in the Eggen valley through which flows the Karneld stream. On a steep rocky height on the left stands Karneld Castle (13th century, restored about 1880; chapel and frescoes) that is above the village of the same name. In Kardaun there is the Eisack power station, beyond which a road bridge crosses the Eggen valley waterfall. Then the valley broadens out, near Birchabruck (Ponte Nova; 877m/2,728ft) there is on the right a fine view of the Laternar and the Rosengarten on the left. Beyond Birchabruck the Dolomite Road leaves the Eggen valley and ascends the Welschofen valley. Welschnofen/Nova LevanteThe village of Welschnofen, picturesquely situated on the hillside, is popular both as a summer and as a winter sports resort. From the Hainzer sawmill a chair-lift goes up to the Frommer Alm (1,730m/5,678ft) and continues to the Kölner Hütte, (2,337m/7,679ft). From the Cologne Path (Kölner Weg) it is possible to reach in about 1.25 hours walk the Paolina Hut (2,127m/6,981ft) above the Karer Pass. Carezza Lake
Pozza di FassaFurther up the Fassa valley in which flows the River Avisio lies the resort of Pozza di Fassa (1,290m/4,234ft), with a chair-lift to the Buffaure slope (2,020m / 6,629ft; ski-lifts). Campitello di FassaCampitello di Fassa, dominated by the jagged peaks of the Langkofel, is much visited both in summer and in winter. A chair-lift goes up to the Col Rodella (2,387m / 7,834ft); it takes about 15 minutes to climb to the Rodella (2,485m / 8,156ft; TV transmission antenna; refuge hut).
The road to the pass reaches the picturesque mountain village of Penia (1,556m/5,107ft) and, above Pian Trevisam (1,717m/5,635ft; Refugio Villetta Maria), continues to the Fedaia Lake and the Fedaia Pass, where the road enters the Province of Belluno in the Region of Veneto. Pieve di LivinallongoThe Dolomite Road now follows the Livinallongo Valley watered by the Cordevole river, first along the floor of the valley and later high on the northern slope and over a gorge. Then we reach Pieve di Livinallongo, the administrative center of the extensive district of Livinallongo del Col di Lana. Southeast below Pieve is the Sacrario di Pian di Salesi, an Italian military cemetery. The road to it continues south to Caprile and Alleghe on the lake of the same name. Col di LanaTo the north above Pieve di Livinallongo towers the 2,462m/8,080ft-high Col di Lana which can be reached on foot in three hours via the Refugio Gaetani (1,835m/6,022ft). The summit was the scene of intense fighting in 1915 to 1918; Italian alpine troops drove a tunnel under the positions of the Austrian Imperial infantry on the summit and on April 17th/18th 1916 blew it up. Near the summit stands a memorial chapel and remains of the military positions; from the top there is an exceptional panorama. Falzarego Pass, Passo di FalzaregoBeyond Pieve di Livinallongo the Dolomite Road turns north and climbs the 2,177m/7,145ft-high Falzarego Pass, a broad depression which is overlooked on the west by the Sasso di Stria ("witches' rock"; 2,477m/8,130ft), on the east by the curiously named Cinque Torri ("five towers"; 2,362m/7,752ft) and on the south by Nuvolauo (2,575m/8,451ft). North of the pass a cableway goes up to the Piccolo Lagazuoi (2,728m/8,953ft). Valparola RidgeFrom the Falzarego Pass a road leads northwest along the beautiful Lago di Valparola to the 2,192m/7,194ft-high Valparola ridge, overlooked on the northeast by the Lagazuoi (2,803m/9,199ft), then winds downhill to Armentarola (1,640m/5,382ft); from here we continue through the charmingly situated village of San Cassiano (1,537m/5,044ft) to the village of La Villa (Stern; 1,483m/4,867ft), high in the valley of the Gader. The Dolomite Road continues in curves and S-bends steadily downhill; on the left is the mighty rock wall of Tofana. Cinque TorriA good 5km/3 mi beyond the summit of the pass a road branches off to the Refugio Cinque Torri (2,131m/6,994ft); from here there are climbs on the rocks of the Cinque Torri ("five towers"; main summit 2,362m/7,752ft). About 15 minutes west of the hut is the Refugio Scoiattoli (2,230m/7,319ft; ski-lift), from where a chair-lift descends to the Refugio Bai de Dones (1,900m/6,236ft) on the Dolomite Road. Tofana
Since hosting the Winter Olympics in 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo has become known as the Italian ski resort for the jet set. Expensive furs and fancy cars with shops to match dot the town that boasts a picturesque center and access to three separate ski areas. A haven for beginners and intermediates, the town is flanked by two mountain ridges with Mount Cristallo (a 9,613-foot peak) and Faloria (at 7,690 feet) to the east and Tofana (9,317 feet) and Pocol and Socrepes (7,487 feet) to the west. These areas are linked by bus and taxi but schedules are not necessarily that convenient so skiers tend to pick an area for a morning or afternoon or the entire day and try another area the next day.
The Dolomites Mountains Itineraries
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