The Lagazuoi – 5 Torri area hosts the largest Open-air Museum of WW1 or the “Great War”, as it is referred to in the region. The Lagazuoi cable car leads to the top of the mountain where excursionists can visit several war emplacements, of the likes of the Sniper’s nest next to the Feldwache tunnel on the front line. Re-enactors wearing the original uniform of the 3rd Regiment of the Tiroler Kaiserjäger illustrate the events of the war. From Lagazuoi, a trail equipped with wire cables leads through the Pre-summit gallery into the heart of the mountain along the network of tunnels dug by the Italian troops to place a mine and blow up the Austrians. In addition, well signposted and easily accessible trails lead visitors to discover more war remnants in the area around the 5 Torri and Mt Averau.
Re-enactors wearing the original uniforms of the Tiroler Kaiserjäger 3rd Regiment are available to guide visitors on the traces of the “Great War” on Mt Lagazuoi.
The brand-new Tofana-Freccia nel Cielo gondola leads to the “Helmut Ullrich” Astronomic Observatory. The Observatory is open all year round and students and astronomy enthusiasts are welcome to observe the wonders of the universe from a vantage point, thanks to crispy clear night skies and very low light pollution.
In the very heart of the Dolomites, a Unesco World Heritage Site, at 1780 m, the Tofana area hosts two telescopes: a new, cutting-edge Ritchey-Chretien and a Schmidt Cassegrain. Through these instruments, visitors can observe the moon, the sun, the planets, and the galaxies of the firmament.
More info: www.freccianelcielo.com e www.cortinastelle.it
The Lagazuoi EXPO Dolomiti is an exhibit space adjacent to Lagazuoi cable car top station at 2732 m in the heart of the Dolomites. The space is designed for exhibitions and meetings to highlight any form of culture.
The Lagazuoi Expo Dolomiti is conceived to house all the interesting facts occurring in the mountains - innovation, fine food and wine, visual narrative - and gives tourists the opportunity to discover the land and its community. It promotes meetings and encourages new perspectives to look at the Dolomites in order to bring to the surface all their potential.
Faloria cable car is an attraction itself. In a few minutes, the historical lift takes the younger ones and their families from the centre of Cortina d’Ampezzo up to Rifugio Faloria 2120 m. From the top, hikers may venture along a leisurely short walk, mostly level, with unique views of the valley below and the surrounding peaks.
But that’s not all. Movie lovers will be amazed to discover that in 1993 the old cable-car station was chosen as the set of “Cliffhanger” , the action-adventure movie starring Silvester Stallone.
This leisurely walk in a wonderful natural environment, with no hazards whatsoever, is perfect for families.
The Trail of the Planets – This educational walk is accessible to everyone and much loved by younger hikers. The trail of the planets is the first part of the Col Druscié Astro Ring, created to discover the solar system. The itinerary runs from Pié Tofana to Col Druscié and is equipped with dedicated panels illustrating the planets of the solar system and the sun itself. The leisurely walk, about 1 kilometre long, ends next to the Helmut Ullrich astronomic observatory, where direct observations of the sky are sometimes possible.
Indro Montanelli Path – This leisurely walk is extremely pleasant and accessible to everyone, even untrained hikers and young children.The path has been dedicated to Indro Montanelli, a well known journalist who loved it for his walks while on holiday in Cortina. A wooden signpost marks the start of the trail next to the Pié Tofana restaurant. The first stretch runs on the dirt road leading to Col Druscié, then continues to the left towards Lake Ghedina.
At the intersection known as Ra Forzèla, well obvious because of the park bench and the signposts, leave trail 410 and keep walking towards Cianderou along trail 409.
The view starts unfolding and offers wonderful glimpses of Cortina valley. The trail continues on level terrain for about 10 minutes, then it becomes moderately steeper on its way up to Tonde de Cianderou. Walk up the trail for about 20 minutes as far as the Crepe de Cianderou look out where all your efforts will be rewarded by the amazing views on the valley below and the stunning peaks in front of you: Mt Faloria and Mt Cristallo, Col Druscié, and a little further south, the little town of San Vito di Cadore. The way back is along the same trail.
