The origins of the via ferrata date back to the 19th century, but they are often associated with the First World War, when several were built in the Dolomite mountain region of Italy to aid the movement of troops. Pictured is a hiker following the route on Averau, which at 2,649 m (8,690 ft) is the highest mountain of the Nuvolau Group in the Dolomites.

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Safe access -

The via ferrata allows access to numerous peaks, including those of the Cristallo massif. The steel fixtures provide safe access and breathtaking views for novice climbers.

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Tre Cime di Lavaredo -

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, or the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, are a trio of peaks and one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps. They rise majestically in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy.

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Rifugio Antonio Locatelli -

The best option to stay overnight at Tre Cime di Lavaredo is at the perfectly located mountain cabin of Rifugio Antonio Locatelli. The refuge is named for the highly decorated Italian aviator Antonio Locatelli, who died in 1936 in the Lechemti massacre during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

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Camping at Tre Cime di Lavaredo -

However, if you'd rather be more at one with nature, opportunities also exist to pitch a tent under the stars practically at the foot of this astonishing collection of peaks, which actually lie within their own protected area—Tre Cime Natural Park.

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Cortina d’Ampezzo -

Cortina D’Ampezzo, in the province of Belluno, is a town with a 1,000-year history. A top ski resort in winter (it is the host town of the Winter Olympic Games Milano-Cortina 2026), exploring this picturesque destination in summer is equally rewarding for the renowned beauty of its landscapes and cultural attractions.

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Basilica dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo -

Cortina d’Ampezzo's Basilica dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo is the standout historical draw. Completed in 1775, the church preserves a number of artistic treasures, including a fabulous altar resplendent in carved, painted, and gilded wood, attributed to the 17th-century Belluno artist Antonio Lazzarini.

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Biking the countryside around Cortina d'Ampezzo -

Outside Cortina d'Ampezzo's town boundaries lies a verdant countryside crisscrossed by footpaths and mountain bike trails all set against an awesome Dolomite backdrop.

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Lago di Braies -

Lago di Braies is sunk into a valley in the Prags Dolomites in South Tyrol. This is the largest lake in the mountain chain and lies at the foot of the imposing rock face of the Seekofel.

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Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park -

The lake is one of the central features of the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park, and its shimmering green and turquoise waters are best appreciated by following hiking trails that flank the lake's west and east banks.

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Year-round destination -

The lake is served by a large hotel-restaurant, the Hotel Pragser Wildsee, which affords wonderful views back across the basin. In winter, the surface is blanketed with ice and snow.

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See the Sella group -

The Dolomites are crammed full of natural wonders, and none more so than the Sella group, a plateau-shaped massif comprised of several peaks, the highest of which is Piz Boè at 3,151 m (10,338 ft) above sea level.

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Summiting Sass Pordoi -

In winter the massif is accessed by ski lift. In summer you can still reach the top station on Sass Pordoi by cable car from Pordoi Pass, and Brunecker Turm.

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Hiking summer trails -

Similarly, in winter it is possible to ski around the entire massif by using the Sella Ronda ski lift circuit. In warmer weather, when rolling meadows are flecked by wild alpine flora, these trails can be hiked.

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Livinallongo del Col di Lana -

Worth a diversion is Livinallongo del Col di Lana, an alpine town snuggled in the Province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto.

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Andraz Castle -

One of the town's most revered monuments is Andraz Castle, a medieval fortress dating back to 1027 and one of the oldest standing castles in the Dolomites.

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Pordoi Pass -

Livinallongo del Col di Lana sits within the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park and, as you'd expect, you don't have to go far before being met with a panorama like this one, the view of the Val di Fassa valley from the Pordoi Pass.

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Lago di Misurina -

Among the jewels in the Dolomites' crown is its collection of lakes. The aforementioned Lago di Braies is complemented by a number of mirror-calm examples such as Lago di Misurina, the largest natural lake of the historical region of Cadore.

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Lago di Carezza -

This small alpine lake sits in seclusion in the western Dolomites on the edge of the Latemarwald. Its astonishingly crystalline waters reflect the beautiful panorama of mountains in the background.

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Lago di Sorapiss -

Lago di Sorapiss is arguably the Instagram favorite, a lake of modest proportions and named for the Sorapiss mountain range it sits in. The lake, fed by meltwater, gets its ethereal turquoise glow from the dust created by the nearby glacier of the same name. This is a special place and can only reached by foot or by helicopter.

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Vajolet Towers -

Free climbing has been a tradition in the Dolomites since 1887, when 17-year-old German Georg Winkler (1869-1888) soloed the first ascent of the pinnacle of the Vajolet Towers (Vajolettürme). Today this extraordinary rock formation of six summits attracts climbers from across Europe and beyond.

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Marmolada Glacier -

During the winter season the Marmolada Glacier becomes an enviable ski location for the more experienced skier. It's just as impressive in summer though, when it can be reached from the quaint village of Sottoguda.

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Marmolada—"Queen of the Dolomites" -

The glacier is located on Marmolada Mountain, and at 3,343 m (10,968 ft) it's the highest peak in the Dolomites. The mountain range is situated between Veneto and Trentino and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009, due in part for the role it played in the First World War when the border between Austria-Hungary and Italy ran over Marmolada, thus serving as part of the front line during that conflict.

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Strada delle 52 Gallerie -

A consequence of that front line was the construction of what today is known as the Strada delle 52 Gallerie, a military mule road built during the Great War on the Pasubio massif in Veneto. Today the 6,555-m (21,506 ft) long route, of which 2,280 m (7,480 ft) are divided into 52 tunnels excavated from the rock, can be walked by intrepid hikers, with most of the galleries offering jaw-dropping mountain views.

Image: Vajo.

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Santa Maddalena -

Utterly picture-perfect, Santa Maddalena is one of the most recognized of all Italian alpine villages. Set in the emerald Val di Funes at the foot of the Ruefen, a peak in the Peitlerkofel mountain group, Santa Maddalena epitomizes the tranquil outdoor character of this particular pocket of Europe.

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Monte Antelao -

If Marmolada is Queen of the Dolomites, then here's her king, Monte Antelao. This is the second highest peak in the range, at 3,263 m (10,705 ft). It's seen from the village of San Vito di Cadore.

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Tofana di Mezzo -

The third highest Dolomite peak is Tofana di Mezzo, seen here behind Tofana di Rozes. Tofana di Mezzo summits at 3,244 m (10,643 ft).

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Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park -

Some of the territory of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park falls within the aforementioned UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park preserves a wealth of flora and fauna, mammals such as chamois and mouflon, plus numerous species of birds, bats, reptiles, and amphibians. Pine forests, pastures, and alpine meadows provide suitable habitats.

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Alta Via 1 -

If you want to do the Dolomites predominantly on foot, make sure you're in shape to tackle the 150-km (93-mile) high-level public footpath known as the Alta Via, or Dolomite High Route 1. This is the classic high route in the Dolomites, and in fact is also the easiest in terms of terrain. That said, don't underestimate the levels of fitness required to complete the route, which snakes through some of the finest scenery in the Dolomites.

Sources (New World Encyclopedia) (Dolimiti Premiere) (Dolomiti)

Doing the Dolomites

Exploring Italy's iconic mountain range

18/07/22 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Europe

The Dolomites are a mountain range located in northeastern Italy. They form part of the Southern Alps and rank among the most climbed peaks in Europe. A natural draw in winter, when some of the best ski resorts in the region open for business, the Dolomites are an equally rewarding summertime destination, with hiking, cycling, and sightseeing providing a wealth of reasons to linger in this spectacularly scenic corner of the continent. So, are you ready to do the Dolomites?

Pack the backpack, pull on your boots, and find out where to go and what to see.