Sept 2021 ~ Driving from Ortisei to Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites, Italy & one night in Cortina

We left Ortisei and as we drove through the famed Val Gardena, we were in constant awe of the picturesque flower be-decked villages, ski resorts and the countryside rimmed by the Dolomite mountains. Our destination for the evening was Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Queen (or Pearl) of the Dolomites.”

You can learn more about Val Gardena through their site at: https://www.valgardena.it/en/

Let’s go! Here’s our route:

I shot lots of short videos along the way to give you a feel for the drive…

We stopped off to snap a few pictures at the Hotel Chalet Gerard in Selva Val Gardena, located at the base of the Sella mountain range and Sassolungo with playgrounds and hiking trails. This is a great stop to stretch your legs, eat lunch or get a snack and drink and take in the view. Check out their cool website at: https://www.chalet-gerard.com/en/

https://videopress.com/v/Jzt8S14m?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata

Going up and over – watch for the waterfall… (You might not want to watch if you get motion sickness)

This is in the next section of mountains going up and over… This drive is one of the most scenic in Europe and you can see why! Here’s some great blog sites that have lots of details about the drive, mountains, hikes and more.

https://delightfuldriving.com/our-10-favourite-passes-in-the-dolomites/

https://www.thisexpansiveadventure.com/blog/2019/8dolomitedrive

There are some restaurants and a little museum along the plateau with hikes and lots of pull outs. Definitely set aside some time to get out and take a walk here – so many pretty wildflowers including forget-me-nots!

The scenery is absolutely stunning!

Wow!

I couldn’t believe how many bikers were biking this route!

Each and every turn offers a new spectacular view…

We arrived in Cortina d’Ampezzo in the late afternoon, and checked into the Radisson Savoia Palace Residences for our one-night stay. Their balconies and flowers were inviting, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. There was hardly anyone else there, so we parked right across the street from the front door. Our suite was very comfortable, and the view from our balcony was FABULOUS!

I booked through Hotels.com. https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-residence-savoia-palace

We got unpacked and went out for a walk around Cortina, which we discovered is a small town and easy to walk. No matter what season you want to enjoy the Dolomites, you’ll find lots of outdoor activities, high-end boutique shopping and amazing scenery!

https://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en/SuperSummer/home

https://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en/Experience/Ski-areas/Cortina-d-Ampezzo

I absolutely love these gorgeous mountain towns with lovely architecture and flowers everywhere!

Here’s a quick look around the main piazza…

Come window shopping with me…

Fashionistas would definitely enjoy Cortina d’Ampezzo, as there are designer labels lining the streets.

Back to our suite for some bubbly, and to watch sunset from our balcony. We couldn’t have asked for a better view to end our stay in the Dolomites!

I went out for a quick night-time walk – here’s a few more window shopping shots…

We were up early the next morning, and I had discovered there was a nice trail not far from the hotel, so we decided to take a walk before leaving.

This was the perfect morning walk as the sun rose and hit the mountains around us. The meadow was covered in crocus and wildflowers, making it picture perfect.

Spectacular!

Here’s your 360 view…

Back in town I stepped into the church cemetery garden and church. I love how they have flower plots on the graves that are tended and kept beautiful.