Dolomites - The Dolomites are ancient coral reefs reincarnated as Alpine peaks. It is not unusual to find marine fossils among the pinnacles, towers and sheer drops of these mountains. The Dolomites, stretching across Trentino-Alto Adige into the Veneto, provide the most spectacular for walkers in the Italian Alps – from half-day rambles to more demanding routes that require mountaineering skills. Numerous rifugi (huts) offer overnight lodging and something to eat. Trails are generally well marked. The walking season runs from the end of June to the end of September. Most mountain huts close from mid-September. The best areas for walking in the Dolomites include the Brenta group, accessible from Molveno or Madonna di Campiglio, the Val di Genova and the Adamello group, both accessible from Madonna di Campiglio, the Sella group accessible from the Val Gardena, Val Badia, Pieve di Livinallongo and the Val di Fassa, the Alpe di Siusi, Sciliar and Catinaccio group, accessible from Siusi and Castelrotto, the Pale di San Martino accessible from San Martino di Castrozza and Fiera di Primiero, the area around Cortina that straddles Alto Adige and the Veneto, the Sesto group north of Cortina towards Austria, accessible from San Candido or Sesto in Val Pusteria.
The Dolomites boast innumerable excellent ski resorts, including Cortina, Madonna di Campiglio, San Martino di Castrozza, Canazei, Val Gardena, Plan de Corones and Val Badia. Accomodation and ski facilities are abundant and you have plenty of scope to choose between downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as sci alpinismo and Snowboarding. The Dolomiti Superski ski pass allows access to 464 lifts and some 1220 km of ski runs across 12 regions.
Other activities are mountain biking and rock climbing.