The Italian Dolomites make up the southeastern most part of the European Alps. They are located in the northernmost part of Italy, with their easternmost flanks touching on the border between Austria and Italy. They are largely made up of limestone, which accounts for the amazing shapes of the peaks, and the pale color of the rocks.
Our first stop in the Dolomites was to the city of Cortina d’Ampezzo, an absolutely beautiful little town that is famous for being a hub for winter sports. Cortina typically grows from a humble population of around 7,000 in the summer months, to over 40,000 during the winter ski season. It was host to the 1956 Winter Olympics, and is set to co-host the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan.
Here’s a photo gallery featuring the Trampolino Olympico Italia (Olympic ski jump), which was used in the 1956 Winter Games, and a few other sites that we visited around the vicinity of Cortina.
Probably the most beautiful ... definitely the most interesting, because it doubles as a frickin’ ski jump landing!! : o ... soccer pitch I have ever seen!
The Trampolino Olympico Italia ...
The current structure was renovated in 1955 from a smaller ski jump platform, which was originally built in 1923.
The ski jump was used until 1990, when it lost its certification from the International Ski Federation due to financial restraints, and has since laid dormant.
In 1981, Roger Ruud set the last ‘hill’ record for the Trampolino Olympico Italia, with a jump of 92 meters, or just under 302 feet.
James Bond took flight off the jump in the 1981 film, For Your Eyes Only, in very realistic circumstances ; )
The ‘stadium’ held a seating capacity of over 40,000 spectators, which included room for over 10,000 on either side of the landing hill.
Here are some non-ski jump pics from around the Cortina d’Ampezza area ...
