Ski holidays in Cortina - Italy

Cortina's skiing is more varied than at many resorts in the Dolomites where the mountains' famous precipices and otherwise steep sides going straight down to relatively flat and narrow valley floors make it difficult to create much beyond easy slopes in the valley and the occasional steep black down from on high.

Cortina has three major ski areas: Tofana, Cristallo and Faloria, and is on the famous Dolomiti Superski pass which gives unlimited access to around 1100km (approximately 700 miles) of trails from ski centres all over the Dolomites.

Beginners normally start to ski or 'board on the Socrepes area's nursery slopes, where the ski school is based. With more than half of the runs categorised as 'easy' it's a good place to progress during your first week of sliding.

Intermediate level skiers will perhaps have the most fun of all, with the widest choice of runs open to them in all areas, including the 9km (6 mile) long descent towards Armentarola on the Alta Badia circuit from Lagazuoi reached by the Passo Falzarego cable car the base of which is a short drive from the resort.

Some of Cortina's toughest skiing is on the Tofana mountain where the legendary descents include the Stratofana, inaugurated for the 1956 Olympics, on which skiing great Tony Sailer won his third gold medal. The Forcella Rossa is equally highly thought of, as is the Staunies run in the Cristallo area.

Although many of the slopes are sunny and south facing, snow making covers 100km (37.5 miles) of 30 key trails.

Cross country skiers are well catered for with over 60km (37 miles) of prepared trails.

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