Customs, Heritage, and Traditions of Cortina

Introduction

Discover the customs, the traditions, and the cultural identity of Cortina d'Ampezzo, a town between Austria and Italy with a unique culture. From lively festivals to historic sites, from Ladin exhibitions to the story of the Dolomites. Let's dive together into Cortina's culture!

History of Cortina

Knowing the history of a place allows us to better understand its nature. The earliest trace of human activity in Cortina's area dates to about 6000 B.C. and was obtained through the discovery of the burial of a Mesolithic hunter in the locality of "Mondeval."

The first trace of habitation in Ampezzo dates back to around the year 1156. Since then the village has grown bit by bit into what we know today.

Cortina's history has gone through various sovereigns, from the Republic of Venice to the Kingdom of Austria, and has known periods of peace as well as periods of war. Outposts, such as the "Podestagno" Fortress, have played major roles in safeguarding the territory.

The local administration of the "Regole d'Ampezzo" made it possible to maintain a certain independence over the centuries from those who ruled over these lands. If this topic interests you, we invite you to read the page about the history of Ampezzo, which you can find below:

History of Cortina A brief history of the town of Cortina, from Mondeval man to the present day, with highlights. Reading time: 14 min.

Geological history of the Dolomites

The rocks forming the Dolomites come from geological formations unique in the world. First, they are among the very few light-tint mountains in the world. Second, they are one of the very few places in the world where the stratifications are so clearly visible. Finally, they have been a nearly three-century headache for scientists, who struggled to understand the origin of their formation.

Although the formation process of dolomite, the rock of which the Dolomites are composed, was known as early as 1700, no scientist has been able to reproduce it in the laboratory at room temperature, at least until 1995. If the subject fascinates you, and you want to know more about how the Dolomites were formed, we invite you to read the page on the geological history of the Dolomites below:

Geology of the Dolomites The history of the Dolomites and the Dolomite, the rock of which they are composed. Reading time: 9 min.

The Bell Tower of Cortina

Cortina d'Ampezzo's bell tower has been erected on the remains of the old, rather anonymous, bell tower dating back to 1590, which has been demolished due to a series of structural problems.

The construction of the new bell tower began in 1852 and has been well described in the excellent book "El Cianpanín, storia del campanile di Cortina d'Ampezzo" by Mario Ferruccio Belli and further deepened in the book "Il campanile di Cortina d'Ampezzo, l'architettura del compromesso," by Giuliano Cilione. The only problem is that both books are written only in Italian.

We took inspiration from the book, we translated it, and we supplemented it with other interesting facts so as to give as much information as possible about the symbol of Cortina. The fruits of our labor can be read on our page on the Cortina Bell Tower, which can be found below:

The bell tower of Cortina Everything you ever wanted to know, and more, about the amazing Cortina's bell tower. Reading time: 6 min.

The Churches of Cortina

In Cortina d'Ampezzo there are nineteen churches, from the main Basilica of Saints Philip and James to small village chapels and even private ones. These buildings are symbols of the local culture and tradition.

These places of worship have been gathering and prayer sites for centuries, where citizens have often placed their hopes, seeking protection from adversity althought today this spiritual comfort may be less strongly felt.

Exploring the liturgical art of a place allows for a deeper understanding of its history, the customs of its inhabitants, and the contribution of the many artists who, through their works of art, have enriched these places.

If you want to learn more about this fascinating subject, about devotion, history, and culture, we invite you to read the page we have written on the subject; you can find it below:

The Churches of Cortina All of the churches of Cortina d'Ampezzo: from the main Basilica to the many small chapels of the town. Reading time: 22 min.

Ra Fèŝta de ra Bàndes

"Ra Fèŝta de ra Bàndes" is one of the most heartfelt events for guests and residents of Cortina. A week of music, which ends on the last Sunday of August. Among all the events, the most emotional is the marching bands parade along "Corso Italia," which ends in a big concert in "Piazza Roma," where hundreds of musicians play together in an explosion of rhythm and passion.

Throughout the week, in the central square, there's a food and drink kiosk run by volunteer members and supporters of the Cortina Music Band. There you can eat a snack or drink a soda, a beer, or a glass of wine while listening to one of the evening concerts of the daily music bands. Those concerts are hosted below the "shell" structure. On Saturday, in the late evening, a more rhythmical and young concert introduces the Sunday of celebrations.

If you want to know more about this celebration and the Cortina d'Ampezzo Marching Band, as well as the most appropriate traditional clothes to wear during the event, we invite you to visit the page we wrote on the subject. You can find it below:

Ra Fèŝta de ra Bàndes A Marching Bands Festival: the last Sunday of August is a day full of fun and music. Reading time: 7 min.

What Are the "Sestieri of Ampezzo"?

The town of Cortina originally was divided into many districts, which all belonged to the same municipality. These villages were called "Sestieri." Every "Sestiere" had a leader, who was in charge of checking that everything was working properly, as well as bringing to the central municipality the complaints and needs of the district the leader represents.

Over time the geographic subdivision became less and less defined, as the town increased in size and the various hamlets began to merge with each other.

With the arrival of fascism, the tradition of the "Sestieri" had almost completely disappeared, but it was decided to preserve it by creating a sports competition. Its purpose was to renew the spirit of belonging to a "Sestiere" using the competitive spirit. The winter cross-country ski palio was born.

If you enjoyed the topic and you'd like to explore it further, please read the page on Ampezzo's "Sestieri" in the past and nowadays below:

What are the "Sestieri" A non-profit association, a cultural heritage and a geographical division. Reading time: 6 min.

What Are the Village Festivals?

The village festivals of Cortina were one of the most characteristic events of the Ampezzo summer. There were six local festivals, one for each district, where you could eat typical dishes, drink, and have fun.

The village festivals were organized every year in each one of the six districts of Cortina. Over time, each festival assumed its own particular identity, from the more touristy to the more suitable for eating, up to the one where you can party a little more and let yourself go a little.

The reason we are using the past tense is because, after the Covid lockdowns and with the arrival of the 2026 Olympics, there are major changes expected in the future.

If the topic interests you, and you'd like to explore it further, we have written a page where we tell you the differences in all the village festivals, the origins of this tradition, and the sports activities associated with them. You'll also find updated information about how the event will evolve in the future, along with all the alternative events available. All you have to do is read the page below:

The "Feste Campestri" The Village festivals of Cortina: a loved summer tradition where eat and have fun together. Reading time: 9 min.

The Military Memorial at Pocol

The Military Memorial in the locality of Pocol is clearly visible from most of Cortina but is rarely visited by tourists. Probably the main reason is that it's not well-known, even if it's actually a suggestive and very interesting place. It has to be said that this is a place of mourning and respect for the fallen soldier, so it's probably a good thing that it's not a tourist destination.

The military memorial of Pocol was erected in 1935 by the engineer Giovanni Raimondi and consists of a large stone tower that contains the remains of 9,707 Italian soldiers, of which 4,455 are unknown. We can assure you that walking among the tombstones inside the building provides a clear sense of the sacrifice of human lives required by the war. Once you have visited the inside, it's possible to take a walk outside, where some demilitarized cannons, some ammunition, and the tombstones in memory of the fallen are exhibited.

A rainy day may be ideal to visit this monument, which can be seen any time of the year, except during a heavy snowfall, due to the road to reach it, which is relatively steep.

The opening hours are from 9 AM to 12 PM and from 2 PM to 5 PM, except on Mondays and public holidays, when it's closed. To reach the war memorial, it's better to take the car, driving in the direction of Passo Falzarego, until you reach the locality of Pocol, about five kilometers, or three miles, from the center. After parking the car in the large parking lot, you'll have to walk about one hundred meters, a little more than three hundred feet, before you reach the ossuary.

On the way back, returning to Cortina, you'll cross a small tunnel in the rock. We recommend you park in the small parking lot, just ahead of the gallery on the right, to enjoy an incredible panorama of the valley. Not for nothing, this location is called "Belvedere," which means beautiful view.

If you would like more information about the Pocol military memorial, please read the page we wrote on the topic below:

The Pocol Military Memorial An evocative ossuary near Cortina, one less known spot in the town, but of sure interest. Reading time: 6 min.

The "Regole" Museums

The "Regole d'Ampezzo" are a centuries-old institution established both to manage and protect the forests and pastures and to ensure their responsible use by the "regolieri." Those are the original inhabitants of Cortina, keeping it simple, those who have been in the territory for many generations.

Thanks to the efforts of the "Regole," it has been possible to preserve the integrity of the territory over the centuries. This institution is so important that some illustrious citizens decided to donate their priceless legacy to them. Using this heritage, the "Regole" decided to build three museums.

The first is named after Mario Rimoldi and is one of the most significant private collections of 20th-century Italian art. The second is named after Rinaldo Zardini and is one of the largest existing fossil collections, with more than one thousand different species exposed. The third is an ethnographic museum and is a look at life in Cortina in the past centuries. If you would like to learn more about this topic, you may read our page; you can see it below:

The Museums of the Regole Three interesting museums: an art gallery, an ethnographic museum, and a fossil collection. Reading time: 6 min.

The Vespa Private Museum

In Cortina there is a guy named Marco, who has created a private museum dedicated to his great passion: the Vespa. As you can read in the title, this is a private exhibit, open to the public only by appointment.

This is a private exhibit, but don't be intimidated; Marco is a fantastic person. He will have no problem welcoming you if you share the same passion as him. Obviously this is something he does as a hobby, so you can't be certain that he will actually have the time to show you his creation, but if you are curious, you should try to contact him.

On the page below, you'll find our impressions, the story behind its creation, and, at the end, its contact information:

The private Vespa museum The Cortina Vespa Museum is a private collection about the famous Italian scooter. Reading time: 7 min.

Conclusion

We hope you liked this hub page about the traditions of Cortina. Before saying goodbye, we would suggest you read our home page, with all the articles we wrote about Cortina d'Ampezzo.

If you want to thank us, you can read the page Support Us. If you only want to suggest a change, propose something, or just say hello, in the section Contacts and Info, you'll find all the ways to reach us.