Grande Strada delle Dolomiti

A fantastic road in the north of Italy

A real classic. Grande Strada delle Dolomiti. This is not really a road, but a whole series of roads between Bolzano and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The construction of the roads started in the late 19th century, commissioned by the royal house in what was then Austria-Hungary. South Tyrol belonged to Austria-Hungary until the end of the First World War.

Like many other mountain passes in Europe, the road project was about making the area accessible for tourists. Tourism was then a relatively new phenomenon in the world. When a railroad that could transport many people at a relatively low price was built, the tourism industry in Italy and the Alps exploded. This route allowed tourists to be transported from the Bolzano railway station all the way to Cortina. No roads – no tourists. No tourists – no hotels or revenue. It was that simple.

The road was completed in 1909. Five years later there was a war, and ten years later the area became part of Italy with the peace settlement. This can easily happen if you are the emperor of Austria-Hungary and happen to have a little too big of an ego for your own good. Then you start a war, lose the war, and lose everything.

Now back to the road. The road starts (or ends, depending on where you start) in Bolzano. Drive out of town and set the navigation to Lago Di Carezza. Then you will take route 241 via Ponte Nova and Nova Levante. In Lago Di Carezza you set the navigation to Cortina d'Ampezzo. It is that easy. The entire road is 110 kilometres long and takes about three hours to drive from start to finish.

Nearby

SP638 - Giau Pass

An amazing mountain pass near Cortina

Hotel Cristallo

A classic luxury hotel in Cortina.

Grand Hotel Savoia

A spacious and classy hotel in the centre of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

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