The mountain range, the Dolomites, is located in North-Eastern Italy in the Veneto region, and is by many people considered the most beautiful and most interesting mountain range in entire Europe. The mountains offer a fascinating scenery such as small charming mountain villages, glassy lakes, beautiful passes and impressive views that are exciting to visit in the winter as well as in the summer. 
The Dolomites offer lots of outdoor activities and relaxation for the whole family all year.

The landscape of the Dolomites

The beauty of the Dolomites in the wintertime is stunning. A magical white carpet covers the forests, the meadows and the mountain ridges and opens up the skiing season. In the spring, there is an explosion of colours from 50 different species of orchids and thousands of other flowers in the green meadows, in the forests as well as along the lakes and the rivers.

Tourist attractions in the Dolomites

You will find 10 national parks in the Dolomites that invite you to do outdoor activities and relaxation with the beautiful rivers, crystal-clear lakes and green forests.

Sports activities in the Dolomites

In the summer, the Dolomites offer water sports activities such as canoeing, kayaking, rafting and windsurfing on the many rivers and lakes. The area also provides the possibility of playing golf, horseback riding, playing tennis and swimming in the many swimming pools. Furthermore, you will find lots of mountain bike routes with different levels of difficulty, mountain climbing, adventure sports activities as well as trekking routes among which the most famous and longest route is Alte Vie that passes right through the Dolomites.
 
In the winter, the 12 valleys of the Dolomites are changed into a skiing paradise with 475 pistes and numerous routes for cross-country skiing at all levels. If you get tired of skiing, it is also possible to skate and hike in the snow.

Gastronomic characteristics of the Dolomites

The mountain area is influencing the food in the Dolomites which is simple and with natural ingredients. The chefs often use herbs and vegetables and one of the most popular dishes is Polenta with potatoes and sausages.  Typical products from the area are the cheeses, Tosela and formai Schiz, and the black-greenish honey.

The climate of the Dolomites

The weather in the area is pleasant in the summer (June-September) with hot temperatures and bright days, but sometimes windy weather. However, in the winter, the weather is more changeable and the landscape is usually covered in snow.

Some of the photos are kindly lent out from the Italian Tourist Office. Photographer: Fototeca ENIT, De Agostini Picture Library.