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Cortina and the Olympic City: A Walking Tour
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Cortina d’Ampezzo has a rich Olympic legacy that shapes its identity to this day. On this self-guided walking tour, you’ll explore the northern Italian Alpine town that hosted the first internationally televised Winter Olympics in 1956, and is in the global spotlight once again as part of Milano Cortina 2026. As you walk through Cortina’s elegant streets and public spaces, you’ll find out how this sophisticated destination in the Dolomite mountains balances glamour with sporting heritage.
The tour begins in Piazza Angelo Dibona, the town’s vibrant civic center, where Olympic ceremonies once took place and the Olympic torch passed through in 1956. As you stroll along Corso Italia – the fashionable street that’s served as a film set for James Bond and Italian cinema – you’ll get a sense of the city’s blend of Alpine authenticity and sophistication, which earned Cortina the nickname “Queen of the Dolomites.”
Along the way, you’ll hear stories of Olympic heroes like Giuliana Minuzzo and Eugenio Monti. The tour concludes with stunning views of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites.
On this 60-minute audio tour, you’ll have a chance to:
- Gain insight into how Cortina d’Ampezzo prepared to welcome the world for Milano Cortina 2026, to host women’s Alpine skiing, curling, and sliding sports
- Learn about the Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio, the historic 1956 venue now serving as the Olympic Curling Stadium for 2026
- Learn about Giuliana Minuzzo, the first Italian woman to win an Olympic medal and first woman to read the Olympic oath
- Listen to the moving story of Eugenio Monti, the “Red Flying” bobsledder whose act of sportsmanship transcended competition
- Enjoy spectacular views of the Tofane mountain group, home to world-class ski competitions
- Understand the geological marvel of the Dolomites and witness the enrosadira phenomenon
- See several 2026 Winter Olympics venues
- Hear how Cortina balances its Olympic identity with maintaining mountain culture and traditions
Whether you’re visiting during the Olympics or exploring in quieter times, this tour offers a unique perspective on how sporting heritage, mountain culture, and global spotlight converge in this elegant Alpine destination.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
GeoBeat Audio Tour
GeoBeat creates self-guided cultural audio tours across Italy for travellers who don’t just want to visit places, but who want to understand what they’re looking at.
Since 2018, its founder has brought this passion to guided cultural visits across Italian cities, developing an approach based on slow observation, historical research, and the ability to reveal what most visitors pass by. Today, that experience shapes audio journeys that turn cities, monuments, churches, ruins, and quieter corners into stories you can walk through.
Each tour is built through historical research, on-site exploration, and the perspective of a cultural heritage professional, revealing what often remains invisible during an ordinary walk through a city.
Our audio walks are designed for curious travellers who want more than sightseeing, but don’t want to join a group tour or spend hours searching online. Clear directions guide you from place to place, while the narration helps you understand what you see step by step.
Instead of scattered fragments of information, each tour gives you a coherent cultural experience you can follow at your own pace.
Behind every tour is a simple belief: places are never just places. They are layers of human stories, and the more carefully we listen, the more they begin to speak.
You won’t just collect places. You’ll learn how to read them.
Become a GeoBeat traveller.
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Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 2
Giuliana Minuzzo: Iconic Olympic Stories
You'll see the yellow Hotel Ambra on your right.
[5 sec pause]
In this stretch, the street narrows and the story becomes more intimate. Instead of big venues and l...
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How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Piazza Angelo Dibona
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Cortina d'Ampezzo
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Corso Italia
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Basilica dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo
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Largo delle Poste
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Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympic Rings
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Tofane
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Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationVia del Mercato, 10, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy
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Total distance2km
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Final locationCorso Italia, 62-86, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy
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Distance back to start location64.03m
Directions to Starting Point
Start at Piazza Angelo Dibona in the centre of Cortina. A good landmark is the parish church and the tall bell tower facing the square. If you use the ‘Directions’ button in the app, it should take you directly to the piazza. Once you arrive, pause in the open square and start the audio
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
After the tour, keep it Cortina-style: step into the church in Piazza Angelo Dibona, browse local art galleries, or slow down with a drink at a café and watch the town’s rhythm return. You’ll pass plenty of cafés, bars, and pastry shops in the centre—perfect for a short break. Corso Italia is ideal for a quick coffee and some people-watching. If you’d like a cultural stop, you can step into the church in Piazza Angelo Dibona for a few minutes
Best time of day
This walk works year-round, but it’s best in daylight. For fewer crowds, go in the morning or later in the afternoon. If you want the most dramatic mountain light, aim for late afternoon / sunset
Precautions
Wear comfortable walking shoes. In winter or after rain, the pavements can be wet or slippery, so take your time. Keep an eye out when crossing streets and around service vehicles, even in pedestrian areas. Bring a light jacket—mountain weather can change quickly—and make sure your phone is charged (audio uses battery)
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