UNESCO Declares Dolomites 'World Heritage Site'

5th October 2009 | Alicia Taylor, Executive Editor, Europe

Resorts in this article: Alta Badia , Arabba Marmolada, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Falcade - Passo San Pellegrino, Alta Pusteria / Hochpustertal, Latemar - Obereggen - Val di Fiemme, Moena - Alpe Lusia - Bellamonte, Passo Rolle, Plan de Corones / Kronplatz, Selva

Skiers heading to one of the 12 ski resorts in the Dolomiti Superski area this winter can hit the slopes in the knowledge they are skiing in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

UNESCO included the Calcite Mountains, located in northeastern Italy, on its list of the most beautiful landscapes in the world in June 2009.

Now the Dolomites, with their famous peaks, including Marmolada (3342 m), the Three Peaks of Lavaredo (2999 m), Averau (2649 m), Sciliar (2563 m), the Pale di San Martino (3192 m) and Mount Pelmo (3169 m) to name just a few, will take their rightful place among the most beautiful mountains in the world.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) stated that, "The Dolomites are generally considered to have some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world, even though they don't have the highest peaks or the largest glaciers." The Dolomites are now listed as boasting one of the 50 most beautiful scenic areas in Europe, and one of 199 worldwide.

The Dolomiti Superski region combines 1200 kilometres of slopes and 12 big-name resorts, including Cortina D'Ampezzo, Alta Badia, Kronplatz, Val Gardena/Alpe du Siusi, Val di Fassa/Carezza, Arabba/Marmolada, Alta Pusteria, Valle di Fiemme/Obereggen, S. Martino di Castrozza/Passo Rolle, Valle Isarco, Trevalli-Moena/S. Pellegrino/Falcade, and Civetta.