There’s a lot of misinformation and confusion about the Dolomites, starting with the simple matter of exactly what and where are they are!

Is "Dolomites" just another name for the Italian Alps?
No. The Italian Alps extend all across the north of Italy, along its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The Dolomites are but a small section of the Alps, located in the northeast part of the country. Some so-called cycling "tours of the Dolomites" traverse the Stelvio, Mortirolo, and Gavia passes, but actually, none of these passes is even in the Dolomites. You can see this for yourself just by noting the differences in the forms and colors of the mountains.

Are the Dolomites and "South Tyrol" synonomous?
Not at all. The Dolomite range is primarily located in the province of Belluno, in the Veneto region. The South Tyrol (Sud Tirol) is synonomous with the autonomous province of Bolzano, which, with the autonomous province of Trento, comprises the autonomous Trentino-Alto Adige region. Although these two provinces are entirely mountainous, only 10% of the mountains are Dolomites. In contrast, two thirds of Belluno province are covered by Dolomites. There are also Dolomites in the Friuli region.

Is German the language of the Dolomites?
German is only spoken in the province of Bolzano/Sud Tirol. In the provinces of Trento and Belluno, the languages spoken are Italian, Trentino and Bellunese dialects, and Ladino, a Rhaeto-Romance language not of Germanic origin. (It is also spoken in some sections of Bolzano province).

What sets the Dolomites apart from the rest of the Alps?
The Dolomites are known for their bizarre forms and spectacular coloration. This is the result of their origin (under an ancient lagoon!--the Tethys Sea) and resulting chemical composition. Over the course of their 250 million-year history, wind, water, and ice have sculpted them into dagger blades, ruined castle battlements, soaring cathedral spires, organ pipes, jagged fangs, and other fantastic forms (though the author Dino Buzzati asserted that it is wrong to say they resemble anything--they look only like their unique, magnificent selves). Their colors change with the path of the sun: purple, silver, gold, terracotta, rose... Magical and enchanted are the words that best describe these mountains.

Unlike other parts of the Alps, the Dolomites are not a solid range of impenetrable mountains, but instead, are composed of groups of peaks separated from one another by valleys (you can see this for yourself here). To get from one valley to another, you ride over a pass. The roads are excellent and signs indicating the way to passes and towns abound, so it is extremely easy to find your way around, and consequently, to plan your own tour. By staying in or near a town like Alleghe, Caprile, Colle Santa Lucia, Selva di Cadore, Pieve di Livinallongo, or Arabba, you can ride loops that will take you over most of the famous, spectacular passes. Hotels, apartments, B&B's, and agriturismos abound, offering accomodations for any taste and budget.

Another option is Ride the Dolomites, inexpensive, self-guided tours from a fixed base, organized by Dolomiti Stars, the local consortium that recently sponsored stages of the Giro d'Italia. They'll reserve your room, pick you up at the airport, rent you a bike, and provide a number of other services.

You can also consult the Province of Belluno Province cycling site, http://www.dolomiti-inbici.com.

The guidebook shown at left, Passi e Valli in Bicicletta--Dolomiti Bellunesi , by Anastasia, Pauletto, and Supino, gives details of 45 passes and climbs (not all climbs are passes): length, average and maximum gradient, difficulty rating, suggestions for loops, and more. (available in Italian only). Ediciclo Editore s.r.l., ISBN 978-88-85327-69-6

Hiking trails in the Dolomites are easy to find and follow. The best known are the Alta Via routes that criss-cross the range. There's no need to pack a tent, sleeping bag, food, and stove, for wherever you go, you'll find abundant rifugi (refuges) offering comfy bunks and hearty, delicious meals prepared by the 'keeper (this is Italy, after all!). The excellent Tabacco topo maps (1:25,000) can be purchased in bookstores and newspaper/magazine stores.

A new project, modeled on the famous Camino di Santiago di Compostela (in Spain) is the multi-stage Cammino delle Dolomiti. It is envisioned as an itinerary immersed in "faith, culture, and nature," intended to be traversed by groups of all ages and backgrounds, immersing them in the beauties of nature, taking them to visit centuries-old churches, sanctuaries, and hospices, fostering a sense of community and spiritual growth, and deepening the knowledge and appreciation of the land, people, and traditions of Belluno province. Stages can be hiked one at a time, or in combination with other stages.

My favorite Dolomites site--videos, history, culture, lore, itinereries, and much more

•The National Park of the Bellunese Dolomites offers nature trails, thematic trails, educational excursions, artistic and cultural events, support for traditional activities, festivals, and more.
In addition to their hostel, they now operate an environmentally-friendly restaurant which supports local farmers and culinary traditions.

• Mazarol, the official park guides' co-op, offers guided hikes and treks, nature walks, historic/environmental programs, and more, both within and outside of the park. You can find a schedule of activities on their site.

• Magico Veneto is an incredibly detailed site full of useful information, cycling-hiking-mtb itineraries, fascinating facts, and wonderful photos of the entire Veneto region.

• For 360 degree views of the Dolomites in Belluno province, visit http://www.bellunovirtuale.com

• Enjoy wonderful starlit scenes of the mountains on the site of The Astronomical Association of Cortina http://www.cortinastelle.it/magichenotti.htm

Dolomites, Journey through an Enchanted Kingdom (Light Hunter Publications, Cortina d'Ampezzo. ISBN 88-86297-02-5) is a wonderful overview of the entire range: geology, geography, flora and fauna, history, culture, customs and traditions, cuisine, attractions, and lots more.

Mozart and the Dolomites (available on Amazon) is described as "a stunning and original time-accelerated film that reveals the beauty of the breathtaking Italian mountain range as time passes and seasons change: clouds perform intricate dances with the mighty peaks, night falls and stars appear to create their own ballet performed to Mozart's Requiem." Click here to enjoy a clip: Kyrie-La Corsa delle Nuvole.

The Dolomites, UNESCO World Heritage Site -- the official presentation video.

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