Badia and Pusteria tour

Description

From Cortina d'Ampezzo bus station, go uphill through the village of Pocol and continue towards the Cinque Torri in the direction of Passo Falzarego (2,109 m). The pass is located between Lagazuoi and Col Gallina in front of Sass de Stria, and also offers a splendid view of the Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites. The Falzarego, with an endless series of hairpin bends and steep slopes among breathtaking scenery, is one of the key passes of the Dolomite stages of the Giro d'Italia, made famous by the feats of the strongest climbers of all time. For example, it was on the Passo Falzarego that Fausto Coppi defeated Gino Bartali for the first time in a mountain climb, in the 1946 edition. Continue to the right towards the Passo Valparola (2,192 m), on the top of which there is the Rifugio Valparola as well as a small alpine lake. Given the importance of the pass, at the time of the First World War, when the border between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire passed through here, the Tre Sassi fort was built on its top, which today houses the museum of the Great War. From here you’ll descend towards San Cassiano, at the foot of the Lavarella and Conturines massifs, towards La Villa, a section that is part of the Maratona dles Dolomitese that offers a pleasant immersion in the tranquility of the Alps. Continue to San Lorenzo, where you can admire the remains of the Roman city of San Lorenzo di "Sebatum". Continue towards Brunico and keep going to Dobbiaco, through the val Puster and through gentle pastures, forests and sunny meadows. From Dobbiaco take the SS 51 which, after passing Lago di Landro with a viewpoint on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, will take you to the Passo Cimabanche (1,529 m). From here you will have a splendid view of the Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo on your right. From here a pleasant scenic descent of about 15 km will take you back to Cortina d'Ampezzo.