Lunga Via delle Dolomiti | Cortina-Cimabanche

Description

On the "Lunga Via delle Dolomiti" The Cortina-Cimabanche route runs entirely along the route of the Treno delle Dolomiti, the railway section that until the mid-60s connected Cortina with Dobbiaco to the north and with Calalzo di Cadore to the south. Known by enthusiasts as the "Railway", it is now part of the broader project called "Cycle Path of the Dolomites". This route is partly on asphalt and partly on dirt road and is in excellent condition throughout, so suitable even for beginners. The departure is at the bus station. Here the roadway is divided by special signs, into a lane dedicated to pedestrians and another to bicycles: particular caution is therefore advised, even for frequent intersections with roads open to traffic. The following stretch quickly leads to the large open space at the Fiames toll booth (here there is a fountain to cool off). Continuing ahead, you will come across a long but well-lit tunnel. Before arriving in Ospitale you’ll see a second, unlit, tunnel, and immediately after the large metal bridge over the Torrente Felizon: here we recommend a short stop to admire the ravine below. In Ospitale we recommend a visit to the Church, consecrated to San Nicolò: it was erected in 1400 in a place where already from the eleventh century there was a hospice (now transformed into a restaurant) where wayfarers, pilgrims and those who travelled on this important road transporting goods from Venice to Germany and vice versa stopped. After Ospitale you will come across former military barracks and a small lake, the Lago Negro. The arrival point is the Passo Cimabanche, where the Chalet of the same name stands.