Dolomites are montain groups in the Alps, that they extend among the provinces of Trento, Bolzano and Belluno. They are delimited at north from the Rienza river and from the Pusteria Valley, at west from the Isarco and Adige rivers, at south from the Brenta river and east from the Piave river and the Cadore area. The existence of Dolomites d'Oltrepiave, situated to east of the Piave river and the Brenta Dolomites, located in the western Trentino, evidences the conventional nature of this territorial marking out.
Dolomites takes the name from the French naturalist Déodat de Dolomieu that he first studied the particular type of predominant cliff in the region. The genesis of this type of cliff begins approximately 200 milions of years ago through accumulates of shells, corals and seaweeds. Nowadays they are candidates to become world-wide patrimony of the Unesco, even if in truth they are already considered the most beautiful mountains in the world: the dared and colossal mountains shapes, the color of the stone that it changes according to the day light, the deep valleys, the alpine lakes create an unique scenery.
The Dolomites region is a fully touristic vocation zone since the Austrian empire times, when nobles and the emperor himself came to spend the summer period here. Nowadays the small villages have transformed into large localities full of lodge, residence, hotel and any kind of tourist accomodation. The winter season is mix of technology and beautiful panoramas: the modern, fast and comfortable lift systems connect skiing tracks of any range of difficulty, always snowed. In 1974 it has been created the "Dolomiti Superski", a consortium of several lift systems managing 1200 km of tracks, representing the most equipped skiing area in Europe. The famous localities like Madonna di Campiglio, Cortina d'Ampezzo, San Martino di Castrozza and Corvara are among the most demanded destinations in the Alps.
In the summer season Dolomites transforms into an immense arena dipped in an uncontaminated nature. The routes to cover on foot or in mountain bikes are infinites, adapted to every ability, that they cross woods and parks, alpine torrents and small lakes. The rocky walls of the Dolomites represent moreover an ideal place climbers, but it is possible to practice also other sport activities as horse riding, golfing, paragliding and rafting.
