Experience Cortina, the Pearl of the Dolomites

Tucked in the heart of the Dolomites in Veneto, Cortina d'Ampezzo is a snow-lover's paradise. With world-class skiing, alpine hiking, and après-ski spots on almost every corner, there are few better places in the world to enjoy the best of winter. This year, you don't even need a passport to experience a taste of Cortina. Until the end of March, stop by your local Eataly to sample our Cortina highlight menu, shop featured products from the region, and learn about the unique culture that makes this area so special.

Surrounded by the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Cortina d'Ampezzo has been a tourist destination for centuries. Its population fluctuates from roughly 5,500 to 5,600 in the off-season to as many as 50,000 during the peak skiing season. Winter sports, including snowshoeing, dog sledding, and ice skating, are a core feature of the region; the Cortina Ski Club, founded in 1903, is one of the oldest in Italy.

The wider region around Cortina holds ancient history: in 1987, the Mondeval Man was discovered, the only Mesolithic burial ever found at high altitude (2150 m). This discovery dates human presence in these mountains to at least 6000 BC. With this brutal climate and landscape, it's no surprise that there is no evidence of permanent residence here until 1156, when "Ampezzo," as it was called until "Cortina" was added in 1923, appears in the first official document: a sale between Domenico da Treviso and Giovanni da Cadore. For centuries, the area was ruled by different forces, including Aquileia (part of the Holy Roman Empire), Tyrol, the Republic of Venice, the Habsburgs, Austria, and even Napoleon. A boom of tourism at the end of the 1800s began the transformation of this small but highly sought-after mountain town into the internationally desired destination we know today. Its natural beauty, appreciated by the first hiking tourists, earned it the nickname "the Pearl of the Dolomites."

In a region as remote and ancient as Cortina, unique food traditions naturally develop. The mountain-grown fare has strong Austro-Hungarian and Tyrolean influences, especially with preserving dairy into cheese and curing meats. Their hearty dishes include rich stews like goulash and roasted meats like stinco di maiale. Alpine ingredients like mushrooms and mountain herbs are the center of many dishes. Look for spaetzle, a soft egg-based dumpling-like noodle, or moon-shaped ravioli called casunziei, often stuffed with a beet filling and tossed with butter and poppy seeds.

Until March 29th, enjoy an authentic taste of Cortina at our stores and online. Across our restaurants, counters, classes, events, and retail, discover the unique dishes and products that make Cortina so special. Dine on Alpine favorites like Fonduta al Burro, Spaetzle con Speck, and beer-braised Stinco di Maiale with our new regional menu feature. Learn how to make beet-filled casunziei or enjoy an Alpine wine-and-cheese pairing with our Cortina-themed classes and events. Shop our collection of artisanal products made in the Dolomites and bring Cortina into your own kitchen. Get ready to experience Cortina right from the comfort of your own city.