Cortina d'Ampezzo (German: Hayden) is a town and municipality in the province of Belluno, Veneto, northern Italy. Located in the Dolomites, it is a popular winter sport resort known for its ski-ranges, scenery, accommodations, shops and après-ski scene. It hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Cortina is situated to the center of the Valle d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites, and is positioned between Cadore (to the south) and the Val Pusteria (to north), Val d' Ansiei (to east) and Agordo (to the west). It is encircled to 360° from the Dolomites. Amongst the more famous mountains are Tofane to the west, Pomagagnon to the north, Cristallo to the northeast, and Faloria and Sorapiss to east, and Becco di Mezzodì, and Croda da Lago and Cinque Torri to south. The city center is located at an alitude of 1,224 m, although the highest summit is that of the Tofana di Mezzo which towers at 3,244 m. There is a significant water presence in the territory, under the form of torrents, streams and little lakes (Ghedina, Pianozes, d'Ajal...), which fill particularly during the summer snow melt season. Fauna include marmots, roe deers, chamoises and hares.
Cortina is situated more or less to the center of the Ampezzana valley, encircled nearly completely on four sides by the high Dolomites. Originally it was composed of numerous frazioni, isolated villages and hamlets, but with the advent of the tourism it grew rapidly from the 1950s. Only the furthest villages and hamlets in the commune have remained secluded and isolated from the main town, which today is known for its shopping. Cortina is home to some of the most prestigious names in fashion including Bulgari, Benetton, Gucci and Geox and various artisan shops, antiquarians, and craft stores. It is also home to many stores which specialize in mountaineering equipment.
Cortina d'Ampezzo centre.
Cortina d'Ampezzo centre.

However, the symbol of cortinese shopping remains La Cooperativa di Cortina, founded on June 28, 1893 under the name of Consumverein Ampezzo. In this shopping center many trades can be found, from confectioners to newspaper vendors, from toys and gift shops to skiing stores and blacksmiths. The building is divided in three layers (more a raised plan and a balcony). The cooperative in Cortina was one of the first cooperatives founded in the Italian Peninsula and currently it provides employment to approximately 200 people. Near the bridge on the Bigontina river is the Town Hall, an elegant palace in the Tirolese style.

Piazza Venezia houses several popular spots. The Ciasa de ra Regoles is one of the more important legal buildings in Cortina, where the "regolieri"-- a council for the local villages that stood before the town merged-- trained the community and gave administrative orders. In the same building today is found also the office of the Scuola Sci Cortina, Cortina's skiiing school.