Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site: 10th anniversary

“Les plus belles constructions au monde” – that was the verdict of the architect Le Corbusier when he set eyes on the craggy peaks of the Dolomites for the first time. The Catinaccio and Latemar massifs – known for their spectacular towers and spires, sheer faces and mighty plateaus – are among the most photographed mountains in the world. 

Stone giants

The Catinaccio massif between Tires, Val d’Ega and Val di Fassa, presents a different face from each side. Seen from the regional capital Bolzano, it is a huge monolith with a flat roof. From Alpe di Siusi it shows its deep gorges and valleys. From the west visitors can admire a seemingly endless row of summits and ridges one after the other – the remains of a mighty reef which stood here 240 million years ago. It is amazing to think that once upon a time all this was covered by water.

The more brittle rock of the Latemar massif between Val di Fiemme in the Trentino region and Val d’Ega contains a high density of magma rock and marine fossils left behind from the time when it was a lagoon separated from the rest of the sea by a reef. In the turquoise waters of the Lago di Carezza it is still possible to see the horizontal layers and the rock formations left behind by the reef. 

The Catinaccio/Latemar mountains are particularly interesting from a morphological point of view. The differences in altitude and surface, tectonic activity, diverse rock composition (light reef limestone contrasts with dark volcanic rock) and weathering bear witness to changes in the climate over time and make the massifs like one huge open book telling the history of Alto Adige.

These mighty chains have also been important places for international research into fossil atolls dating back to the Triassic Period. It is here that fundamental principles of geology were first recognised and formulated.

Today it is the landscape and beauty of the mountains which draws countless hikers and nature lovers to this area in the far north of Italy. From stunning sunrises to the unique phenomenon known as ‘enrosadira’, when the mountains glow at sunset in hues of red, purple, pink and orange, the Dolomite atolls of Val d’Ega are a truly majestic sight.

The Dolomites UNESCO Geotrail is a highlight for all visitors keen to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site on foot. It leads across the Italian Dolomites in ten days – stage 2 (intermediate, 7 hours, 20.3 km) leads from the Lavazè ridge to the Passo di Costalunga, while stage 3 (difficult, 6.2 hours, 15.2 km) leads from the Passo di Costalunga into the heart of the Catinaccio mountains.