The Dolomites are a section of the Alps located in north-eastern Italy. During the First World War, the line between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces ran through the Dolomites. There are open air war museums at Cinque Torri (Five Towers) and Mount Lagazuoi.
Many people visit the Dolomites to climb the Vie ferrate. These are protected paths which were first created in the Dolomites during the First World War. A number of long distance footpaths run across the Dolomites, which are called “Alte vie” (i.e., high paths). Such long trails, which are numbered from 1 to 8 and require at least a week to be walked through and are served by numerous “Rifugi” (huts). The first and, perhaps, most renowned is the Alta Via 1.
The Dolomites are famous for skiing and mountain climbing, daily excursions, climbing and base jumping, as well as paragliding and hang gliding in summer and late spring/early autumn. Free climbing is also popular in the Dolomites; the main centres include: Rocca Pietore alongside the Marmolada glacier; Marmolada is the highest mountain in the Dolomites at 3344 metres.
