After the Dolomites — Culture in the Local Villages
The Dolomites faumost for their spectacular views, but these mountains are also home to villages that dot their slopes. These villages have offered you a glimpse of life as it once was with all its old traditions, and lovely architecture that blends in with nature.
If you’re going on a hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites, or maybe you merely need to explore the guts of the Alps, these villages deliver an unforgettable experience. The list of 5 small Italian Dolomites villages shows that, behind the mists of these world-famous peaks, are a few other nearby, local Alpine towns soaking up a delightful mix of pristine nature, intriguing history, and real tradition that you can take a stroll through.
1. Cortina d’Ampezzo
La Regina delle Dolomiti. Cortina d’Ampezzo may be the best known, and most glamorous, of all the villages in the Dolomites, called the “Queen of the Dolomites.” This resort town was a center of winter sports activity during the 1956 Winter Olympics, but it has more to offer visitors than skiing. The village is also very rich in culture: the architecture is a mix of Tyrolean and Venetian style. Strolling along its cobbled streets, visitors can admire the stately, pastel-colored buildings with wooden balconies and the architecturally lovely facades of traditional Alpine chalets.
Cortina also has a vibrant arts scene: local galleries and artisan shops showcasing the work of local craftspeople. The area is also great for relaxation and outdoor activities, with mountains like the Tofane, Cinque Torri, and the grand Cristallo serving as a majestic backdrop. Hiking is also a bumbling great way to explore the Dolomites — and Cortina is a perfect base to begin a hut-to-hut holiday along the area’s trails, which take you deep into the high rock formations.
2. San Candido
An Escape of Little Calm In the eastern Dolomites, not far from the border with Austria, the village of San Candido is a genuine discovery for weary travelers looking to break away from the beleaguered town. This fairy-tale village is a blend of Italians and Austrians, as its well-preserved medieval center makes clear, which is apparent in its food, architecture, and local customs.
The town’s centerpiece is its church, Collegiate Church of St. Michael, whose frescoed interior and soaring bell tower loom over the landscape. The brightly painted facades and intricate carvings of the village’s traditional wooden houses stand in contrast to the towering peaks of the Dolomites arrayed behind them. San Candido is also famous for being close to the Three Peaks of Lavaredo, a set of the best-known mountain formations in the Dolomites. Travelers on a Dolomites hut-to-hut hiking trip can hike on any number of scenic routes, reaching high-altitude refuges with panoramic views over the dramatic terrain.
3. Ortisei—The Beating Heart of Val Gardena
Located near the center of the Val Gardena Valley, Ortisei is a small town that’s a perfect balance between the Italian culture and the Ladin culture. An ancient group called the Ladin people once took up residence in the Dolomites, and the legacy of this group is still evident in the language and customs of this region. The village is an archetypal example of Alpine architecture —stilted wooden houses with brightly colored shutters and flower boxes, an idyllic, postcard-perfect scene.
Ortisei is also known for its woodcarving tradition, and visitors can tour several local workshops where artisans create detailed wood carvings of religious figures, animals, and traditional patterns. The village is nestled against some of the most iconic peaks in the Dolomites, including the Seceda and the Sella Group, which make for stunning backdrops in summer when hiking and in winter when skiing and mountain biking.
For anyone on a Dolomites hut-to-hut hiking route, Ortisei serves as a gateway to the many mountain huts in the surrounding area — ideal for travelers looking to recharge with hearty, regional food and drink in breathtaking settings.
4. Alleghe: Lakeside Surprise
Alleghe is one of the more obscure villages in the Dolomites and offers a perfect location for those seeking an escape to what the region used to be like. Snuggled up against the foot of Mount Civetta and a placid stretch of water, Alleghe has stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the glistening water. The village is charming, with snaking roads, rickety timber buildings, and quaint cafes where locals cluster over a good yarn and local cuisine.
The village itself is small but charming, and at a little museum (which you can visit in a few weeks), you can discover more about this part of the world’s deep history, including the remnants of its mining past. Alleghe is also an excellent jumping-off point for visits to nearby Dolomite peaks and Dolomites hut-to-hut hiking trips. The region has many hiking trails that wind through dense forests and alpine meadows to high-altitude mountain huts, where some of the finest views in the Dolomites await.
5. Selva di Val Gardena
Traditional Meets Modern Welcome to another one of Val Gardena’s villages that combine modernity with tradition—Selva di Val Gardena. Although Selva is known for its ski resorts, it also boasts a rich cultural heritage, evident in its incisions, festivals, and cuisine. The copycat Alpine-style houses of the village, with wooden shutters and bright flower boxes, are nestled against the magnificent Sassolungo and Sassopiatto mountains.
Selva is an outdoor playground and specializes in winter skiing and summer hiking. And for hut-to-hut hikers traversing the Dolomites, Selva leads straight onto Instagram-worthy pathways, where guests can walk through the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Dolomiti del Sella. It is also the center for many local crafts, from textiles to wood carvings, and thus a nice (in a kind of awkward way) place to shop for souvenirs.
In conclusion
Some of the most beautiful and fairy-tale-like Alpine villages in Europe are placed in the Dolomites. And from the glamorous vibe of Cortina d’Ampezzo to the calm ambiance of San Candido and Alleghe, these accommodations are an experiential opportunity to explore some of the region’s— and Italy’s— remarkable architecture and cultural legacy. Whether you’re attracted to the lively local culture, the breathtaking scenery, or the traditional Alpine architecture, these villages offer just the right combination of old-world charm and cutting-edge energy.
Looking for a hut-to-hut hike into the Dolomites? These villages are an ideal gateway to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Dolomites while exploring the rich culture that has existed here for centuries.