The dramatic, pink-tinged peaks of the Italian Dolomites, a Unesco World Heritage Site, inspire strong emotions. French architect Le Corbusier called them “the most beautiful architectural work in the world”, while the Italian adventurer Reinhold Messner, the first man to conquer Everest solo, described each mountain in the range as “a work of art”. Now, as a backdrop to the 2026 Winter Olympics, they are set for even greater acclaim, with the Dolomites resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo joining Milan as the co-host.
At the heart of these magnificent mountains is the ski resort of Alta Badia, one of the valleys that makes up the Sellaronda circuit within the vast Dolomiti Superski Arena. Yet while Cortina has long enjoyed international renown, hosting the Winter Olympics in 1956, nearby Alta Badia flies under the radar.
“Alta Badia is a true hidden gem,” says Dr Kevin Karl Castlunger, managing partner (and the third generation of his family) at Castlunger Homes. “It’s only one pass from Cortina and accesses the same slopes – the largest connected ski area in the world, with 450 lifts and 1,200 kilometres of runs. Yet until recently it was predominantly wealthy Italians from Milan or Venice who came to buy property here. Now international buyers have discovered this valley. My recent clients include a Spanish couple and a Swedish family who had skied all over Europe before discovering the Dolomites.”
