The Tofane are one of the groups that say Cortina d'Ampezzo more than any other: three big peaks above 3,000 metres looming over the Ampezzo basin. The lift up is the Freccia nel Cielo, one of the historic cable cars of the Dolomites, which climbs from the centre of Cortina in three stages to Cima Tofana at 3,244 metres, stopping at Col Drusciè and Ra Valles on the way. Ra Valles itself, at around 2,475 metres, is the heart of the trip: a natural amphitheatre of rock and snowfields where the mountain shows its harshest, almost bare face.
From Ra Valles and the upper stations the views open out across the whole Ampezzo basin and the Dolomites around it, while for mountaineers via ferratas and routes climb to the summits, the Formenton on Tofana di Dentro among them. On the way you pass historic refuges, from the Pomedes to the Duca d'Aosta. It's the spot for anyone who wants to get into high mountain terrain fast, get close to the great Tofane walls and breathe the thin air of one of the most dramatic places in the Dolomites, without signing up for a long walk.
Frequently asked questions
How do you ascend to Ra Valles and the Tofane?
On the Freccia nel Cielo cable car, which leaves from the centre of Cortina and climbs in three stages: first to Col Drusciè, then to the Ra Valles plateau at around 2,475 metres, and finally to Cima Tofana at 3,244 metres.
What can you see from the Ra Valles plateau?
A high view over the whole Ampezzo basin and the Dolomites around it, from a natural amphitheatre of rock and snowfields beneath the Tofane walls. Historic refuges stand nearby, like the Pomedes and the Duca d'Aosta.