Snow week in Cortina, the pearl of the Dolomites
The winter solstice always marks the beginning of the coldest season, but it coincides at the same time with a new cycle: that of the days beginning to be longer. It is the prelude to a season in which you may be lucky enough to admire lunar landscapes illuminated by the sun's rays, immense expanses of snow that serve as a forerunner to the long-awaited white weeks, the goal of ski enthusiasts as well as those who like to enjoy long stops at chalets and snowshoeing at high altitudes.
Overshirt: iconic garment for high-altitude lovers
The mountain gives so many of joys related to their natural landscapes, but also of activities and leisure time among its characteristic walkways off the ski slopes, when you can get rid of your ski suit and boots, to wear the most beautiful flannel overshirt you got, the seasonal item and passe-partout for high-stylish outfits, to experience the social events among art galleries, wine bars and trendy clubs, walking under the bell tower and a boutique shopping trip. And that is exactly what we chose to do, after the last descent from the top of the Tofane at more than 3,000 meters, pit-stop at the hotel for a quick change of look. My choice falls on one of my new Xacus check shirts in Japanese flannel, featuring an elegant retro color mix in shades of blue and orange: ideal for an aperitif in the twilight hours in an authentic chalet style, in the center of town at the Enoteca Baita Fraina, for those who want excellent wine references by the glass, accompanied by boards full of typical local products. The first goblet goes down like a charm, until Domizia brings me back to reality because she had reserved a front-row seat on the terrace of the Lovat in Piazza Roma, since she couldn't help but give up her famous pies, at which point I took the opportunity to secure one of her famous anchovy cannoli.
Mulled wine and contemporary art at the Renzo Cortina Cultural Association
How stylish of Domizia, however, to focus on the velvet chemisier, leather pants and Texans: the undisputed queen of Cortina. From here the sun is hiding among the peach-colored mountains, as we are being cuddled by the warmth of the heated terrace and another mulled wine, the phone rings: it's the boys calling us to order.
They are already all at the Renzo Cortina Foundation to see the famous Chinese Mona Lisa by Mario Taddei, one of the leading experts on Leonardo Da Vinci. There they are! I find Edo smiling with my Xacus camel-colored cloth shirt on, open over his beautiful cashmere choker. How did he allow himself? We will settle tomorrow. In fact, I take the hit, and tomorrow I'll decide where we go: Tour of the Great War - among the Italian trenches of the 5 Towers - an open-air museum among the stunning views of Col di Lana, Tofana di Rozes, Castelletto and Col di Bos.
