If you’re looking to get away from cities to do some writing or painting, drive north of Venice into the Dolomiti.  Most Americans think of Cortina only as a ski resort.  But Cortina lures throngs of nature lovers in the Spring, Summer, and Fall.

Cortina is a great place to collect character studies for both writers and painters. Sit in the piazza and you will see people of every shape and hue.

For landscape artists, Cortina has an overabundance of subject matter: the alpine flowers that blanket the surrounding Dolomiti Mountains are spectacular, as are the nearby alpine lakes that reflect the majestic Dolomiti. The colorful and fanciful Tyrolean architecture, complete with flower-laden window boxes, will make you wonder if you had driven too far north and ended up in Innsbruck.  

If you want the best views, take the cable car, Freccia nel Cielo, (Arrow in the Sky).  There are three stations where you can get off and have a picnic, write, paint, or daydream.  I like to go to the top station, Tofana di Mezzo, at 10,543 feet.  From Tofana on a clear day, you can see as far as Venice.

If you go, even in summer the weather at the top can be brisk, so bring a sweater or jacket, along with water and snacks if you plan to linger for a while. If you’re an artist, pack your supplies as light as possible.

The painting above is a house outside Cortina. We spotted the house on a previous visit and for some reason, I can’t remember what, I didn’t stop to sketch it or photograph it. The house remained in my mind, and so a year later we returned to Cortina, and I photographed this little jewel and later painted it in watercolor. 

Buon Viaggio!

The original painting is a 12”x16” watercolor on 140-pound Arches cold press paper. It is available for purchase on my art website: http://www.PamelaAllegretto-franz.com  or contact me here.

Quality giclee prints from greeting card size to poster size, mugs, tote bags, and additional swag can be purchased on my print site: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/cortina-d-ampezzo-pamela-allegretto.html