Cruising the Alps:
The Resort
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Hotels
There are three particularly charming hotels in Cortina:
the fashionable and justly famous Hotel de la Poste (ph: 0436-4271,
Fax: 0436-868435). The Hotel de la Posta, or simply "Posta"
dates back to the last century. Its bar is the equivalent of Harry's
Bar in Venice: same people and same cocktails. It is the most fashionable
place in town.
Hotel Menardi (ph: 0436-2400, Fax: 0436-862183). During the Hapsburg
period the Menardi was a tavern where the stagecoach drivers would stop
off for refreshments. Today it is a hotel furnished with period pieces
and with the good taste of times past.
The Hotel Ancora (ph: 0436-3261, Fax: 0436-3265), half way down
Corso Italia, is cosy and intimate. Its interior has wood panelled ceilings,
majolica tiles and painted furniture.
Cocktails à la Poste
It is the most fashionable meeting place in town and also the place where
the best cocktails are served. Once there was Mr. Hausamann, a barman
from the Cipriani (Harry's Bar in Venice) school, and it was a ritual to
have him prepare your drink. Today there is Mr. Di Franco at the bar to
suggest the Puccini (champagne and mandarin juice), the Acapulco (Tequila,
Aperol, dry vermouth and lemon juice), the Dolomiti (white "grappa"
(eau-de-vie) strawberry and mint syrup) and the de la Posta (vodka, lemon
juice, strawberries and Brut, sparking wine). Hot little toasts with cheese,
ham and mustard are served with the cocktails.
The gourmand stops
The intimate and romantic Tivoli (via Lacedel 34, ph: 0436-866400)
presents, among various elaborate dishes, radicchio- and mushroom-filled
flaky pastry pies, veal tongue with herbs, and goat au gratin. At night,
dining by candle light, while during the day there is the stupendous
view on the Faloria and the town, with the Cristallo in the background.
In the two halls of the Beppe Sello Restaurant (Via Ronco 68,
ph: 0436-3236) they have been serving, for many years now, the typical
local dishes such as the excellent green and red "casunzei"
(dumplings filled with turnips and poppy seeds), and filet with cured,
smoked ham. The Lovatt pastry shop (Corso Italia 57) pleases
everyone with it chocolate filled "cannoli" and little stuffed
pizzas.
Shopping
Corso Italia is a fashionable runway. There are so many designer boutiques
that It 's hard to count them; starting from the classic fashions at Bredo
Donna and ending with the trendier ones at Dgranczuk. Antique lovers can browse in Zanettin's and La Ruota
, which has a beautiful collection of antique jewellery.
The Cooperative di Consumo began as a simple emporium, and now it's
become Cortina 's Harrod's. A real institution, where one can find the
best of everything. At Antoniol one can purchase artistic
linen upholstering fabrics, which decorate the furniture in all of Cortina's
villas. Giacobbi is the place to go for loden and felted wool jackets.
Leisure time
The alternative to the Posta is the Enoteca Cortina, a wine tasting cellar
which has a wide assortment of wines. The
setting is intimate, rustic and pleasant, with wooden stools and benches.
One can also spend the evening skating to music on the Olympic ice-skating
rink. The Hyppo in Largo della Posta, the Area in the Ronco
district (especially for the very young) and VIP at the Hotel Europa
are the trendiest places in town and are always crowded in the evening.
  
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