Hidden Gem Travel Destination Recommendation—The Dolomites

The Dolomites, part of the Alps, are located in northeastern Italy. Millions of years ago, this area was an ocean hundreds of meters deep. Due to the constant collision of the African and Eurasian continental plates, the surface gradually uplifted to form mountains. The highest peak, Marmolada, stands at 3,342 meters above sea level and is located in the western part of the region. In 2009, the Dolomites were approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and listed as a natural heritage site. The selection criteria were: the Dolomites are widely considered one of the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world, and their unique "Dolomite landscape" has international geomorphological significance and geological value. Today, magnificent mountain scenery, vertical rock walls, steep cliffs, and scattered, deep, and narrow valleys are everywhere. Walking through them feels like entering an ecological treasure trove. The vertical climate zones have nurtured thousands of unique species of flora and fauna. Dance with chamois and alpine wildflowers, and enjoy the four distinct seasons. The "Garden of God" truly lives up to its name. Between May and June, the snow melts, and nature reawakens. The Dolomites are quickly transformed by spring flowers. If you are hiking, you can see a vast number and variety of alpine flowers: gentians, rhododendrons, edelweiss, and bellflowers, to name a few. Many local flowers are also used in medicine or food, such as for flavoring grappa. You might find its name on the menu of a mountain refuge restaurant... After May, hiking trails are fully open, and alpine huts (Rifugio) offer hot meals and beds, making it the perfect season for hiking. In September and October, when autumn arrives, the meadows turn golden, the mountains are colorful, and the morning mist and light intertwine like an oil painting. This is a photographer's favorite scene, and many classic Dolomites postcards are taken during this time. After the first snow in early October, alpine huts and some cable cars gradually close. For safety and experience considerations, November to May of the following year is not a good season for outdoor hiking and mountaineering. However, as a supplementary alternative, there are 1,200 kilometers of ski slopes and 450 cable cars. Ski enthusiasts from all over the world gather here, enjoying a skiing experience comparable to Switzerland for about 1/3 of the price. History A Symphony of War Remnants and Multiculturalism The Dolomites are not only a natural wonder but also a battlefield where Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire fiercely fought during World War I. To overcome terrain limitations, both sides erected ropes, ladders, and walkways on the cliffs, forming the initial "railways" (Via Ferrata) for rapid troop movement and material transportation. These routes mostly extended along ridges or hidden valleys, offering both strategic concealment and vantage points, such as the "Alta Via 1" connecting Lake Braies and the town of Belluno. After the war, the military routes were gradually abandoned. In the 1930s, local mountaineering clubs began to renovate these paths, reinforcing the ropes and adding safety devices, transforming them into outdoor adventure routes. At the same time, the remaining military huts were converted into alpine huts providing food and accommodation for hikers. Via ferrata routes were equipped with modern safety gear (such as helmets and harnesses), undergoing tourism-oriented infrastructure upgrades. The legacy of war directly transformed into a world-class hiking destination, gaining international recognition and promotion. If we trace the remnants of war, we can still find some clear historical landmarks. For example, Cinque Torri preserves a 5-kilometer-long network of trenches, artillery positions, and tunnel systems, allowing visitors to experience the soldiers' combat environment. Monte Lagazuoi retains officers' quarters, ammunition depots, and cliff fortifications from World War I. The open-air war museum displays rusted weapons, shrapnel, and soldiers' daily necessities, even including boulders shattered by bombs, vividly showcasing the cruelty of war.