Marmolada Glacier

The Marmolada is the highest peak in the Dolomites at 3,343 metres and home to the only glacier in the range. From Canazei, the Malga Ciapèla cable car climbs in three stages to Punta Rocca, a few metres below the summit, with a panoramic terrace that takes in the whole Dolomite skyline on a clear day.

In winter, the glacier offers the Bellunese, a 12 km descent that is the longest single ski run in the Dolomites. In summer, the cable car runs for sightseeing and access to a small museum about the First World War front. The glacier is shrinking fast and may not be skiable in another generation.

things to do sight
A story
The Marmolada was the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary in the First World War. Italian soldiers tunnelled an entire 'City of Ice' inside the glacier, with kitchens, dormitories, and command rooms; remnants still appear as the ice retreats. In July 2022, a section of the glacier collapsed, killing eleven hikers — a stark sign of how rapidly it is melting.