Belvedere - Col Rodella - Passo Sella - Passo Pordoi ski area

Belvedere - Col Rodella - Passo Sella - Passo Pordoi ski area

Belvedere and Col Rodella: a story that continues on skis. 

Skiing has been part of life here for generations. In Canazei, the first ski lift began operating in 1947 and, ever since, Belvedere has accompanied the development of skiing throughout the Val di Fassa, eventually becoming, together with Col Rodella, part of the Sellaronda ski circuit. 

Although there are two separate access points, from Canazei and Campitello, the two sides of the ski area run almost parallel before converging at Pian Frataces, better known as Lupo Bianco, on the road to the Pordoi and Sella passes, creating one large, interconnected ski area. 
Down in the valley, the two villages are also well connected by ski bus, so you can choose where to start each day. Once you reach the higher slopes, it becomes immediately clear why Belvedere and Col Rodella are renowned far beyond the Dolomites. Sella, Pordoi, Sassolungo and the Marmolada, the Queen: mountains that, even in the early days of tourism, captivated mountaineers, scholars and travellers from across half of Europe. There is no need to scan the horizon for the perfect peak: they are practically always right in front of you. 

The ski area is ideal for those who are already confident on skis. From Col dei Rossi and Col Rodella, you can ski all the way down to Pian Frataces without stopping: minutes of continuous skiing on predominantly red slopes, with changing gradients, lines and pace. On Belvedere, the black Diego run is the one to try if you enjoy technical terrain. From Col Rodella, meanwhile, the 3-Tre follows the course of the Val Salei for more than 3 km. In such a large ski area, good signposting is essential. The ski routes are clearly marked, which is particularly useful when the number of options starts to multiply. And that is precisely what makes it so easy to change your plans as you go. You can spend the whole day on the Belvedere and Col Rodella slopes, reach the Ciampac - Buffaure ski area via the Panorama ski tour, or join the Sellaronda and continue towards Arabba and the Marmolada or, in the opposite direction, towards Val Gardena. Simply choose a direction and the landscape changes completely. 

For those looking for something a little more playful, Belvedere is home to the Ski FunArena Canazei, with Funslope and Funcross, banked turns, bumps, small obstacles and interactive features. They are perfect for children and teenagers - and, why not, for adults who fancy a break from the usual runs now and then. 

For first-time skiers, however, Belvedere and Col Rodella can be challenging: busy slopes, plenty of options and predominantly intermediate runs mean that a certain level of preparation is needed. That is why there are two dedicated ski school areas in the valley: the Avisio drag lift in Canazei, next to the Canazei Ski School training area, and the Col de Lin drag lift in Campitello, with its own training area. A particularly useful feature is that you can start learning to ski right in the village, without having to venture into the main ski area straight away. 

Between Belvedere and Col Rodella, there is everything from mountain huts to chalets with an almost sophisticated atmosphere, and from Ladin cuisine to dishes you might not expect to find up here. And then there is something you will never find on the menu: the view. Live, of course. You can head straight back out onto the slopes, or give lunch all the time it deserves. 

If you fancy seeing the whole landscape from above, you can take the cable car from Passo Pordoi up to Sass Pordoi, at 2,950 metres, and visit the Terrace of the Dolomites. A detour from the skiing that, in itself, gives you a sense of the scale of the landscape you are surrounded by. 

Belvedere and Col Rodella are not exactly the ski areas to choose if you are looking for peace and quiet on empty slopes. They are lively and full of skiers from all over the world. But it is precisely this energy, combined with the quality of the skiing, the variety of the runs and their location within the Sellaronda, that makes them such iconic destinations for skiing in the Dolomites. 

When it is time to head back, follow the Del Bosco run from Belvedere, which descends all the way to Canazei, practically to the doorstep of the historic centre. You only take your skis off at the very end. Then the après-ski begins. 

The Val di Fassa/Carezza, Valle Silver and Dolomiti Superski ski passes are valid in the Belvedere - Col Rodella ski area.