Cinque Torri
Five pale dolomite towers rise from a high plateau above Cortina, their silhouettes so distinct that climbers have been naming individual summits since the early 1900s. The tallest, Torre Grande, tops out at 2,361 metres and splits into three separate peaks. Walk the circuit at their base and you pass through two histories at once: the geological one, 228 million years in the making, and the human one, written in barbed wire and stone shelters between 1915 and 1917.
The towers themselves are free to wander around. A chairlift from Bai de Dones deposits you near Rifugio Scoiattoli at 2,255 m, and from there the rock formations are immediately in front of you. The WWI open-air museum — the largest of its kind in the Dolomites — threads between the towers on four marked routes.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who return tend to time it for early morning, before the chairlift crowds arrive. The shortest museum loop (M5a, around 20 minutes) is worth doing even if you plan to hike the full two-hour Giro delle 5 Torri — the reconstructed Galleria del Goiginger puts the scale of the conflict into immediate physical terms. Rifugio Cinque Torri, down at 2,137 m, is the quieter lunch stop.
The story behind Cinque Torri
Dolomite formed here during the Upper Triassic, roughly 228 million years ago, on shallow carbonate platforms; tectonic stress along vertical faults eventually carved the five distinct towers. Climbers arrived early: Angelo Dibona and Amedeo Girardi made the first ascent of Torre Quarta Alta and Bassa in 1911, and within two years routes had been established on Torre Romana, Torre del Barancio, and Torre Lusy. The Albergo Cinque Torri had already opened in 1904, with mountaineers documented there as early as March 1902.
World War I transformed the plateau. Between 1915 and 1917, the Italian Brigata Reggio used the towers as its primary command and observation post against Austro-Hungarian forces, constructing barracks, bunkers, and the Galleria del Goiginger. After the war, the property passed to the Italian Alpine Club, then was purchased in 1937 by gamekeeper Pietro Alberti, whose family still runs the rifugio today.
Good to know
Take the bus from Cortina to Passo Falzarego, or drive to Bai de Dones. Chairlift runs roughly mid-June to early October (09:00–16:45) and again in winter; €24 return. The forest road from Cianzopè closes mid-June to late September — a paid shuttle (€10 one-way) covers the gap. Entrance to the site and the WWI museum is free.
Snow can linger on the trails into early June, and the high plateau catches afternoon thunderstorms in July and August. Late June through September offers the most reliable window; October brings sharp cold and early snow but often clear skies and empty paths.
Where is Cinque Torri?
Location
- In Cortina d'Ampezzo
- 46.5083, 12.0583
- Open in Google Maps
Rating
4.9 ★ · 1,169 Google reviews
More tickets & tours for Cinque Torri
Book directly at the provider
What travellers say about Cinque Torri
The lift was closed, so I drove up to the parking lot near 5 Torri. The road is quite steep and narrow, and parking spaces are very limited. Some hikers walk all the way from the base, but unless you’re well-prepared, I’d strongly recommend taking the lift instead. It takes about 1–2 hours to explore the peaks and wartime bunkers, with both easy and more challenging trails available. This was my absolute favorite destination in the Dolomites — the scenery and atmosphere were truly unforgettable.
50 euros for a gondola ride for two adults and one child in July (both ways). There’s a bar and a restaurant on top which serves great food. Not cheap but all well worth the money.
To me this was the best hike of the entire trip, not full and you can see a lot of historical WWI places and bunkers. Very nice - the cinque Torri Refugio is also a must
Visited in late September, foggy and rainy weather created moody views. Even with limited visibility, the rock formations looked impressive. The WWI trenches and open-air museum add interesting history to the hike.
Perfect place for a walk (even with children) 🧑🧑🧒🧒👍 You can take a cable car here and then enjoy trekking with beautiful views from the mountains. One trek is around Cinque Torri, so you can see the rocks from all sides Plus, there's a great restaurant at the top of the cable car 😉
More of Cortina d'Ampezzo
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Cortina d'Ampezzo →More attractions in Cortina d'Ampezzo
All of Cortina d'Ampezzo →
Background adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · ratings & place photos via Google · other photos with per-image credit. Ticket links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.