UNESCO-listed pale limestone peaks: the three towers of Lavaredo and the knife-edge ridge of Seceda
The Dolomites rise in the north-east of Italy as a sea of pale, jagged peaks above green meadows, and two places capture their drama better than most. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three sheer towers of rock on the border between South Tyrol and the Veneto, are circled by a classic hut-to-hut walk. Seceda, above Ortisei in Val Gardena, is a grassy ridge that tilts upwards and ends in a dramatic line of cliffs facing the needle-like Odle peaks.
Both are accessible to ordinary walkers in summer, by toll road, shuttle bus or cable car, yet feel truly high-Alpine. Come prepared for mountain weather, start early, and you will be rewarded with some of the finest scenery in Europe.
The Dolomites take their name from dolomite, the carbonate rock first described by the French mineralogist Deodat de Dolomieu in the 18th century. Their peaks preserve the remains of ancient tropical reefs and atolls, with rock layers spanning more than 200 million years. In 2009 UNESCO inscribed the Dolomites on the World Heritage List as a serial site of nine mountain systems covering around 142,000 hectares.
The Tre Cime belong to the Northern Dolomites system and Seceda to the Puez-Odle system. Cima Grande, the tallest of the three towers at 2,999 metres, was first climbed in 1869. During the First World War the front line between Italy and Austria-Hungary ran through the Tre Cime area, and trenches, tunnels and memorial plaques still remain. The Odle area is also closely linked with the mountaineer Reinhold Messner, who was born nearby.
This is a multilingual region: in South Tyrol many people speak German and Italian, and in Val Gardena the Ladin language is also spoken, visible in local place names such as Secëda. Mountain farming continues on the high pastures, and family-run huts serve hearty Tyrolean and Ladin dishes. Locals ask visitors to stay on marked paths, leave no litter and respect grazing land, as heavy visitor numbers have put pressure on popular spots.
For the Tre Cime, most walkers start at Rifugio Auronzo and follow the loop around the towers, about 10 km and three to four hours at an easy-to-moderate grade, stopping at the huts for lunch. For Seceda, ride the gondola up from Ortisei or the Col Raiser lift from Santa Cristina and walk the ridge, then descend through meadows dotted with mountain huts.
If you have more time, combine the two with stays in Val Gardena and Val Pusteria, add a sunrise or sunset walk to see the peaks glow red (the Enrosadira), or visit the Tre Cime Nature Park visitor centre in Dobbiaco to learn about the geology and wartime history.
The summer season, from late June to September, is best for hiking, when huts, lifts and shuttle buses operate; July and August are warmest but busiest, and afternoon thunderstorms are common, so start early. June can still have snow on higher paths, while September offers clear air and fewer crowds. Lifts and road access are limited outside the summer and winter seasons, and from late October most high-altitude services close.
Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
The Tre Cime are usually reached from Misurina and Auronzo di Cadore in the Veneto or from Dobbiaco and Sesto in Val Pusteria, where summer buses run towards Rifugio Auronzo. Seceda rises above Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva in Val Gardena, which have many guesthouses and are linked by local buses. Cortina d'Ampezzo lies between the two areas; the nearest major rail hubs are Bolzano and Dobbiaco.
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Italy · 2 nights4★ HotelItaly · 7 nights4★ HotelItaly · 7 nights4★ HotelThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
