Sass de Stria
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, 32043
Italian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers once fought bloody battles over Sass de Stria, a craggy mountain located east of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the heart of the Dolomites region. A memorial museum pays tribute to the fighting, and restored military tunnels, trenches, and fortifications create open-air attractions—but the mountain’s biggest draw is first-class sport: climbing.
The basics
Visit the Dolomites region near Cortina d’Ampezzo, and you’ll encounter countless options for hiking and rock climbing. This smallish mountain peak stands out with its restored fortifications and a via ferrata passing significant World War I sites in the Dolomites. When here, keep two mountain passes in mind: the Tre Sassi Fort, a World War I museum near Sass de Stria, a good spot to start with, and Falzarego Pass, where some rock climbing tours meet.
Things to know before you go
The mountain has more than two dozen easy sport climbing routes, making it popular among less experienced climbers.
The Tre Sassi Museum (officially the Museum of the Great War) is open from mid-June through September.
The Cobertaldo-Pezzotti route on the south edge is more challenging.
Fees or permits aren’t required to climb.
How to get there
Sass de Stria lies just west of Cortina d’Ampezzo near the Veneto and Trentino–South Tyrol border. To reach the mountain, head to Falzarego Pass, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Cortina d’Ampezzo. Continue toward Valparola Pass and park near a large roadside boulder, where a path leads down to the cliff. From Val Badia, follow the route past the Museum of the Great War.
When to get there
Summer is the best season for climbing the Sass de Stria cliff, as favorable weather at more than 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) keeps the wall warm. By afternoon, the wall shifts into shade, ideal for climbers. Snow remains long into spring, making early-season climbing difficult. The Museum of the Great War is open only in summer.
Hiking on Sass de Stria
When rock climbing isn’t in your plans, you can slip on hiking boots and hit the trails on Sass de Stria. Your best bet is to start with the Sasso di Stria via Forte Tre Sassi trail, a roughly 1.5-mile (2.4 kilometers) out-and-back trail to the summit—be prepared for a challenging climb past the characteristic WWI trenches and tunnels and short sections along ropes and ladders.
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