Photographing the sunrise among the snowy peaks

The photogenic peaks of the Dolomites do not betray photography enthusiasts even in winter. The snow-covered Alpine crown is an exceptional spectacle, and at dawn, when the first rays of the sun begin to burn the white peaks and the Dolomite rock that remains uncovered on the steep cliffs, the landscape becomes breathtaking.

A fabulous point to watch the sunrise between the snow-capped peaks is the Valparola Pass. It is located between Val Badia and Cortina, and can be reached by a panoramic road that also touches the picturesque village of San Cassiano. After a winding uphill road, you arrive at the Valparola refuge, at an altitude of 2168 meters, and admire a beautiful view over the snow-covered valley dotted with small towns on one side and a route between the remote peaks and Alpine passes on the other.

Arriving before dawn, driving through the snow walls that flank the road in winter, you can enjoy a wonderful blue hour with the snows starting to light up in warmer white, and the sky ranging from deep blue to the first warm nuances of dawn. At this hour the road is almost deserted, with the exception of a few sparse road maintenance vehicles, a few shelter workers shoveling the snow and a few early skiers preparing to start climbing.

It is worth continuing up to the Falzarego Pass: after this point, where the Lagazuoi cable car arrives, the road creeps into the valleys and you lose the perspective that sweeps up to the most distant mountains.

From here, you can admire an exceptional, white panorama: the first rays of sunshine hitting the peaks, not only set the snows ablaze pink, but also make the warm colour of the exposed rocks shine, in contrast to the shady areas where the snow is still painted in the cold shades of blue.