Cinque Torri

Cinque Torri
Elevation	2,361 m (7,746 ft)
Location
Location	Province of Belluno,  Italy
Range	Dolomites
Coordinates	46°29′53″N 12°03′30″E / 46.497937°N 12.058425°E / 46.497937; 12.058425Coordinates: 46°29′53″N 12°03′30″E / 46.497937°N 12.058425°E / 46.497937; 12.058425

Cinque Torri (sometimes named also Cinque Torri di Averau; German: Fünf Türme) are a small group belonging to Nuvolao group,^[1] in the Dolomiti Ampezzane (part of the Eastern Dolomites) north-west of San Vito di Cadore and south-west of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Description

Cinque Torri, as all the other mountains in the area, are made of Dolomia, with a particular pale grey colour. The group is formed by five towers (which give the name to the mountain) with a maximum elevation of 2.361 m (Torre Grande). Every "tower" has its own name:

• Torre Grande, the highest one has three very appealing peaks for rock climbers: Cima Nord, Cima Sud e Cima Ovest;
• Torre Seconda, also named Torre del Barancio or Torre Romana;
• Terza Torre, or Torre Latina;
• Quarta Torre, formed by two blocks of rock with different height, respectively called then Torre Quarta Bassa and Torre Quarta Alta;
• Quinta Torre, or Torre Inglese.

They are located in the south-west area of the valley of Cortina d'Ampezzo, north of the Averau mountain, which Cinque Torri can be considered part of.

Summer and Winter activities

In the Cinque Torri area there are the following rifugi (mountain hut):

• Rifugio Cinque Torri, m 2.137
• Rifugio Scoiattoli, m 2.255

During summer it is possible to do excursions in the woods and on paths, among which it is worth to mention Alta Via 1 of the Dolomites, the "Muraglia di Giau" (along the border between comuni of Cortina and San Vito di Cadore, itineraries towards Nuvolau e il Passo Giau and the historical path in the trenches of the World War I.

The towers also provide good and popular rock climbing with various routes at a range of grades up all of the towers.

In winter, Cinque Torri are a very important ski area, whose tracks belong to the wider Dolomiti Superski area. Therefore, they are connected to the nearby mountains Lagazuoi and Col Gallina. Until a few years ago it was possible to ski only towards Lagazuoi - Col Gallina - Cinque Torri, but starting from winter season 2008-2009 it is possible also to go from the Cinque Torri area to the higher area of Falzarego Pass by mean of the lift "Croda Negra" and the corresponding track beyond Averau mountain.

History

This area was theater of conflicts between italian and austro-hungarian troups during World War I; countless testimonies of the fighting and of the war shelters built by the italian army are present and have been recently restructured to create interesting historical itineararies.

Notes

1. ^ According to SOIUSA classification they are a alpine group of the alpine subgroup of Dolomiti di Sesto, di Braies e d'Ampezzo.

Bibliography

• AA. VV.: Grande atlante escursionistico delle Dolomiti, Kompass - Fleischmann editori, Trento, 2004. ISBN 3854916078
• Ardito, Stefano: A piedi sulle Dolomiti di Cortina, Iter edizioni, 2001. ISBN 8881770369
• Dibona, Dino: Tutto quello che vorreste (e dovreste) sapere sulle Dolomiti, Newton & Compton editori, 2005. ISBN 8854104841

External links

• dolomiti.org
• Photo 360°: Cinque Torri, Cinque Torri

See also

• Dolomites
• Cortina d'Ampezzo
• Nuvolau