For Your Eyes Only: the glamour of Cortina d’Ampezzo with James Bond

Cortina and its surroundings truly are like something out of a film. The Pomagnon mountain range, Mount Cristallo, the area of the Cinque Torri between the Falzarego and Giau passes, Croda da Lago, Nuvolau in front of Passo Giau, and the Tofane. We’re in the heart of the Ampezzo Dolomites Natural Park. This area alone, surrounded by the Dolomite peaks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, would be enough to justify Cortina’s appeal and its reputation as the Pearl of the Dolomites. Cortina also stands for luxury, history and sport. Here lies the allure of the earliest grand hotels, built between the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the area was still under Austrian rule, such as the one where the great American novelist Ernest Hemingway loved to stay. 

But this itinerary is all about 007, and some of the most famous scenes from For Your Eyes Only were filmed in glamorous Cortina, where the agent is on the trail of the criminal Locque. 

The scenes shot in the historic Hotel Miramonti are particularly famous and evocative: in one of its rooms, you again see the magnificent view of the Ampezzo Dolomites. The most spectacular, action-packed and daredevil scenes were filmed in other equally historic and important locations in Cortina, such as the old Olympic ski jump and the Olympic Ice Stadium, both used to host the 1956 Olympics and now abandoned. At the former, Agent 007 skis downhill in pursuit of the film’s inevitable assassins, while at the latter, he meets his arch-enemy and his protégée. Even the peaceful Corso Italia, where people usually stroll and shop, will bring to mind scenes of high-octane car chases. 

So wander among the palaces, hotels and buildings that have shaped the history of this world-famous location, following in the footsteps of your favourite secret agent. 

Before heading to the next stop, make sure you visit one of the most famous historical buildings, the Ciaṣa de ra Regoles, where “Regoles” refers to the ancient mountain communities that have managed these unique Alpine lands for centuries.

In short, enjoy Cortina and “its” Dolomites, which are different from those of all the neighbouring valleys (though no less beautiful), at the pace of a retro action film – a film that you’ll be the star of. 

All the glamour of 1980s Cortina is beautifully epitomised by Bond (Roger Moore) driving his Lotus through the snow, with spectacular shots of the Ampezzo Dolomites in the background, while a  funky soundtrack accompanies shots of futuristic and retro buildings. At the time, Cortina was a status symbol, a place where wealthy Italians from the north went skiing and spent their famous “Settimana Bianca”. Part of the appeal also stems from the 1956 Winter Olympics, which will be hosted here again in 2026.

At 3,243 metres, Tofana di Mezzo (or Tofana II) is the highest peak in the Tofane group of the Dolomites and the fourth highest in the Dolomites as a whole. It has normal routes and via ferrata routes, making this the perfect place for mountaineering enthusiasts. Even mere mortals can still reach the top, albeit 50 metres lower down, thanks to the “Freccia del cielo” cable car, which has three sections and departs from Cortina, near the stadium. 

The view from Tofana di Mezzo is breathtaking, stretching from the ridges bordering Austria and its glaciers to the other peaks of the Dolomites and the Venetian Lagoon. 

Here, at an altitude of over 3,000 metres, overlooking the Boite Valley, James Bond meets his contact in the 1981 film. This valley, 007 aside, is an unmissable stop on your itinerary. 

The gentle or, at times, impetuous flow of the Boite river gives its name to the valley that stretches from Cortina up to San Vito di Cadore. Perhaps these fast-flowing waters could have provided the setting for another spectacular chase between Bond and his assassins. You can imagine him driving his Lotus along the road that winds up the valley, passing through the small villages of Cadore, rich in history and beauty: Valle, Cibiana and San Vito. Without the construction of this road, the Strada di Alemagna, which was only completed in the early 19th century, such a pursuit would have been unimaginable: the only route from the Piave Valley was by water, passing through the small village of Valle di Cadore and ascending from Perarolo along the Boite river. The sturdy trunks of the leafy trees of Ampezzo were transported as far as Venice and its Lido. 

The old part of the town lies along the street known as Via Romana: further evidence of the village’s historical origins. In Cibiana, meanwhile, prepare to be amazed by a special kind of open-air museum. The village offers a unique combination of rustic architecture and murals, over 50 of which have been painted on the façades of houses since 1980, depicting scenes of local life. Finally, treat yourself to a break in San Vito di Cadore, pausing to admire the beauty of the Dolomites. A coffee in the square and the view of the small lake of Mosigo, which the village seems to be perched on, will help you recharge your batteries before you set off on new adventures. 

Here we are. Perhaps the most adrenaline-filled part of your entire itinerary awaits you, straight out of the set of For Your Eyes Only, in a place that forms an integral part of the collective imagination of Cortina’s residents and beyond: the spectacular Eugenio Monti bobsleigh track, named after the multiple Olympic and world champion, now dismantled and never rebuilt. It was here that the 1956 Cortina Winter Olympics took place, as well as the Bobsleigh World Championships. 

The track still has its undeniable charm. Thinking back to the film, it’s impossible not to remember Roger Moore’s charisma and the early special effects with fast-paced, action-packed scenes. The Eugenio Monti track is famous because it was here that Roger Moore tackled the descent, on skis rather than in a bobsleigh, trying to shake off East German biathlete Erich Kriegler (John Wyman) and his henchmen. It’s an unforgettable scene even today, despite all the drone footage and computer-generated post-production we’re used to seeing. Unfortunately, sometimes reality is even tougher than the most spectacular and action-packed fiction: during the filming of the chase scene on the bobsleigh track, Italian stuntman Paolo Rigon lost his life.