Cortina has set itself the goal of becoming a tourist destination accessible and inclusive for all, beyond the Olympics. From the community's commitment, a practical guide to the city was born. Cortina has set itself the goal of becoming a tourist destination accessible and inclusive for all, beyond the Olympics. From the community's commitment, a practical guide to the city was born.
Three years ago, ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games currently taking place in 2026, Cortina d'Ampezzo launched the "Cortina per tutti" programme with the aim of becoming a model destination for accessibility and inclusion. It was the starting point of a programme of urban and cultural transformation that now looks beyond the sporting event, to make the city welcoming and enjoyable for everyone, all year round.
"The most important legacy of the Games is not measured solely in the works built or the events hosted, but in the change they are able to generate in people and in territories – declared Roberta Alverà, deputy mayor of Cortina d'Ampezzo – The intangible Olympic legacy is made up of values, new awareness and a sense of belonging that endures well beyond the end of the competitions."
Regional guidelines and Plans for the Elimination of Architectural Barriers (Peba) provided the technical and operational foundation for this commitment, identifying critical issues and concrete actions to improve mobility, pedestrian routes and access to services. A concrete summary of the work carried out can be found in the Accessible Hospitality Guide to Cortina, produced using the Destination4All protocol by Village for All.
The guide is not simply a list of accessible facilities, but a tool for participation – a civic compass that orients choices and behaviours, bringing together the public and private sectors around a shared objective. Tourism operators, hoteliers, shopkeepers and residents were all involved, called upon to become active and responsible contributors to the creation of a network of conscious hospitality.
"Inclusion, diversity and participation are the principles that inspire this journey – deputy mayor Alverà added – The Olympics and Paralympics remind us that the strength of a community lies in its capacity to embrace every difference and transform it into shared value. It is from this awareness that the commitment to making our territory more accessible, more open, more human is born. The guide is a sign of a town that has chosen to set out together, towards a more inclusive future."
From museums to nature trails, from restaurants to hotels, the guide indicates, for example, where pets and guide dogs are welcome, where braille menus or menus for coeliac guests are available, but also organic options, where lifts, ramps or wheelchair-accessible bikes can be found, and where play areas, baby-changing facilities or highchairs for children are available. The guide highlights good practices already in place and encourages those who still need to improve, providing clear criteria, training and support.