What to do in Cortina
Discover the history of curling, learn the basics of the game and find out where you can try itin Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Curling in Cortina d’Ampezzo is much more than a winter sport—it is part of the town’s history and identity.
Cortina’s curling tradition dates back to the 1950s, when local teams began making their mark in the Italian championships. In 1966, the Curling Club 66 Cortina was founded, becoming one of Italy’s most historic curling clubs. Over the years, it has played an important role in developing and promoting the sport, training athletes and representing Cortina at competitions throughout Italy and beyond.
With its clubs, training programs and internationally recognized athletes, Cortina has become one of Italy’s leading curling destinations. Today, visitors can discover the sport for themselves at the Olympic Ice Stadium, where qualified instructors offer introductory lessons for beginners.
Curling is a team sport played on a sheet of ice. Two teams take turns sliding polished granite stones toward a circular target known as the house.
The goal is to place your team’s stones as close as possible to the center of the target. As each stone travels across the ice, teammates can sweep in front of it to influence its speed and direction.
Behind this seemingly simple action lies a highly technical and strategic sport that requires:
A curling match is divided into rounds called ends. During each end, the two teams alternate in delivering their stones.
Once all the stones have been played, the team with the stone closest to the center of the house scores. It can earn additional points for every other stone positioned closer to the center than the opposing team’s best stone.
Each player has a specific role. The skip, usually the team captain, determines the strategy and directs teammates on where and how to play each shot.
Curling is often described as “chess on ice” because every shot must be planned not only for its immediate result, but also with the next moves in mind.
Curling activities take place at the Olympic Ice Stadium, just a few minutes’ walk from the center of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Built for the 1956 Winter Olympic Games, the stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the ice hockey and figure skating competitions. Over the years, it has played an important role in the history of Italian curling through training sessions, tournaments and international events, including the 2010 World Men’s Curling Championship.
Seventy years after Cortina’s first Winter Games, the venue returned to the international stage as the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, hosting the curling competitions of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Today, it remains one of the most important symbols of Cortina’s Olympic legacy. The stadium continues to host sporting events, training sessions and activities for anyone curious to experience ice sports for the first time.
You do not need to be an experienced athlete to try curling. Introductory lessons are designed for complete beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of the game.
The experience begins with an introduction to the rules. The instructor then demonstrates the correct stance, delivery technique and use of the curling brooms. After practicing individually, participants can split into teams and play a short, instructor-led match, putting their new skills into action.
Curling is an accessible activity that does not require advanced athletic preparation. It is ideal for beginners, groups of friends, families with older children, corporate groups, associations and sports teams—as well as travelers looking for a fun alternative to skiing.
Curling is especially well suited to group activities because every shot requires communication, coordination and a shared strategy.
For this reason, it is often included in team-building experiences, incentive trips, corporate events and training programs. Participants must exchange ideas, make decisions together and work toward a common goal.
Contact us to organize your team-building experience in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Discover Curlingin Cortina d’Ampezzo
Experience one of Cortina’s most iconic sports and step onto the ice of its historic Olympic Stadium, a venue that has played a central role in the town’s sporting history since the 1956 Winter Olympics.
Feel the Olympic spirit and discover the excitement, strategy and teamwork of curling in a truly historic setting.
Contact us to check availability, pricing and participation requirements. We will help you plan every detail of your curling experience.
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