Canazei is a municipality with 2,000 inhabitants in the upper Val di Fassa
Canazei, "Cianacéi" in Ladin, includes the hamlets of Alba, Gries and Penia and is situated at approximately 1,450 m a.s.l. It serves as an important crossroads where roads to various Dolomite mountain passes converge: the road to Passo Sella to reach the Val Gardena, Passo Pordoi towards Arabba and Alta Badia and Passo Fedaia to Alleghe. The local inhabitants speak dolomitic Ladin. The village stands out for its characteristic squares and streets and a cuckoo clock in the main square. The church of St. Florian rises in the historic centre and was probably built in 1570, although it was first mentioned in documents from 1572. The monument was consecrated in 1603 and the bell tower was added only in 1625. On the western wall you can admire a fresco of St. Florian, whereas on the eastern wall there is a sundial dating back to 1773 by a man known as "Gaudaner" which was renovated in 1977. The church can be visited also with a guide.
Thanks to its proximity to the imposing Marmolada and the Sella Group, Canazei is a popular holiday resort. An extensive network of paths crosses the Sella, Sassolungo, Pordoi and Marmolada mountain groups, attracting thousands of hikers from all over the world each year. Experienced alpinists can tackle the challenging vie ferrate and conquer the highest peaks. Other sports you can practise in Canazei are mountain biking, cycling along the cycling route leading to the Fiemme valley, swimming at the swimming pool and wellness centre Dolaòndes and paragliding.
The village's strong suit, however, is the winter season: Canazei is directly connected to the Alpa Ciampac and the Belvedere Pordoi skiing areas, as well as to the pistes of the Dolomiti Superski carousel. From here you can also access the slopes of the Sellaronda, a world-famous ski circuit. The cutting-edge ski lifts and well-prepared ski slopes will leave winter sports lovers speechless, making them fall in love with the area. In winter you can also undertake snowshoe hikes and ski mountaineering tours or practise snowboarding, cross-country skiing and ice-skating at the ice stadium in Alba.
