{"id":3138,"date":"2026-11-12T09:43:02","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T09:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.d4u.house\/blog\/?p=3138"},"modified":"2026-11-12T09:43:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T09:43:06","slug":"cima-tofana-di-mezzo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.d4u.house\/blog\/en\/cima-tofana-di-mezzo\/","title":{"rendered":"Cima Tofana di Mezzo: Your guide to the Dolomites’ third-highest peak"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Very few 3,000-metre summits in the Alps let you go from a town centre to the top in about 30 minutes, but Cima Tofana di Mezzo<\/strong> is one of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It rises to 3,244 metres above Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the Freccia nel Cielo cable car takes you almost all the way up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll start by explaining what the mountain is. Next, we\u2019ll look at the hiking routes and via ferrata climbs that lead to the top, and then we\u2019ll show you how the cable car works. Finally, we\u2019ll help you plan your trip so you get there in good weather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is Cima Tofana di Mezzo worth the trip?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the summit you can see the Cortina basin, Monte Cristallo to the east, the Marmolada glacier to the south-west and, on clear days, peaks across the Austrian border. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get there, you can ride the whole way up, combine the cable car with a short summit path, or earn the view on one of the Dolomites’ toughest via ferrata routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is Cima Tofana di Mezzo? Height, history and key facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cima Tofana di Mezzo<\/strong> is the highest of the three Tofane, the huge group of limestone peaks on the western side of Cortina d’Ampezzo<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only the Marmolada (3,343 m) and Monte Antelao<\/a> (3,264 m) stand higher in the whole Dolomites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mountain lies within the Ampezzo Dolomites Natural Park, and the area has been part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site since 26 June 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peak<\/th>Also known as<\/th>Height<\/th>First ascent<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Tofana di Mezzo<\/td>Tofana II<\/td>3,244 m<\/td>1863<\/td><\/tr>
Tofana di Dentro<\/td>Tofana III<\/td>3,238 m<\/td>1865<\/td><\/tr>
Tofana di Rozes<\/td>Tofana I<\/td>3,225 m<\/td>1864<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Austrian climber Paul Grohmann<\/em> and the Cortina hunter Francesco Lacedelli<\/em> made the first known ascent on 29 August 1863. Grohmann<\/em> measured the summit at 3,269 metres, only 25 metres off the modern figure. Half a century later, the Tofane were on the front line of the First World War. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops fought across these ridges, and you’ll still find tunnels, trenches and wartime paths, especially on Tofana di Rozes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lower slopes have a sporting history too. The Olimpia delle Tofane run below the peak hosted women’s alpine skiing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lower down, the Bus de Tofana<\/a> rock arch is one of the most photographed spots on the massif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiking routes and via ferrata on Cima Tofana di Mezzo<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The approach you choose depends on your experience, your kit and how much of the day you want to spend on the rock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Route<\/th>Start<\/th>Time<\/th>Difficulty<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Summit path from the top station<\/td>Cima Tofana terrace (3,191 m)<\/td>About 15 minutes<\/td>Easy but exposed, with steel cables<\/td><\/tr>
Via ferrata Gianni Aglio<\/td>Doss de Tofana (about 2,900 m), from Ra Valles<\/td>About 3 hours 30 minutes<\/td>Difficult<\/td><\/tr>
Via ferrata Giuseppe Olivieri to Punta Anna (2,731 m)<\/td>Rifugio Pomedes (2,303 m)<\/td>About 4 hours<\/td>Experts only<\/td><\/tr>
Olivieri and Aglio combined<\/td>Rifugio Pomedes<\/td>5 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours<\/td>Long and very demanding<\/td><\/tr>
Via ferrata Lamon<\/td>Tofana di Dentro summit<\/td>Around 80 minutes for the ferrata, 6 to 7 hours from the car park<\/td>Moderate ferrata, long day overall<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Olivieri<\/strong> is widely seen as one of the finest via ferrata routes in the Dolomites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It climbs the steep, almost fully cabled south ridge of Punta Anna<\/strong>, with big drops and views over to Tofana di Rozes<\/strong>. Strong climbers carry on along the Aglio, which has ladders, iron rungs and a famously airy traverse before the summit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people then ride the cable car down rather than walking. If you’d like an easier warm-up first, the Pomagagnon via ferrata<\/a> on the other side of Cortina is a good test of your head for heights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If ferrata isn’t for you, there’s still plenty of walking around the middle stations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rifugio Giussani (2,580 m), Rifugio Dibona (2,083 m) and the paths around Col Drusci\u00e8 all connect to the wider network of hiking trails in the Dolomites<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Must-do checklist before you climb<\/h3>\n\n\n\n