Heinrich Berann’s Cortina - VII Olympic Winter Games panorama is an exquisite fusion of art and alpine cartography, created at the very moment Cortina d’Ampezzo stepped onto the world stage in 1956. Composed as a sweeping bird’s-eye view, it captures the crystalline geometry of the Dolomites while guiding the eye naturally to Cortina, framed by a symphony of ridgelines. The multilingual title—Italian, French, English, and German—announces its cosmopolitan purpose, welcoming visitors from across Europe and beyond. Berann balances practicality and romance: ski areas are lucidly plotted, yet the scene glows with gradient tones that suggest winter light sliding over snow. The Olympic rings discreetly proclaim the occasion, underscoring the map’s dual life as a working guide and an elegant souvenir of a storied alpine Games.

The geography unfolds with operatic clarity. To the west, the Tofane massif dominates, its Tofana di Rozes ramparts anchoring a stage on which alpine drama would play out. Southward, Pelmo rises with sculptural poise, while Civetta and Monte Pore extend the horizon in a rhythm of crenellated peaks. Eastward, Mte. Cristallo and the Col de Varda stand sentinel over Misurina and the mirror-bright Lago di Misurina; beyond lie Auronzo di Cadore and the pale terrace of the Altipiano delle Marmarole. Passo Falzarego and Passo Giau open classic approach routes, and Malga Ra Stua nestles amid forested slopes. Even distant Cima Tosa appears, a nod to the greater Dolomite cosmos that frames Cortina’s amphitheater of snow and stone.

Berann threads the ski experience into this drama with elegant precision. Named pistes—100, 101, and 102—are clearly delineated, their arcs and fall lines rendered with the intuitive legibility that made his panoramas indispensable to winter sports enthusiasts. Routes glide across the flanks of Tofane and sweep toward Cristallo and Col de Varda, giving skiers and spectators alike a confident sense of orientation. The town of Cortina is the nexus, with approaches fanning outward to San Vito di Cadore and the high passes. Historically resonant details abound: Lago di Misurina, shown in crystalline poise, served as the stage for Olympic speed skating, while the surrounding slopes hosted marquee alpine disciplines—each venue elegantly situated in the broader mountain choreography.

As a historical document, the map freezes a transformative winter. The VII Olympic Winter Games were among the first to be televised across Europe, projecting Cortina’s luminous scenery to a new mass audience and cementing Italy’s postwar renaissance in the Alps. The Soviet Union made its Winter Olympics debut here, reshaping competitive narratives and heralding a new era in sport. Berann’s multilingual labels speak to the Games’ internationalism, while the Olympic rings punctuate the sheet with quiet authority. Together, these elements preserve a precise cultural moment: mid-century Cortina as both glamorous resort and global arena, where the Dolomites became a shared visual language for sport, travel, and aspiration.

This panorama is also a milestone in the evolution of mountain mapping. Under the Siglaeffe–Berann imprint, Heinrich Berann perfected a style that fused exacting topography with a painter’s command of atmosphere. His gradient colors convey time of day and seasonality, deepening valleys and lifting summits with cinematic perspective. Decorative flourishes remain subordinate to clarity, yet they enrich the scene—the sinuous piste tracings, the crystalline lakes, the disciplined typography in four languages. For collectors, it is both an objet d’art and a touchstone of Olympic heritage; for connoisseurs of alpine cartography, it exemplifies the Berann ethos: precision that breathes, scenery that instructs, and a landscape translated into pure visual music.

Places on this map

• Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Tofane (Mountain)
• Pelmo (Mountain)
• Misurina
• Mte. Cristallo
• Col de Varda
• Lago di Misurina
• Piste 100
• Piste 101
• Piste 102
• Auronzo di Cadore
• Cima Tosa
• San Vito di Cadore
• Passo Falzarego
• Tofana di Rozes
• Civetta
• Monte Pore
• Malga Ra Stua
• Passo Giau
• Altipiano delle Marmarole

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Detailed representation of ski pistes and trails.
• Major surrounding peaks like Tofane and Pelmo.
• The town of Cortina clearly marked.
• Olympic rings highlighting the event.
• Multilingual labels enhancing accessibility.
• Aesthetic embellishments that reflect the cartographer’s artistic style.
• Gradient colors depicting the time of day and seasonality.

Historical and design context

• Created in 1956 by Heinrich Berann; published under the Siglaeffe–Berann imprint.
• Produced for the VII Olympic Winter Games at Cortina d’Ampezzo, serving as a practical ski guide and collectible souvenir.
• Multilingual title (Italian, French, English, German) reflecting international appeal.
• Dramatic bird’s-eye panoramic style with vibrant colors and detailed illustrations emphasizing mountainous terrain and ski pistes.
• Blends functional ski information (areas, routes, significant peaks) with decorative elements for collectors.
• Documents the 1956 Winter Olympics and Cortina’s cultural significance as a premier ski destination.
• Berann is renowned for panoramic ski maps that capture the essence of mountainous regions.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.