If you weren’t already aware of Cortina d’Ampezzo, you likely encountered it this year as the host of the 2026 Winter Olympics. As a result, our collective memory of the mountainous, north-Italian town is defined by adrenaline-fuelled downhill races, perilous snowboarding jumps, and the wolfdog who trespassed on the cross-country skiing course. But in CORTINA, a new series from the photography duo Arturo and Bamboo (Bamboo van Kampen and Arthur Groeneveld), the town takes on an extra dimension.
“The first time we arrived, we were completely surprised as it was unlike anything we’d ever seen before,” they tell Dazed. “The cliché of la dolce vita felt true here.” In their photos, the Italian sun slants across cobbled town squares, and locals take their passeggiata (an elevated evening stroll) with an aura of quiet serenity. That’s not to say there aren’t hints of the town’s unique sporting legacy, though, which dates back to 1956, when it first played host to the Winter Olympics. Captured across several visits, the images also show skiers taking to the slopes, cable cars in motion, and sporting equipment drying off after a session in the snow.
Speaking of wintery weather, CORTINA is presented as a sister book of Arturo and Bamboo’s previous publication, SNOW, and is part of a wider collection that explores “some of the most magical places” the duo has explored over several years. This takes inspiration, they say, from popular postcard booklets in the early 20th century, which focused on a specific destination as seen through an artist’s eyes.
Below, Arturo and Bamboo tell us more about CORTINA.
What initially drew you to Cortina d’Ampezzo as a subject?
Arturo and Bamboo: We always try to visit places which still have that extra something, that dreamlike atmosphere – something that is becoming increasingly rare these days. Cortina was one of them. The first time we arrived, we were completely surprised, as it was unlike anything we’d ever seen before, a very different landscape and ambience than in the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps. You felt the history, but also somehow it feels contemporary. Since that first time, we’ve returned again and again.
The gentle lifestyle in Cortina is at odds with the rest of the world’s adrenaline-fuelled impression of the town this year – what do locals make of this contrast?
Arturo and Bamboo: The locals have mixed feelings about the Olympics. For many, it feels like an invasion that disrupts everyday life. At the same time, Cortina is used to moments in the international spotlight, whether it’s the filming of a James Bond movie or the staging of major sporting events.
Were there any notable characters you met during the shoot, either local or visiting?
Arturo and Bamboo: The town is full of special characters and families who have been coming here for generations. Most are Italian and very open. Even after visiting for 40 years, they are still stunned by the surroundings – you keep hearing, ‘Bellissimo!’ It feels like everyone is happy to come to Cortina, as it calms them but also brings out the best in them. Being here makes you feel alive, but also small in the presence of the overwhelming nature.
As you mention, there’s an interesting collision between the real and the cinematic in Cortina – how did you draw that out in your photos?
Arturo and Bamboo: For us, Cortina is 100 per cent cinematic while remaining completely real. We photograph what is in front of us. We never stage our images, nor do we edit or colour-correct them. This approach has been central to our practice since the very beginning.
Did your approach differ when shooting local life versus extreme sports?
Arturo and Bamboo: It really remains the same. In resort towns like these, the action happens so close to local life: think bob runs [ice tracks for bobsleds] next to farmland, and super-G slaloms new to traditional rifugios.
What would you say to someone who’s never visited Cortina and doesn’t know what to expect?
Arturo and Bamboo: You will step into a different time, surrounded by the most beautiful mountain range you can imagine!
CORTINA by Arturo and Bamboo is available here now.
