Cadini di Misurina, Italy

Northeastern Italy's Dolomite mountain range is a maze of jagged peaks, plunging valleys, and enormous blocks of nearly bare and impossibly rugged dolomite rock. Around and among this geological wonder lie the thick green forests and rambling pastures of the South Tyrol region. To call this landscape picturesque is an understatement. Nearly every square mile is awe-inspiring, but the mountain group known as the Cadini di Misurina grabs attention with its sawtooth peaks and steep slopes cut through by dozens of valleys. While not quite as renowned as the nearby Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Cadini group still lures shutterbugs and hardy hikers.