From then on the Dolomites have been a much sought after terrain for some of the best Italian and European climbers: Messner, Cassin, Detassis, Maestri, Comici, Bonatti, Tito Piaz are just a few and all have left their mark on the Dolomites.

The Dolomites have a rich history of legendary mountaineers, most notably Emilio Comici, known as the "Angel of the Dolomites." In the 1930s, Comici pioneered the "aesthetic" style of climbing, favoring direct, elegant lines, and was the first to scale the North Face of the Cima Grande. Another titan is Reinhold Messner, widely considered the greatest mountaineer of all time; born in the South Tyrol region of the Dolomites, he revolutionized the "Alpine style" of light and fast climbing before becoming the first person to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks. Other famous figures include Tita Piaz (the "Devil of the Dolomites"), known for his daring solo ascents, and Angelo Dibona, whose name is immortalized on several classic routes. In 2026, the region remains a pilgrimage site for modern climbers who follow in the footsteps of these pioneers, utilizing the via ferrata systems—iron paths originally built for soldiers in WWI—that now allow even non-professional climbers to reach these historic peaks.