Prague to host a photo exhibition on the Dolomites

Prague - Geord Tappeiner's photographic exhibition titled "Dolomiti - il cuore di pietra del mondo" (The Dolomites - the heart of stone on the Earth) was inaugurated in Prague, on May 3 and will be open to the public until May 28. The presentation to the press was attended by the author, the Italian Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Aldo Amati, the editor-in-chief of the National Geographic in the Czech Republic, Tomas Turecek, and Mariagrazia Santoro, president of the UNESCO Dolomites Foundation, Mauro Gilmozzi, the Foundation's vice-president and its director Marcella Morandini. Also Giovanni Sciola, director of the Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) in the Cezch capital attended the event. The IIC has promoted the exhibition.

"The Dolomites are considered as a sort of 'noble alternative' for skiing or climbing by the people of this country," said Amati. "There is not a single Bohemian that is not familiar with our most beautiful mountains, that have become the destination of choice for thousands of people who love breathtaking views." The exhibition is a joint venture between National Geographic in the Czech Republic, the Italian Embassy in Prague and the UNESCO Dolomites Foundation.Tappeiner's fifty or so shots span over peaks, valleys and mountain lakes, celebrating the beauty and uniqueness of the Dolomites that in 2009 were included in the list UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Georg Tappeiner was born in Merano in 1964. He spent ten years in London working as an advertising photographer, later settling in Milan. In 2005 he began exploring the Dolomites, capturing the magic of their stunning natural beauty. His photos have been published in many magazines, including the Italian edition of "Geo" and the German edition of the "National Geographic". He has been working for the UNESCO Dolomites Foundation for a number of years now. The Foundation's mission is to secure a good governance and management of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site with a view to promoting its sustainable development and encouraging cooperation between the local authorities that manage and administer the Site, according to their individual regulatory framework.