Where to ski in italy

Where to Ski in Italy

Italy certainly has the world-class pistes and stylish resorts you’re looking for, but it also has that laidback, convivial charm that this country does so well. The atmosphere in Italian ski resorts is a bit friendlier and more relaxed than in France or Switzerland. Impressive athletes they may be, but Italian skiers don’t take themselves too seriously, and are chiefly concerned with having communal fun. There’s a lot of fine eating, drinking and snowy sunbathing, and a lot of smiling faces. So if you are into skiing you might take a look of the following: Cervinia Alps, Valle d’Aosta: 60 miles north of Turin Best for: Beginners and intermediates ‘CERVINIA’ is the Italian name for the MATTERHORN, and this high-altitude resort sits on the opposite side of the iconic mountain from better-known Zermatt in Switzerland. As a purpose-built ski town, Cervinia is marred by dull modern architecture, but it makes up for this with some fabulous long runs and very reliable natural snow-cover. In Cervinia you get to ski the same area as people in Zermatt, and eat in restaurants that are just as good, if not better, but all for significantly less expense.

Madonna di Campiglio Brenta Dolomites, Trentino: 55 miles north of Verona Best for: Intermediates This chic and lovely resort in the dramatic Brenta Dolomites has certainly racked up many ‘bests’ and ‘one-of-the-bests’. Some skiers deem it the best in Italy. Others specify it offers some of the best intermediate skiing, has the best piste grooming, has one of the best lift systems, the best snowboarding facilities… Clearly this is a resort worth anyone’s attention. The town itself is delightful, with dark wooden chalets and a soaring slender church spire. The visitors it attracts are interesting to look at too – wellheeled, fashion-conscious types who parade round town in gorgeous coats, sip pretty cocktails in Madonna’s sophisticated bars, and later let their hair down in some of its excellent clubs.

Sestriere Alps, Piedmont: 40 miles west of Turin Best for: Intermediates Perched amidst beautiful alpine peaks on a plateau at an altitude of 2,035 meters, Sestriere is the main resort in the delicious ‘Milky Way’ (‘Via Lattea’) skiing area – linking Sauze d’Oulx, Pragelato, Claviere, Cesana Torinese, San Sicario and Montgenèvre. So you can explore far and wide, skiing to different villages and making use of 146 skiable pistes with a total of 400km in trails. Sestriere is particularly wellsuited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders. But there are some significant runs for advanced skiers, and a quarter of all slopes are suitable for beginners or children.

Madesimo Alps, Lombardy: 70 miles north of Milan Best for: Intermediates This charming old village and its slopes 20 miles north of Lake Como are greatly loved by Italian families but remain relatively unknown to British skiers. Friendly and inexpensive, Madesimo is well worth getting to know. With 32 pistes covering 55km, its ski area might not be extensive, but there’s a great deal of variety in the terrain. The runs suit intermediate-level skiers well, and there is also some challenging fare for experts – including one of the greatest European runs, the ungroomed Catalone itinerary, which whooshes down 1,000 vertical meters. Snowboarders are fans of Madesimo, and for them there’s a terrain park and four half pipes. Cross-country skiers, meanwhile, lap up the 10km of trails here.

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