Pizza, pasta, dolce vita – and lots of pistes. In addition to culinary delights, countless cultural and historical highlights and “the sweet life”, Italy also has a large number of ski areas. Italy’s largest ski area has no fewer than 400 kilometres of pistes! SnowTrex lists the 10 largest ski areas in Italy below.
The 10 Largest Ski Areas in Italy at a Glance
| Ski area/Ski region | Km of piste | Highest point |
|---|---|---|
| Via Lattea | 400 km | 2,789 m |
| Matterhorn Ski Paradise | 322 km | 3,899 m |
| Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi | 176 km | 2,518 m |
| Espace San Bernardo – La Rosière/La Thuile | 152 km | 2,800 m |
| SkiArea Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta | 150 km | 2,500 m |
| Monterosa Ski | 132 km | 3,275 m |
| Alta Badia | 130 km | 2,550 m |
| Cortina d’Ampezzo | 120 km | 2,924 m |
| Plan de Corones | 119 km | 2,275 m |
| Livigno | 115 km | 2,798 m |
Overview: All ski areas in Italy
1. Via Lattea Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 400 km
Highest point: 2,789 m
“Via Lattea” is translated as the “Milky Way”. The Via Lattea ski area near Sestriere certainly lives up to its name. The “Milky Way” here stretches over a whopping 400 kilometres of pistes in the border region of the Italian and French Alps. This makes the Via Lattea ski area the largest ski area in Italy. A total of 71 lifts take winter sports fans to the peaks with heights of up to 2,749 m. The resort of Sestriere, which is located right next to the ski area, also enjoys international fame, as it was the venue of the 2006 Olympic Alpine competitions.
2. Matterhorn Ski Paradise
Kilometres of piste: 322 km
Highest point: 3,899 m
No, Zermatt at the Matterhorn hasn’t recently relocated to Italy. Nevertheless, the ski area located at the Matterhorn does not only extend over Swiss ground, but also over Italian ground. Therefore, the ski area between Zermatt, Breuil-Cervinia and Valtournenche, known as the Matterhorn Ski Paradise, offers an entire 322 kilometres of pistes at heights of up to 3,899 m. This makes the massive ski area also the highest in both Italy and Switzerland. A special highlight: Heliskiing is available here!
On the Italian side, the entry points to the ski area are located in Cervinia and Valtournenche.
3. Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 176 km
Highest point: 2,518 m
Around the villages Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena lies the Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi ski area, also known as the largest ski area in South Tyrol. The 176 km of pistes between Sciliar and the Sella Group are varied, family-friendly and highly rated. This is certainly also because of the high snow reliability in the ski area, which reaches up to 2,518 m altitude.
4. Espace San Bernardo – La Rosière/La Thuile Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 152 km
Highest point: 2,800 m
The Espace San Bernardo – La Rosière/La Thuile ski area is also a cross-country ski area where winter sports fans can choose to ski on Italian and/or French territory. The ski area is comprised of 152 km of pistes and 33 lifts, most of which are located on a south-facing mountain terrace, offering views of a breathtaking mountain panorama.
5. SkiArea Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta
Kilometres of piste: 150 km
Highest point: 2,500 m
The ski areas of Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Folgàrida and Marilleva make up the Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta ski area, which covers 150 km of pistes. Situated in the South Tyrolean Dolomites, winter sports fans can expect 5 snow parks in addition to the usual pistes. Furthermore, the lift pass can be extended, so that with the “Superskirama Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta” lift pass, you have 380 km of pistes at your disposal.
6. Monterosa Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 132 km
Highest point: 3,275 m
At the foot of the Monte Rosa massif, the Monterosa ski area combines three valleys around the resorts of Alagna Valsesia, Gressoney-La-Trinité, Champoluc and Frachey with a total of seven ski areas. The result: 132 km of the finest pistes for every skill level – from beginners’ slopes to World Cup downhill runs. The area is also world-famous for its extensive freeride areas as well as for the possibility of heliskiing.
7. Alta Badia Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 130 km
Highest point: 2,550 m
Framed by the Dolomites, the Alta Badia ski area near Corvara in South Tyrol, Italy, offers around 130 kilometres of pistes for all levels. The ski area is also part of the Dolomiti Superski ski carousel, which offers an amazing 1,220 kilometres of pistes for winter sports fans. There is definitely no need to ski on the same piste twice. In Alta Badia, skiers can also enter the famous Sellaronda – a downhill run that connects all four Dolomite passes and easily takes a day of skiing for skiers including lifts.
8. Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 120 km
Highest point: 2,924 m
The Cortina d’Ampezzo ski area is world-famous, having been the venue of the Winter Olympics. Situated in the middle of the Dolomites, the ski area offers 120 km of pistes on peaks as high as 2,924 m. The resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo itself is also situated quite high: here, winter sports fans spend their holidays at an altitude of 1,224 m.
9. Plan de Corones Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 119 km
Highest point: 2,275 m
The Plan de Corones is probably the most famous mountain in South Tyrol and claims, generally for good reason, to be the first peak of the Italian ski season. In the middle of the Dolomites, winter sports fans will find 119 kilometres of pistes in the Plan de Corones ski area, including the “Black Five”: five black pistes for the experts among winter sports fans. The season here is quite snow-sure and easily lasts well into April.
10. Livigno Ski Area
Kilometres of piste: 115 km
Highest point: 2,798 m
The Livigno ski area, with its 115 kilometres of pistes, lies on the sunny side of the Lombardy Alps. In addition to the pistes, the duty-free zone also makes Livigno a popular travel destination for winter sports fans and shopping enthusiasts. The versatile pistes lie at altitudes of up to 2,798 m and have something to offer every skill level.
Would you rather go to Austria or France? Then check out the ten largest Austrian and French ski areas.
