In Northern Italy, skiing is just as it is in all Alpine countries: it’s omnipresent. With a view of the wildly romantic mountain world of the Dolomites and the Ortler Alps, for example, and while enjoying good wine and South Tyrolean bacon, skiers here enjoy the “Dolce Vita” in the snow, usually accompanied by fabulous sunshine. SnowTrex has 8 tips for skiing in Italy listed below:
1. The Natural Paradise of the Ortler Region
Of all places, the highest peak in South Tyrol does not belong to the Dolomites. The “King” Ortler (3,905 m) belongs to the Ortler Alps and towers above the Ortler holiday region. Popular holiday resorts such as Trafoi, Stelvio and Solda gather around this striking mountain. All of them are situated very high and are therefore particularly snow-sure. As they are only reachable by car along seemingly endless serpentines, the high altitude and remoteness of these natural pearls becomes apparent during your journey there. From Solda, you can take the Rosim cable car directamente to the Ortler-Ronda, which, thanks to the connection, is continuously navigable.
The Solda ski area, with about 40 km of pistes, is located in the Stelvio National Park, one of the largest nature reserves in Europe. The nature here is simply breathtaking with jagged rock formations, waterfalls and, of course, a mountain panorama of several 4,000-meter peaks. On the Stelvio Glacier, you can also enjoy skiing during the summer. Solda is also known as the second home of the extreme mountaineer Reinhold Messner, who lets his beloved yaks graze here. A cultural treat in the area is the Messner Mountain Museum Ortles, one of five museums run by the Alpine sportsman.
2. The Family-Friendly Alpe di Siusi
For families in particular, a ski holiday in Italy is absolutely worthwhile. Northeast of Bolzano, at the entrance to the Dolomites, lies one of the most popular family ski areas in Italy: the Alpe di Siusi. The landscape of the largest high Alpine pasture in Europe alone is unique. The high plateau of Sassolungo and Sciliar stretches 57 km² up to Val Gardena. Families with children can enjoy themselves on 60 km of pistes, which are particularly safe thanks to the lifts with child protection as well as the well-prepared pistes. The huge snow park with about 70 obstacles is also practically legendary.
Further family-friendly ski areas in South Tyrol are the child-friendly Tauferer Ahrntal with over 60 km of pistes, Plose/Bressanone with 43 km of pistes and, of course, the Plan de Corones with 116 km of pistes. The latter is quite flat and easy to ski at the top of the plateau. With almost 30 km of black pistes, it is also suitable for advanced skiers. In the valley right next door are also the family-friendly areas of Speikboden (37 km of pistes) and Klausberg (25 km of pistes).
3. The Insider Secret of Val Senales
Val Senales is still considered an insider secret and is therefore particularly quiet. 35 km of pistes offer plenty of practice opportunities for beginners, a snow park for freestylers and a night ski run for unrestricted skiing fun into the evening hours. With even more black than blue kilometers of pistes, Val Senales is anything but boring. The downhill run to Maso Corto in particular is rather difficult to master.
4. The Impressive Alta Pusteria
Alta Pusteria is family-friendly and very diverse. On the Italian side, two cable cars have recently opened up the Sesto Dolomites in a larger format. The Helm and Croda Rossa ski areas are connected by the cable cars “Drei Zinnen” and “Stiergarten”, which take skiers to the Stiergarten. This part of the ski area around the villages of Versciaco, Moos and Sesto offers 46 kilometres of pistes. With ski buses, you can also reach the areas Padola, Haunold, Toblach and Braies, which also belong to the Sesto Dolomites.
5. Snowy Trentino
Together with South Tyrol, Trentino forms the autonomous region Trentino-South Tyrol. Known for its delicious sparkling wine and snowy ski areas, Trentino is popular with lovers of culture, cuisine and skiing.
Skiers are recommended to visit the Val di Fassa, for example. The Val di Fassa offers a fantastic view of Croda Rossa, Sella, Catinaccio and the “Queen of the Dolomites”, the Marmolata. The ski school Canazei-Marmolata, the oldest ski school in Italy, is located in the capital, Canazei. Ski kids and their parents, but also piste experts, ski on 34 km of manageable, mostly medium-difficulty pistes with fantastic panoramic views. Campitello (15 km of pistes) or Moena (24 km of pistes) are also ideal for beginners.
6. The Wonderful Val di Fiemme
The Val di Fassa is bordered by the Val di Fiemme, which is home to some very famous winter sports centres. The Skicenter Latemar is worth mentioning, for example. The largest ski area in Val di Fiemme includes the villages of Obereggen, Pampeago and Predazzo and, on 48 km of pistes, offers highlights such as the Pala di Santa black run with a gradient of 58%. The Adamello Ski area also offers 100 kilometres of pistes, some of which are located above Tonale on the Presena Glacier, at an altitude of almost 3,000 metres.
7. Cinematic Veneto
Bordering on South Tyrol-Trentino, Veneto is another ski centre. The most important place in this region is the sophisticated Cortina d’Ampezzo. Here, elegance, luxury and tradition come together in an exclusive blend. Cortina d’Ampezzo is the only Italian resort to belong to the “Best of the Alps” association, which brings together the noblest places in the Alps. Incidentally, this place is not only known to skiers, but also to film fans. The fantastic mountain landscape has already served as a backdrop for various Hollywood movies such as “James Bond 007”, “Pink Panther” and “Cliffhanger”. In the midst of the Ampezzo Dolomites lies the rather large ski area with 120 km of downhill runs, which also belongs to the Dolomiti Superski network. On the Venetian side of the Arena and directly at the Sellaronda, there is also the Arabba ski area. It unites 63 km of pistes not far from the majestic Marmolata.
8. Duty-Free Livigno
Not far from the Swiss border, between Engadin and Alta Valtellina, lies the picturesque Livigno in Lombardy. This pretty village at a lofty height of 1,816 m is situated in a completely different area than the aforementioned ski areas, but it is in no way inferior to them and is definitely worth a visit.
Among other things, Livigno is also known as a shopping paradise as the city is a duty-free zone. In the approximately 120 elegant boutiques and shops, one can find everything a shopper’s heart desires. The ski area all around attracts visitors with its 115 kilometres of pistes above the lake, Lago di Livigno.
Interested in skiing in Italy?
