Sestriere, region of Piedmont
This ski resort Sestriere, very close to the border with France, was originally built with the aim of being a holiday destination for the employees of the Fiat factory in Turin, in the 30s. Today, it is part of the large French-Italian complex of ski areas Via Lattea, which has a total of 390 kilometers (242 miles) of slopes. You will find more information about Via Lattea in this Iloveski article.
In Sestriere, there are tracks for all levels, some only suitable for skiers with great technical level, and all of them offer incredible views of the skiing area of Via Lattea. This resort is part of many international ski competitions, such as the Alpine Ski World Cup. It even hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2006. But it doesn’t only host winter competitions.
It’s also a very famous resort for golf, since it has the 18-hole course at the highest altitude in Europe, and for mountain biking. In the summer, it often attracts the attention of the spectators due to the Tour de France and the Tour of Italy.
Val Gardena, region of Trentino – Alto Adige
Not only is it considered one of the best skiing areas in Italy, but also one of the best in Europe. Located in the heart of the Dolomites, the resort is especially known for its beauty, for the quality of its ski schools and for the access it provides to the famous Sella Ronda route.
The ideal environment in which it’s located provides incredible views of the Dolomites and magnificent slopes for the resort. In addition, at the resort, we can feel the mix of Italian and Tyrolean cultures, each with its own traditions and customs. The ski area of the valley, which is 175 kilometers (109 mi) long, includes the towns of Selva Val Gardena, S. Cristina and Ortisei.
One of the biggest advantages of this resort is that you can buy joint passes to travel, by means of ski lifts, to the neighboring resorts of Alta Badia, Marmolada and Val di Fassa, with a total of 500 kilometers (311 mi) of skiing area. It is also part of the Dolomiti Superski complex, which allows, through a single pass, to enjoy more than 1,200 kilometers (746 mi) of tracks from various Italian resorts in the area.
Madonna di Campiglio, region of Trentino
Alto Adige: This ski resort of the Dolomites is the ideal destination for those who are looking for a very elegant and very exclusive snow holiday. The style and the good taste are in the atmosphere of both the town and the resort.
In its forests, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria used to take walks in the 19th century. It’s known for being the resort in which the Alpine Ski World Cup is held since its inception in 1966, as well as for being the vacation spot for Italian high society. In the village, you can find many boutiques, restaurants and trendy bars. It’s connected to the resorts of Folgarida, Marilleva and Pinzolo.
This last one can be reached by a cable car ride of a quarter of an hour with spectacular views. Together, they have an extension of 150 kilometers (93 mi) of ski area. The resort is also always in very good conditions, for which it has been awarded on numerous occasions.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, region of Veneto
The area is known as the “Pearl of the Dolomites”. Very close to the border with Austria and very famous for its beauty and its atmosphere, this place full of history is a great international destination. In addition, in Cortina d’Ampezzo you can enjoy a lot of activities, which makes it the perfect place to travel as a family. It has blue tracks for beginners, but also some tracks that are a real challenge.
That’s why it’s been part of the circuit of the Women’s World Cup for more than two decades. It became one of the mos famous European ski destinations thanks to its participation in the 1956 Winter Olympics. It is also the ski resort in which, among other competitions, the 2021 Alpine Ski World Championship will be held. Its three ski areas, which are united by a free bus service, offer a total of 85 kilometers (53 mi) of tracks.
Just like Madonna di Campiglio, it can boast being one of the most chic ski destinations in Italy, where many internationally famous stars have passed and spent their vacations. But on its tracks, there are all kinds of visitors from all over the world, so nobody will feel out of place.
Livigno, Lombardy region
The town of Livigno is automatically related to the typical picture of a winter town. The incredible beauty of the valley, with magnificent views from both sides, leaves no one indifferent, as neither does the friendliness of the inhabitants of the town. It’s located at high altitude and very close to the border with Switzerland. Its 115 kilometers (71 mi) of ski area and 78 tracks of all levels, accessed by modern ski lifts, make it one of the largest tourist destinations in the Alps.
In Livigno, besides skiing, you can practice an infinity of winter sports of all kinds: ice climbing, snow biking, ice skating, horseback riding through the snow… If you want to snowboard, the resort also has the largest snowpark in Europe. But you can also practice other types of activities, the variety is endless.
For example, adrenaline lovers have the possibility to enjoy the incredible landscape from a different perspective, either flying over it with a paraglider, a helicopter… It’s impossible to get bored.
