Italy: Family-friendly resorts & long lunches -
The Italian ski resorts are scattered across the Alps and the Dolomites. Skiing and riding in Italy is generally a bit less expensive than the neighbouring resorts in France, Switzerland, and Austria. Italian resorts are also known for their family-friendly atmosphere, sunshine, delicious food and less crowded slopes.
Skiing in the Dolomites:
The Dolomites ski area offers hundreds of kilometres of skiable terrain ranging between 1,500-3,200m and is connected by 450 lift systems. Dolomiti Superski gives you unlimited access to 1,220 km slopes in 12 ski resorts as well as the famous Sella Ronda, a circular ski route leading round the mighty Sella massif to the tune of 26km of downhill. The most popular ski resorts in the Dolomiti Superski include Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val Gardena, Kronplatz, Alta Badia and Val di Fassa.
The other ski carousel in the Dolomites is the Skiarama Dolomiti, with its 360 kilometres of slopes, 140 lifts and eight ski resorts, including Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Folgarida-Marilleva, Pejo, Tonale, Andalo, Monte Bondone and Folgaria. The most popular is Madonna di Campiglio with its 150 kilometres of pistes connected by 24 lifts. The resort is best suited to intermediates and experts, with its 21 blue runs, 12 red, and six black. Skiers and boarders can reach an altitude of 2600 metres. The easiest route to the Dolomites is via Milan Airport.
Skiing in the Italian Alps
The six ski resorts of the Milky Way (Via Lattea) differ in size and atmosphere: Claviere, Sauze d'Oulx, Sestriere, Sansicario, Cesana and Montgenevre (FR). From the peaceful cobbled streets of Sansicario to the hardcore night life of Sauze d'Oulx - skiers of all ages will find a resort to suit them. The lift-linked ski area extends 400 kilometres and straddles the Italian-French border. The resorts are staggered at very different altitudes, from Cesana at 1,350m to Sestriere at 2,035m meters. Also nearby is the ski resort of Bardonecchia with 100km of separate slopes. The nearest airport is Turin.
In the north-west of Italy, on the borders of France and Switzerland, the Aosta Valley offers a combined 180 pistes and skiing above 2,500m. The most popular resorts here are Courmayeur, Breuil-Cervinia and Pila. Runs here are wide, open and well-groomed. The ticket sharing between the resorts in the Aosta valley means you can experience several different ski areas in one holiday.
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