Pragelato - introduction
Pragelato sits quietly at one end on the huge Via Lattea (Milky Way) ski area; an intermediates paradise. The village gives you access to its 400km of pistes, which rivals any of the huge linked ski areas in France or Switzerland.
If you’ve never heard of Pragelato you’re not alone, as it is relatively undiscovered by the British, who are more likely to head for nearby Sauze d’Oulx or Sestriere. That’s partly what makes Pragelato special.
It is a typical Italian resort with good restaurants, plush accommodation and a certain ‘see and be seen’ atmposphere.
On our last visit we really did see a middle-aged Italian man in an all-in-one white ski suit with a fur collar. He seemed to fit in too, as the Italians paraded around after skiing window-shopping, people watching and quietly sipping their après-ski drinks.
Pragelato is where the rich Piedmonteese come to play, and those who want something a bit more sophisticated than the other resorts in the Via Lattea.
There are 50km of slopes above the village, served by half a dozen lifts, with a decent vertical drop. The village is very attractive and was redeveloped extensively for the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics. Pragelato hosted ski-jumping, cross-country and Nordic events.
The Olympic legacy means the area is popular with cross-country skiers though the ski jump does not have quite so many people wanting to give it a go. It is the largest in Italy with 5 different jumps.
The resort is at a very respectable 1,535m and is blessed with a whole host of activities apart from downhill skiing. It sits on the edge of a nature reserve with some beautiful walking and snowshoeing, there are numerous wellness centers, excellent shopping and good restaurants.
Highlights
- Beautiful village and stunning scenery
- Linked into huge Via Lattea ski area
- Good for intermediates
- Good for non-skiers
- Wonderful Italian food
Lowlights
- Little skiing in the resort itself
- The nightlife is quiet, though sophisticated
- Nothing very challenging for experts