One of the many highlights of skiing in Italy is the spectacular scenery, with most of the country’s resorts grouped in the breathtaking Dolomites in the north-east, or in the north-west, overlooked by Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa.
The proximity of Italian resorts to international borders also lends them a rich cosmopolitan feel, with Cervinia, Courmayeur and La Thuile sharing slopes with resorts in neighbouring countries.
Furthermore, accommodation, lift passes, tuition and equipment hire in Italian ski resorts is all generally less expensive than in their better-known European counterparts. The resorts boast good snowmaking facilities, have mastered immaculate piste grooming, and offer acres of ski terrain that’s ideal for beginners and intermediates.
Although rules about skiing off-piste vary from one region to the next (it’s banned in some resorts while others impose fines if you’re caught off-piste without an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel), in those resorts where you can venture backcountry, you’ll find untouched, challenging terrain.
The national policy about children is crystal clear, though – under 14s are required by law to wear helmets at all times on the slopes.
Other advantages of skiing in Italy include excellent food and wine and the fact that locals are friendly and take their winter holidays less seriously than most of their European compatriots, leaving the slopes virtually deserted while they enjoy leisurely breakfasts, extended lunches and afternoon sunbathing sessions.
So, what’s the catch? Firstly, although several resorts have invested heavily in new lift systems, many still have ageing equipment. Secondly, Italy’s southerly latitude provides the sunshine so loved by locals but can make for unreliable snow cover from mid-March onwards.
Finally, the quality of accommodation and basic facilities doesn’t always meet with the exacting standards of neighbouring Swiss and Austrian resorts.