Skiing in Lombardy, Italy

Italy hosted the 1956 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina and the 2006 Olympic Winter Games returned to Italy; they were held in Torino. Improvements in facilities have made Italy one of Europe's better destinations, both for cross-country and downhill skiing.

Monte Bianco (or Mont Blanc in French) has its peak of 4,810m on the border of France and Italy. The alpine range provides a snow covered area with ski resorts around the Aosta Valley in Italy. The most famous ski areas with some of the best slopes in Europe are located in the Dolomites (Dolomiti-Super-Ski) and the Milky Way (Via Lattea) in West Piedmont. They have hundreds of kilometres of pistes linked together by lift systems. The best resorts are Cervinia, Courmayeur, La Thuile in Valle d'Aosta; Sestriere, Sauze d'Oulx and Bardonecchia located West of Turin. Other popular resorts are Livigno, Madonna di Campiglio and the fashionable and upmarket Cortina d'Ampezzo.

While the northern part of Italy is better known for its skiing, it is also possible to ski in many other regions: in Abruzzo (Campo Imperatore), in Tuscany (Abetone), in Sicily on Mount Etna and also in resorts close to the capital city.

Skiing in Italy as a relaxing, social and friendly activity, involving a lot of eating, drinking, sunbathing and chatting. The resorts' after-ski and nightlife is usually excellent and very varied.

Some resorts provide child-care facilities.

Access

The ski resorts located in the north of Italy may be reached by car, train or plane from Rome and Milan. The MTBus runs from Orio al Serio and Malpensa airports to Alta Valtellina.

On the Slopes

Ski slopes are graded by difficulty:

Down hill and cross-country skis and snowshoes can be rented from the skiing centres. They can usually be rented by the day or week.

Rules For the Snow

• Respect: All slope-users must always behave in such a way that they do not endanger others nor harm them by their behaviour or their equipment.
• Stopping: Do not stop in a narrow area or one with restricted visibility. If you fall, get off the route as fast as possible.
• Speed: Adapt your speed according to the conditions - crowds, poor visibility
• Walking: If you are walking up or down a slope, keep to the side.
• Signs: Always take note of, and respect signs concerning slope and weather conditions.
• Overtaking: You may overtake above or below a slower skier, or to the left or right of them, but only if there is enough space to do so.
• Assistance: If you witness or cause an accident, you must stop to give help, and make yourself available to rescue teams or the Piste Patrol.
• Insurance: Most ski professionals recommend that skiers and snowboarders take out a comprehensive insurance.

Ski Resorts and Clubs in Lombardy

Aprica

This resort, with skiing and snowboarding facilities for all skill levels, is located in Valtellina in the Province of Sondrio. There are bars, restaurants, shops and other facilities available on site.

• Ski Season: November to April (depending on the winter climate)
  21 slopes: 6 blue, 10 red and 5 black, 3 cross country circuits
  Slope access: 12 ski lifts, 2 cable cars, 6 chairlifts
  e-mail 
  Website
• For information on access by car, train, bus and aeroplane: Click here 
• Tourist Information
  At: Corso Roma 150, 23031 Aprica (SO)
  Tel: 0342 747 732
  e-mail 

Bormio

Popular ski resort with facilities for snowboarding, alpine, skicross, telemark and cross-country skiing. Mainly for beginner or intermediate level skiers. The top station is at 3010m.

• Ski season: November to April (depending on the winter climate)
  15 ski slopes: 6 blue, 6 red, 2 black
  Slope access: 4 ski lifts, 1 cable car, 5 chairlifts, 4 other
• Snowpark 
• Società Impianti Bormio
  At: At Via Battaglion Morbegno 25, 23032 Bormio (SO)
  Tel: 0342 901 451
  Fax: 0342 904 305
  e-mail
• Tourist Information
  At: Via Roma 131/B, 23032 Bormio (SO)
  Tel: 0342 903 300
  e-mail
• Bormio online 
• Bormio Website 

Livigno

One of the best-known ski resorts in Italy. It is part of the Alta Valtellina ski area with facilities for snowboarding, alpine, telemark, carving and cross-country skiing. Ticket offices on site are open from 08:30-17:00.

• Ski Season: starts in November and ends in May (depending on the winter climate)
  Six slopes: 29 blue, 37 red and 12 black slopes suitable for amateur, intermediate and expert skill levels. Longest slope is 4 Km. Also 40 Km of cross-country ski runs
  Slope access: 3 cable car, 14 chairlifts, 16 ski lifts
  Facilities: include 125 restaurants, 100 bars, 2 nightclubs, bowling alley, gym, sauna, supermarkets, banks and ice rink
• Access by car: Click here

Information on ski passes:

• Associazione Skipass Livigno
  Tel: 0342 996 915
  e-mail
  Website
• Tourist Information
  At: Via Saroch 1098 Plaza Plachéda I, 23030 Livigno (SO)
  Tel: 0342 052 200
  e-mail
  Website

Ponte di Legno

One of the older ski resorts, suitable for snowboarding, alpine and cross-country skiing.

• Slopes: 2 blue, 3 red, 2 black. It also has artificial now runs.
  Slope access: 3 chairlifts, 3 ski lifts
  Other facilities: include restaurants, bars, ice rink, clubs and games rooms
  • Access by car and train: Click here (in Italian)
• Ponte di Legno
  Website
• Adamello Ski
  At: Via F.lli Calvi 53, 25056 Ponte di Legno (BS)
  Tel: 0364 92 097
  e-mail
  Website

Santa Caterina Valfurva

Another resort in the Alta Valtellina ski area, for skiers and snowboarders, mainly of intermediate skill level.

• Season: December to March (depending on the winter climate)
  Slopes: 2 blue, 9 red, 2 black, 18km cross country run
  Slope access: 2 cable cars, 1 chairlift, 4 ski lifts. (Bormio and Livorgno also accessible using ski lift)
  • For information on ski passes: Click here

• Santa Caterina
  SCI Santa Caterina Impianti
  At: Via Forni 8/A, 23030 Valfurva (SO)
  Tel: 0342 925 116
  e-mail
  Website

Skiing Clubs

• For a list of ski clubs in Lombardy: Click here 

Local Organisations

• FISI - Federazione Italiana Sport Invernali
  At: Via Piranesi 12, 20137 Milan (MI)
  Tel: 02 719 518
  Fax: 02 744 048
  e-mail
  Website  (in Italian)
• AMSI (Associazione Regionale Maestri di Sci Lombardia)
  At: P.le Alpini 7, 24015 S. Giovanni Bianco (BG)
  Tel: 0345 42 669
  Website

Mini Ski Glossary

Further Information

• Ski Italia: General information about skiing in Italy; snow reports, weather, accommodation, mountain maps and forums. The information is available in Italian, but also in English and seven other European languages. The website includes a rating of the Italian ski resorts (which are the best resorts for beginners, for advanced, families and for snowboarders)
• Sciweb.it: General ski information available
• Complete Skier: General European skiing information
• Italian Government Tourist Board website provides general information about the major ski resorts in Italy and links to the relevant websites: Click here