| When it comes to snow sports, Italians tend | | | | draw. |
| to be a little more laid back with their | | | | |
| skiing compared to their French, Swiss or | | | | Italy has over 100 resorts scattered |
| Austrian cousins. In Italy, rather than | | | | throughout the northern part of the country, |
| queuing to catch the first lift to the | | | | in the Italian Alps, and the jagged |
| summit, skiers are more likely to rise late, | | | | Dolomites. With plenty of cheap flights to |
| take a long lunch and finish early for an | | | | Milan, the city is one of the gateways to |
| après ski Peroni beer, a glass of Cinzano | | | | Italian ski resorts, with a number of superb |
| or a shot of dark espresso. On a sunny day, | | | | options less than three hours' drive from the |
| you're likely to find more sun seekers than | | | | airport. |
| snow seekers, and it's not uncommon to see | | | | |
| people stripped down to the briefs and | | | | Bardonecchia, the French border town which |
| bikinis, sitting on a slope-side sun deck | | | | hosted snowboarding events for the 2006 |
| soaking up the rays. | | | | Olympics, is a truly authentic Italian |
| | | | experience with tree lined streets and rustic |
| Italy is normally overshadowed as a ski | | | | chalets. Cervinia, has a long ski season |
| destination by the better known ski resorts | | | | running from December to May, and is also |
| in France, Switzerland and Austria, but the | | | | linked to Zermatt in Switzerland, meaning you |
| Italians have a superb selection of their own | | | | can pop over the border for lunch, should you |
| resorts and are perhaps happy to keep their | | | | feel the need for a chunk of Swiss chocolate! |
| skiing secrets to themselves. | | | | |
| | | | One of the more recent favourites with |
| However, as hosts of the 2006 winter Olympics | | | | British skiers is the duty free ski town of |
| which took place in and around Torino | | | | Livingo. Known for its lively nightlife, (not |
| (Turin), Italy has proven itself worthy of | | | | surprisingly fuelled by the availability of |
| competing as a ski destination in the | | | | duty free alcohol), wide open and expansive |
| international arena and for many clued-in | | | | pistes and one of the best terrain parks in |
| Brits, Italy's laid back attitude to life, | | | | Italy, the resort tends to attract a young |
| love of fine food and wine, good value for | | | | crowd looking for a great value destination |
| money and beautiful mountains are an ongoing | | | | with superb skiing and snowboarding. |