| ax incentive was started in the later 1800s to keep | | | | downhill without the pressures of running into |
| people living here; and, of course, to help Italy keep | | | | someone or something. A week or two here will |
| an eye on its land and borders. Other Italian villages | | | | make a beginner more confident in attempting other |
| make complaints about these continued benefits | | | | narrower and faster slopes elsewhere in the Alps. |
| given solely to Livigno. The tax incentive continues on | | | | Plus, any number of the ski schools will show you the |
| today because of the poverty that dominated the | | | | ropes for a few euros per session. If you wait until |
| region for centuries. Today's inhabitants benefit | | | | last minute, however, it may cost you a bit more. |
| mostly because of the hardships their grandparents | | | | The resort itself is part of the Alta Valtellina Ski Area. |
| faced. | | | | On one side of the valley, you'll find Carosella and the |
| These hardships didn't stop at poverty back then | | | | Costaccia, while on the other, you'll find the Mottolino |
| either. Because of an altitude over 1800 meters, | | | | ski area. You can buy a ski pass (either in advance or |
| Livigno suffered inadequate supply shipments, | | | | last minute) that will give you access to Bormio and |
| snubbing by the Italian government, frostbiting cold | | | | Santa Caterina ski areas too. Many of the ski areas |
| and death-swallowing avalanches. The last one killed | | | | are above the resort proper, so it' possible to ride to |
| seven people, destroyed more than a dozen houses | | | | the top, ski down and have easy access to your |
| and left a chilling wake of snow cover until the spring | | | | hotel or accommodation without riding up again. With |
| thaw. In fact, the first papers documenting the | | | | over 90 individual pistes and 110 km of runs, you'll be |
| area-from the Middle Ages-referred to Livigno as | | | | lucky to find your way back without a guide or map. |
| "vinea et vineola." This actually translates from | | | | Historically speaking, Livigno Italian ski resort was |
| German to "Avalanche"-a seriously hard place to | | | | visited by only a few outsiders and mainly catered to |
| make a living. | | | | an Italian crowd. Because of newfound fascination, |
| The first people to come to Livigno were shepherds, | | | | Livigno receives foreigners from England, Austria, |
| poor migrants who toiled the land into something | | | | Germany, and even Canada, the USA and Brazil. The |
| productive. Today, the sons and daughters of those | | | | slopes are guaranteed snow crusted while the prices |
| shepherds enjoy a much easier way of life. Not only | | | | are assuredly cheaper than higher-brow ski resorts. |
| are more people bringing business and jobs, but also | | | | With Swiss prices so close and other Alps resorts |
| there are more economic opportunity and | | | | closer, Livigno makes just as much economic sense |
| advancement. Neither Italy nor the EU rebuffs Livigno | | | | as somewhere closer to home. (Hint: There's an |
| today. The area even has one of Italy's highest birth | | | | airport two hours away. Getting here for a quick |
| rates, corroborating the census that life here is finally | | | | getaway is possible.) |
| getting easier. | | | | The numbers tell why people are flocking to Livigno |
| The Livigno resort itself is located a few meters over | | | | Italian ski resort, booking all-inclusive or last-minute |
| 1800 meters. The Akua Granda or Spol River passes | | | | packages. There are a total of 57 runs-six black, 25 |
| through the area year round. Livigno is part of the | | | | blue and 26 red-plus kilometers of downhill pistes. If |
| Italian Alps, though Switzerland has some rights to | | | | you like to get off the slopes, then you can try your |
| the mountain as they are close by. If bargain hunters | | | | skis at some 40 km of cross-country routes. There |
| are looking for last minute deals in the Alps-with | | | | are over 30 lifts capable of transporting over 45,000 |
| tax-free benefits to boot-Livigno may be the best | | | | skiers and snowboarders per hour. The highest lift |
| place to search. | | | | can take you to 3000 meters and with the lowest at |
| The ski area itself is best suited to beginner and | | | | 1800 meters-that's a difference of 1200 meters-snow |
| intermediate level skiers, located right above the | | | | is assured (24 snow cannons provided)! The slopes |
| Valtellina alpine valley near Switzerland. The slopes are | | | | face a southeast and northwest direction, giving sun |
| the long, wide-open type, allowing beginners to zoom | | | | and snow lovers the time of their lives. |