| The Italian ski resorts I know and love best are | | | | not into skiing there are great hikes and some good |
| those in Piedmont and those in the Dolomites. In this, | | | | ice climbing routes up a frozen waterfall. If you aren't |
| the first in a series of articles, I look at those in | | | | that energetic then there is a decent natural ice rink, |
| Piedmont, my home region. Some are well known, | | | | some good restaurants and a charming weekly |
| others are not. | | | | market. If you prefer more nocturnal activities then |
| Let's begin exploring... | | | | the après-ski scene is superb. Countless pubs |
| Bardonecchia | | | | and a couple of good clubs will keep you going until |
| The best known, and in many ways best Italian | | | | dawn. |
| resorts, are Bardonecchia and Sestriere. Bardonecchia | | | | Limone |
| though is the better choice. If you are looking to | | | | The Limone ski slopes and the town itself are |
| combine great skiing with a little of Piedmont's rich | | | | beautiful. This area is one of the lesser known |
| heritage of art and culture, Bardonecchia is a far | | | | alternatives to the more famous ski resorts in Italy. |
| better choice than Sestriere. Although it does not | | | | The whole Valli Cunese is a firm favorite of mine |
| have quite as much "piste" as Sestriere, the 120kms | | | | during both summer and winter. |
| of marked piste is more than enough to satisfy | | | | Alagna |
| virtually all skiers. | | | | This tiny little town of around 500 inhabitants is |
| Sauze | | | | located on the slopes of the second highest mountain |
| Sauze is part of the famous Via Lattea (Milky Way in | | | | in Europe -- Monte Rosa and it is still relatively |
| English) and has more than 400kms of great skiing, | | | | unknown by skiers and anybody else much for that |
| 95 ski-lifts and 75kms of artificial slopes. For those | | | | matter. |