| The quality of Italian slopes is attested to by the | | | | offer those seeking a more traditional ambiance. The |
| world famous skiers the country has produced and | | | | pistes have something for all abilities, although |
| the fact that Italy has hosted the Winter Olympic | | | | experienced skiers are less well served than |
| Games. The most popular Italian ski resorts are in the | | | | beginners or intermediates. The ski school is one of |
| Dolomites and the Alpine peaks of the Valle d'Aosta. | | | | the best in the region and it is as scenic as any of |
| Italy's ski resorts may not be able to compete on | | | | the small Austrian resorts. |
| scale with resorts such as Courchevels, but they do | | | | Expert skiers should head to the Aosta Valley Ski |
| boast some of the most distinctive Alpine resorts, | | | | area which has a total of 180 individual pistes and has |
| particularly Cortina d'Ampezzo. The pastures and | | | | wonderful panoramic views. An Aosta Valley lift pass |
| wooded slopes rise from the valley up to 2,000 | | | | gives access to the ski resorts of Courmayeur, |
| metres and a further 1,000 metres is added by the | | | | Etroubles, Pila, Alagna Valsesia, Breuil-Cervina, |
| sheer cliffs, spires and crags of pink limestone. The | | | | Crevacol, La Thuile and Saint-Rhemy-en-Bosses. The |
| whole area is scenic, but Cortina provides the most | | | | area has pistes above 2500 metres so skiing is |
| spectacular views of the peaks. Most of the skiing is | | | | assured all season. Courmayeur has the best |
| not challenging (which is true of skiing in Italy | | | | reputation of any ski resort in Italy and is situated at |
| generally), except for the south-facing couloir of | | | | the foot of Mont Blanc. |
| Forcella Staunies. | | | | Other popular resorts are Cortina, host to the Winter |
| Santa Caterina is a beautiful village with much to | | | | Olympics in 1956, and Madonna di Campiglio. |