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TOURISM

Ten Italian ski resorts that winter sports-lovers have to visit

Italy may be better known as a summer destination with beaches and culture galore, but there's plenty of reason to visit during the winter months. With over 300 skiing areas, winter sports lovers from novice to expert level are bound to find somewhere perfect for them. From classic Alpine resorts to the more unusual (Mount Etna, anyone?), here are the top ten locations for winter sports enthusiasts in Italy.

Published: 15 December 2016 08:26 CET
Ten Italian ski resorts that winter sports-lovers have to visit
File photo: Pexels

Cervinia, Aosta Valley


Photo: James Preston/Flickr

At the foot of the Matterhorn (Monte Cervino in Italian) lies Cervinia, one of the highest and largest resorts in the Alps. That means good snow cover, long runs – some up to 22km – and the chance to ski over to Switzerland. There are three dedicated children's ski areas, Europe's highest snowparks, and some more challenging options for advanced skiers.

Madonna di Campiglio, Dolomites


Photo: ItaliaABC/Flickr

Relatively isolated compared to other Dolomite resorts, this popular resort offers the combination of a charming pedestrianized town and large variety of slopes, including a 1000-metre descent.

Sauze D'Oulz, Val di Susa

Photo: Peter Fordham/Flickr

Just 80km from Turin and one of five villages making up the lift-linked 'Milky Way' ski area, Sauze offers access to over 400km of ski slopes, whilst the options for après-ski include excellent Italian restaurants, bars and clubs.

La Thuile, Aosta Valley


Photo: foshie/Flickr

Based in a quiet, old mining village, La Thuile makes for an uncrowded ski experience – but there's no need to get bored, as you can ski across to La Rosière in France, or other resorts in the Aosta Valley including Courmayeur and Pila. There are lots of options for anyone learning to ski, and for experts, there's a snowpark which encourages visitors to “unleash their creativity with a touch of madness”.

Livigno, Alps


Photo: acidka/Flickr

Located high in the Italian Alps, Livigno offers stunning views and a range of runs for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities, as well as the 'Mega Fun Park 2' terrain park.

Abetone, Northern Tuscany


Photo: lo.tangelini/Flickr

Not far from Florence, Pisa or Siena, the Apennine resort will challenge your perceptions of Tuscany. It's the hometown of world champion skier Zeno Colò and offers about 50km of slopes. There are other activities on offer, including hiking and snowmobile trips, and you can easily arrange trips to the medieval towns and villages in the area to keep any non-skiers in your group entertained.

Val Gardena, Dolomites


Photo: Val Gardena – Groeden Marketing/Flickr

Val Gardena offers a large range of options for alpine excursions, freestyle and snowboarding as well as connections to the rest of the Dolomites. Picturesque mountain huts house most of the accommodation, restaurants and bars.

Monterosa, Alps


Photo: Zacharie Grossen/Wikimedia Commons

Three valleys make up the Monterosa resort, spread across Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont. Many of its runs are well-suited to beginner-level skiers, but if you're advanced – or prefer cross-country skiing or even snowboarding – head to the Passo dei Salati. Expect long runs, uncrowded slopes and stunning mountain scenery.

Mount Etna, Sicily


Photo: Jeanne boleyn/Wikimedia Commons

Fancy ticking 'ski down a volcano' off your bucket list? The high altitude of Etna means you should get great snow cover, and although there's less choice and variety compared to the larger resorts, it will be a unique experience. Plus, you can spend the rest of the trip exploring everything that Sicily has to offer.

Kronplatz, Dolomites


Photo: Chroustik2/Flickr

As well as lying in the heart of Europe's biggest cross-country ski trail system, Kronplatz also offers outdoor ice rinks, sledging and tandem paragliding.

 

A version of this article was first published in December 2013. The original version can be viewed here.

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TRAVEL NEWS

German train strike wave to end following new labour agreement

Germany's Deutsche Bahn rail operator and the GDL train drivers' union have reached a deal in a wage dispute that has caused months of crippling strikes in the country, the union said.

Published: 26 March 2024 09:55 CET
German train strike wave to end following new labour agreement

“The German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn have reached a wage agreement,” GDL said in a statement.

Further details will be announced in a press conference on Tuesday, the union said. A spokesman for Deutsche Bahn also confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

Train drivers have walked out six times since November, causing disruption for huge numbers of passengers.

The strikes have often lasted for several days and have also caused disruption to freight traffic, with the most recent walkout in mid-March.

In late January, rail traffic was paralysed for five days on the national network in one of the longest strikes in Deutsche Bahn’s history.

READ ALSO: Why are German train drivers launching more strike action?

Europe’s largest economy has faced industrial action for months as workers and management across multiple sectors wrestle over terms amid high inflation and weak business activity.

The strikes have exacerbated an already gloomy economic picture, with the German economy shrinking 0.3 percent across the whole of last year.

What we know about the new offer so far

Through the new agreement, there will be optional reduction of a work week to 36 hours at the start of 2027, 35.5 hours from 2028 and then 35 hours from 2029. For the last three stages, employees must notify their employer themselves if they wish to take advantage of the reduction steps.

However, they can also opt to work the same or more hours – up to 40 hours per week are possible in under the new “optional model”.

“One thing is clear: if you work more, you get more money,” said Deutsche Bahn spokesperson Martin Seiler. Accordingly, employees will receive 2.7 percent more pay for each additional or unchanged working hour.

According to Deutsche Bahn, other parts of the agreement included a pay increase of €420 per month in two stages, a tax and duty-free inflation adjustment bonus of €2,850 and a term of 26 months.

Growing pressure

Last year’s walkouts cost Deutsche Bahn some €200 million, according to estimates by the operator, which overall recorded a net loss for 2023 of €2.35 billion.

Germany has historically been among the countries in Europe where workers went on strike the least.

But since the end of 2022, the country has seen growing labour unrest, while real wages have fallen by four percent since the start of the war in Ukraine.

German airline Lufthansa is also locked in wage disputes with ground staff and cabin crew.

Several strikes have severely disrupted the group’s business in recent weeks and will weigh on first-quarter results, according to the group’s management.

Airport security staff have also staged several walkouts since January.

Some politicians have called for Germany to put in place rules to restrict critical infrastructure like rail transport from industrial action.

But Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected the calls, arguing that “the right to strike is written in the constitution… and that is a democratic right for which unions and workers have fought”.

The strikes have piled growing pressure on the coalition government between Scholz’s Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business FDP, which has scored dismally in recent opinion polls.

The far-right AfD has been enjoying a boost in popularity amid the unrest with elections in three key former East German states due to take place later this year.

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