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DISCOVER ITALY

From Tuscany to Sicily: 8 of the best ski resorts in central and southern Italy

Though they may be Italy’s most prestigious winter sports region, the Alps aren't the only place where you can put your skis on in the country as you'll find resorts as far south as Sicily.

Published: 21 December 2023 15:35 CET
Skiing in Italy
Two people in a gondola at a ski resort (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP)

With nearly 6,000 kilometres of slopes and a variety of breathtaking winter landscapes, Italy is one of the most sought-after ski holiday destinations in Europe.

But while the Alps mountain range in the north of the country is by and large the most popular ski area, you may find it surprising that there are plenty of other ski resorts scattered around the boot as you can get a chance to hit the slopes in all but three Italian regions (Puglia, Sardinia, Umbria). 

And, outside of the fact that the ski season is usually shorter (it starts later and ends sooner) and is far more dependent on local weather conditions than in the Alps, many resorts in central and southern Italy have little to envy to their northern counterparts, with affordable ski pass and accommodation prices further increasing their appeal. 

Monte Cimone (Emilia Romagna) – Perched atop the highest peak of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, around a two-hour drive away from Bologna, the Monte Cimone ski area boasts some 50 kilometres of slopes, with most pistes geared towards intermediate and advanced skiers. 

The resort however also has options for kids (there are two baby snow parks and a 700-metre bobsled piste) and non-skiers, with notable local attractions including the Montecreto Fortress and the Sestola Castle.

Abetone (Tuscany) – Located about a one-and-a-half-hour drive away from Florence, this ski resort is known to enjoy good snow in the colder months despite its relatively low altitude (1,388 metres) and has more than enough to satisfy the needs of both beginners and intermediates.  

Abetone is also one of Italy’s best options if you’re on a budget. Here, the price of a daily high-season ski pass is 49.50 euros – that’s over 25 euros less than in Cortina (76 euros) – while accommodation in the area comes at an average of around 60 euros a day per person.

READ ALSO: How much more expensive will your ski trip in Italy be this winter?

Terminillo (Lazio) – If you’re planning on spending some time on the slopes this winter but are not so keen on the idea of travelling too far away from Rome, the Terminillo ski resort may be just what you’re looking for. 

Located some 100 kilometres (around one hour and 45 minutes by car) north-east of the capital, the resort pairs around 30 kilometres of pistes (10 for alpine skiing and 20 for cross-country) with picturesque views of the Rieti countryside. 

Terminillo is also a quick half-hour drive away from Campo Stella, another popular ski area in the Rieti province which boasts one of the longest runs in the Apennines (pista Rubbio). 

Roccaraso (Abruzzo) – With over 160 kilometres of slopes and some 30 kilometres of cross-country pistes, Abruzzo’s Roccaraso is the largest ski area in central Italy and one of the most popular winter holiday destinations in the whole country.

Located about a two-and-a-half-hour drive away from both Rome and Naples, the resort also offers a number of scenic snowshoe trails and snowkite courses.

Ovindoli-Magnola (Abruzzo) – Lying at the heart of Abruzzo’s Sirente-Velino natural park, the Ovindoli-Magnola resort may be less popular than the nearby Roccaraso area but still has plenty to offer as its 21 runs meet the needs of all types of skiers, from those that are just starting out to experts.

Ovindoli is also ideal for non-skiers as the surrounding area is dotted with Roman ruins and mediaeval constructions that are well worth checking out. 

READ ALSO: From experts-only to family-friendly: 12 of the best Italian ski resorts

Campitello Matese (Molise) – Campitello Maltese is a fairly small resort (13 runs for a total of around 40 kilometres of slopes) located just a few kilometres away from Molise’s border with Campania. 

But what the resort lacks in size, it largely makes up for in picturesque views as skiers can catch glimpses of the Thyrrenian sea and Naples’ mount Vesuvius on clear days. 

Campitello also offers a number of off-piste itineraries and freestyle runs.

Palumbosila (Calabria) – Located on Calabria’s famous Sila plateau, Palumbosila is arguably the best-equipped ski resort in the region as it includes 10 runs (mostly geared towards beginners and intermediates) and two modern chairlift facilities. 

The area also features a bobsled piste, an ice rink and a number of snowmobile tracks.

Etna (Sicily) – However hard to believe it may be, even Sicily, one of Italy’s most popular summer holiday destinations thanks to its immaculate beaches and crystal-clear waters, will give you a chance to put your skis on at the height of the winter season. 

Mount Etna – Europe’s largest active volcano – is home to two ski areas (Piano Provenzana and Nicolosi), which offer a total of 10 alpine skiing runs and two cross-country pistes. 

Both resorts are a short distance away from Catania, but can be reached in under two hours by car from both Messina and Syracuse. 

Piano Provenzana and Nicolosi are not the only resorts in the region as another small ski area (Piano Battaglia) can be found on the Madonie mountain range, east of Palermo. 

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TOURISM

‘Not even that ancient’: The harshest TripAdvisor comments about Italy’s sights

From Roman ruins to grand Gothic palaces, Italy’s most popular tourist attractions welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors every year – but not everyone leaves satisfied.

Published: 16 May 2024 09:47 CEST
'Not even that ancient': The harshest TripAdvisor comments about Italy's sights

With its rich cultural heritage and plenty of art and architecture wonders, Italy draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from all corners of the world every year. 

But a quick scroll through the review section of travel website TripAdvisor will be enough to show that some of the country’s most famous attractions aren’t to everyone’s taste.

Colosseum, Rome

It may be Italy’s biggest tourist attraction, but even the Colosseum – the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built, dating back to 80 AD – fails to impress some.

“I came. I saw. I left,” wrote one reviewer, saying that looking at pictures of the building and reading about its history will spare you from “a long wait line, a port a john [sic] bathroom, and a big disappointment”.

READ ALSO: Nine tips for making the most of a Rome city break

Others were seemingly not so happy with the overall state of the attraction.

“[It] was a lot more broken than I thought it would be, at £15 a pop you’d think they’d invest in repairing it,” one wrote. 

“Not even got a roof? When they finishing it [sic]?” asked another. 

Milan, Duomo 

Though it is often regarded as one of, if not the greatest example of Italian Gothic architecture, not everyone seems to be impressed by Milan’s Duomo cathedral. 

“The outside is gaudy and tacky as the worst of Las Vegas,” while “the inside is as bad taste as the outside” and not worth the wait, “even if they paid you”, one reviewer wrote.

READ ALSO: Stay away! How Europe’s most popular spots are fighting overtourism

Another said the Duomo was no different than any “old cathedral” found in every European city, claiming that “pigeons watching [sic] is more exciting than this building”.

Speaking of pigeons, one tourist warned future visitors about the aggressiveness of the local bird population, saying that the area surrounding the Duomo is “swarming with thousands of pigeons that have long ago lost any fear of humans” and will “fly directly at your head”, forcing you to “take evasive action”.

Just another cathedral? The famed Duomo in Milan. Photo by Martin Anselmo on Unsplash

Doge’s Palace, Venice

Venice’s Palazzo Ducale is the third most-visited tourist attraction in the country and arguably one of the best-preserved traces of the ancient Venetian Republic’s power. 

But the palace isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – at least judging from its reviews.

“When you go inside, there’s nothing to see except a lot of paintings on the ceilings and high on the walls. The paintings are impressive but very samey,” one reviewer wrote.

READ ALSO: What’s the difference between Italy’s city taxes and new ‘tourist tax’?

“Really boring,” complained another, saying that the rooms were “bland” and “the view never got any better”. 

Other visitors said they were disappointed with some of their tour guides’ choices.

One wrote: “Our guide took pleasure in telling about people being tortured here. It was a bit grizzly [sic]. Personally I would give the place a miss.” 

Tourists sit under the archway of the Doge's Palace in Venice

The Doge’s Palace in Venice, which some visitors found abit “samey”. Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP

Pompeii 

Even the Pompeii archaeological site, which consists of the ruins of a city buried under volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, has its fair share of detractors.

A reviewer described the site as being “poorly paved street after poorly paved street of pretty much the same old same old terraced house over and over and over and over”.

Another said: “I really don’t get what the hype is about.

“It’s not even that ancient since they had to build so many structures around it to keep it standing. Even the freaking pillars didn’t make it (some barely did I guess).”

One reviewer even went as far as saying it was the “worst place” he’d ever visited, mentioning he had “too much ground to cover in sweltering heat” and he “should have stayed at the nice beaches of Vico Equense”. 

Trevi Fountain, Rome

A prime example of Italian Baroque aesthetics, the Trevi fountain is one of Rome’s most widely recognised symbols worldwide, but not all visitors are impressed by it.

“It splashes and splashes. It spurtles and flows. It fountains and gurgles and is as romantic as my oldest pairs of smelly socks,” wrote one reviewer, who concluded they felt “let down”.

Tourists around Rome's Trevi Fountain

Tourists around Rome’s Trevi Fountain in March 2024. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

That said, many reviewers expressed appreciation for the fountain’s architecture, but complained that their visit was ruined by hordes of fellow tourists. These complaints are far from unjustified given the attraction’s long-standing overcrowding issues. 

One reviewer suggested that “packing a pair of 8 foot stilts” may be the only way to “ensure a satisfying visit to the Trevi”.

Another called the attraction a “claustrophobia mecca” that’s “nearly impossible to deal with because of the thousands of pushy, sweaty, rude and large tourists”.

Have you seen a surprising review of an Italian landmark? Are there any Italian sights you think are overrated? Let us know in the comments section below.

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