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In winter, the Italian Alps are one of the world’s great ski destinations with something for snow-lovers of all stripes. There’s the glamour of Cortina d’Ampezzo with its bella figura apres-ski and Olympic bobsleigh run. There’s Val Gardena in the heart of the huge Dolmiti Superski area where experts fly down the black runs and the World Cup downhill course at Saslong. There’s the high-altitude resort of Livigno, brilliant for off-piste and heli-skiing. And, near the border with Slovenia, there’s the Tarvisio ski resort, home to Di Prampero, one of the most beautiful pistes in Europe.
But the thrills and spills of the ski season are far from the only story when it comes to the Italian Alps, which, come the summer, are transformed into one of the continent’s great outdoor playgrounds, perfect for everything from high-octane adventure sports through to mountain-top spa retreats.
Unsurprisingly, the area’s astonishing natural beauty is a big part of the draw and is one of the reasons it has become one of Europe’s great destinations for summertime hiking, with hundreds of routes that offer wildly different backdrops. Don’t miss the three peaks of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo or the jagged beauty of the Geislergruppe mountain range. And be sure to hike to one of the stunning turquoise lakes, such as Lago di Sorapis, and the glorious rolling meadowland of Alpe di Suisi. Those who like to travel at a slightly faster pace can mountain bike on more than 1,000 kilometres of trails that offer extraordinary views of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa.
And thrill-seekers are well catered to: this part of Italy is home to the world’s highest concentration of via ferrata, which utilise wire supports and ladders to open up challenging routes to those who aren’t experienced climbers. You can go sunrise hot air ballooning in the Aosta Valley, among the highest peaks of the Alps. And the abundant fresh water means that in the warmer months the Italian Alps are great for canyoning, kayaking, and rafting.
Thankfully, there are opportunities to relax, too. The radon-rich waters at the Merano thermal baths have been attracting travellers for decades, and over in Pozza di Fassa there are spas that use the sulphurous water of Aloch for a whole range of wellness treatments, including chromotherapy sensorial pools, cascades, and bio-saunas. The area is also full of wellness centres, which specialise in wine therapy, using the flavonoids in grapes to slow the aging process, and offering peels using cold-pressed grape seeds to regenerate the skin and restore psycho-physical wellbeing. Many of the region’s spas are set deep in the countryside, allowing you to reconnect with nature, whether that’s treatments using medicinal plants and alpine herbs or doing dynamic yoga in the great outdoors.
The Italian Alps is also a region that is justly famous for its food. Here, big bold Austrian flavours meet the flair and style of Italian cooking to create a hearty but also refined cuisine, perfect for refuelling after a day in the mountains. The many local specialities include black rye bread with fennel seeds, which goes brilliantly with the region’s famous speck, and a glass of pinot noir from Egna near Bolzano. There are many brilliant places to eat, from country inns in alpine meadows to Michelin-starred restaurants – be sure to try a heartening bowl of pasta e fagioli and don’t miss the canederli, the Italian version of the classic central European dumpling.
And it’s a place where the natural beauty of the landscape is matched by some architecturally thrilling hotels that include modernist citadels accessible only via cable car, traditional Alpine lodges in bustling villages full of vibrant après-ski bars, and sculptural towers high in the mountains with views that are picture-perfect whatever the weather.
