Property in Italy is perhaps one of the best-known destinations for winter sports enthusiasts. With its proximity to Mont Blanc and the Alps, the north of the country is famous the world over for its resorts, making it a desirable location for a break of any duration.
Italy, of course, is one of Europe’s most history-laden countries with heritage dating back to the Romans and beyond. As such, expect aspects of the nation’s past to sneak into your days and nights here with ancient customs overlaid by modern practices in a way that’s hard to find to the same extent anywhere else.
Property in Italy’s winter mountains, Piedmont
Piedmont is probably one of the most widely recognisable regions for property in Italy among winter sports enthusiasts. It is home to Turin, the location of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. But it is not all about the Olympic slopes – there are plenty of other places in Piedmont where you can head out into the snow and enjoy some wintry activities.
Alps of Alta Val Susa are the mountains where those Olympic events were staged and Turismo Torino e Provincia suggests that they still promise some of the region’s best winter tourism. Family-friendly areas and cross-country routes offer an alternative to dashing headlong down the piste. Alternatively, explore the pilgrim route Via Francigena and its waypoint Sacra di San Michele for a hint at the generations of local people who have previously passed through the mountains.
Non-slope winter sports which featured in the Olympics can still be pursued nearby; the curling stadium at Pinerolo is one example. Open-air ice skating rinks also make the most of the colder climate, with opportunities to get your skates on in Sestriere, Pragelato, Fenestrelle, Bardonecchia and a series of other locations. The tourism organisation adds that those wondering about heading out on a snowshoe trek can rest assured that the cumbersome footwear sometimes seen in the movies is no longer the norm, as lightweight materials have led to much more manageable alternatives.
The Petit Ski Resorts are not limited to on-piste action either, despite their name. Germanasca Valley and Chisone Valley provide means of accessing nature parks that could put exploration on the agenda for adventurous winter sports enthusiasts. The Sciare in Paradiso ski area also offers more than its name suggests, with snowshoe trekking one of the activities that can be enjoyed there, along with cross-country trails linking its resorts.
Property in Italy’s most mountainous region, the Aosta Valley
For people who are seduced by the allure of the epic scenery which typically surrounds ski resorts, the Aosta Valley could be just the thing. Off-piste entertainment here ranges from the traditional to the modern, with ‘rascards’ – local houses – to be found in the villages and access to the Gran Paradiso national park.
Activities, as opposed to sight-seeing, include the casino at St Vincent for a slight indoor diversion, along with Europe’s loftiest cable-car route up to Monte Bianco – or Mont Blanc, as we know it.
Courmayeur is one resort in the Aosta Valley that offers more than just skiing to visitors, particularly those who are prepared to unstrap their skis and head out on foot instead. The hiking trail up nearby Mont Chetif is not for the faint-hearted, as parts of the ascent are fitted with chains to help retain a footing.
However, the views back down to Courmayeur and across to nearby Mont Blanc make for a memorable experience, while a statue of the Virgin Mary awaits near the summit as a kind of reward.