The Italian Alps, which stretch across the northern border of the country, are among the world’s best known and most glamorous destinations for skiing enthusiasts.

As well as being home to world-class snow conditions and former Olympic venues, they have also served as the training ground of world-champion Italian skiers of the past.

Enthusiasts of winter sports – whether skiing, snowboarding or other snowbound activities – could find property in the Italian Alps to be the ideal option for a holiday or to relocate to an area with lengthy ski seasons and top-class facilities.

The Ski Regions

When it comes to choosing the best place to buy property in the Italian Alps, there are a number of options open to skiers.

The most northerly area of the Italian Alps is Alto Adige, in the east of the mountain range.

Within this region are the Dolomites, an area of the Alps that are largely protected, ensuring the environment remains attractive for generations to come.

As well as skiing, visitors can enjoy some other activities, such as hiking the hills of the region.

For those determined to get in some action on the snow, the Dolomiti Superski pass allows unlimited access to a selection of the slopes for a fixed fee.

Lombardy stretches from the plains north as far as the border with Switzerland, providing a diversity of landscape.

Glacial lakes including Lake Como and Lake Garda – the largest in Italy – can be found here, with boat trips offering an alternative to hiking or skiing.

Meanwhile, in the Piedmont mountains the Italian Tourist Board explains that the history of the region can be found in the crossing points of the Italian Alps.

These have played the greater part in the formation of the community and its links with the outside world than the lofty peaks that overlook them.

Famous Faces

Piero Gros, born in Sauze d’Oulx in 1954, is among the region’s prolific sporting stars.

In his 20th year, he became the overall champion of the Alpine Skiing World Cup, while two years later he headed to the Olympics at Innsbruck.

He took the slalom gold medal in the 1976 celebration of physical pursuits, securing his place as one of the Italian Alps’ sporting legends.

Proving that property in Italy’s less mountainous regions can still serve as a base for Alpine enthusiasts, three-time Olympic gold medallist Alberto Tomba was born in Castel dei Britti.

But he has headed to the Italian Alps in the past, not only to indulge his own passion, but to help out a famous friend.

Skiing blind could sound a little extreme for many people’s tastes, but Tomba’s friend, singer Andrea Bocelli, is among the lovers of the sport.

He negotiates the slopes of the Italian Alps, despite not being able to see, by holding on to one end of a ski pole while Tomba holds the other.

Tomba revealed the bizarre arrangement in an interview with People magazine in 1998, when he said of Bocelli: "He’s crazy, he just goes right down – if you don’t stop him, he’s dangerous!"

Why the Italian Alps?

The geography of the Italian Alps is an obvious major draw to the region and Courmayeur, in the shadow of Mont Blanc, offers a glamorous option to take in some top-class skiing conditions on the slopes of the tallest mountain in the European Union.

Based just south of the mouth of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, Courmayeur caters for cross-country and downhill skiers, with the top of the piste reached by chairlift, cable car or helicopter.

For people keen to buy property in the Italian Alps with a historical connection to winter sports, Turin is arguably the best option of modern times.

Host to the Torino Winter Olympic Games in 2006, Turin is easily reached at relatively low cost thanks to its airport.

A direct rail link from Turin across the border into France allows trains to be caught all the way to Paris if desired, while the Olympic facilities ensure that enthusiasts of all winter sports are well catered for.

Nearby Sauze d’Oulx – hometown of Piero Gros mentioned above – caters for a different demand, that of the apres-ski market.

A significant contingent of British holidaymakers creates a party atmosphere in this rustic town, which could make it feel like a home away from home for anyone keen to drink and celebrate into the early hours of the morning.