Are you a skier hankering after a home in a mountain resort where a warm family atmosphere, splash of culture and fantastic local food matter as much as the skiing? Well, a picturesque corner of northern Italy offers all this, so could be worth a visit…

Article written by The Overseas Guides Company

The world’s largest linked ski area, the Dolomiti Superski in the Dolomites, celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, however that’s not the only reason to choose it for your ski trip – you’ll also discover how much it has to offer second homeowners.

The Dolomiti Superski boasts around 1,200 kilometres of groomed slopes, encompassing 12 different ski areas, all of which can be accessible via a single ski pass. One famous area is the famous Sella Ronda, a circular network of lifts and pistes set around the Gruppo del Sella, a beautiful limestone massif. Better known resorts there include Arabba, Corvara, Madonna di Campiglio, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Marmolada. And it’s hard to beat the Dolomites for air access – it is within two hours’ drive of four airports, making ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays perfectly feasible.

“The Dolomites is the most famous ski area in Italy,” said Angela Lyons, expat and author of ItalyBuyingGuide.com. “The huge ski area – you can ski down into Austria for example – is of course a big attraction, but a great asset is the warm Italian culture, fantastic local restaurants serving hearty Italian food and the child friendliness – Italians adore children and that comes through wherever you are in the country, on a beach, city or ski resort.”

The Dolomites are great places to visit in the summer too, and owning a property there would suit those who enjoy mountain biking, walking or just relaxing surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Trips to the towns of Cortina or Belluno are also fun ways to spend the day, while Venice and the Austrian the town of Lienz aren’t far either.

For examples of property for sale in the Dolomites, click here. Away from the Alps, Abruzzo and Mount Etna in Sicily offer skiing, and could be other options for owning a second home. Or to see property for sale all over Italy, visit Rightmove’s Italy listings.

If you are considering a property purchase in Italy or permanent move there, opening a no-obligation account with FCA-authorised Smart Currency Exchange will enable you to benefit from their competitive exchange rates and specialist currency knowledge, ultimately saving you money and time. For more information, download Smart Currency Exchange’s free report or visit the Currency Zone.