White, fresh, snowy Italy

A walk along the Alpine range, paradise of winter sports, and not only!

For our tour we need: ski boots, trekking shoes, and, why not, a mountain-bike, too! The first leg is in Piemonte, we stop at the most important ski resort in the province of Torino: Sestriere,

where the alpine ski World Cup takes place. In 2006 it hosted the XXth Winter Olympic Games. Big areas, sunny and panoramic ski slopes are typical of the Via Lattea ski area. There are all comforts

and a lot of amusements. Via Lattea includes more than 400 km of ski slopes.

Let’s go on towards the North, and here it is, in front of us, Monte Bianco, the highest mountain in Europe, with its 4810 m. height.

Sestriere Via Lattea

At the foot of it, there is Courmayeur, wonderful touristic resort, the last town we meet before

reaching France by the Mont Blanc Tunnel (that connects it with Chamonix); it has got 36 km. of ski slopes, and is the oldest ski area in Italy.

In summer, thanks to the surface lift, we can reach a wonderful trekking path, the famous“Tour du Mont Blanc”, which crosses the Mont Blanc mountain. This trekking path is one of the best of the entire Alpine range, because it passes over the mountains for almost 200 km, going through three countries: Italy, Switzerland and France. From here, we can see one of the most beautiful views of the highest

European mountain range. It takes more or less ten days to complete the route. Among the Courmayeur attractions, there is the Saussurea Alpine Garden. Situated at the height of 2173 m, it is the highest garden in Europe and derives its name from a very rare plant that grows in the rocky pastures. The garden extends for 7000 sqm.

Courmayeur Courmayeur, ski slope

Saussurea alpina

Going towards the west, we meet Cervinia, , at the bottom of Mount Cervino (4478 m.), on the border

with Switzerland.

Together with Courmayeur, Cervinia is one of the most famous ski resorts of the Alpine range. The

facilities, united with the Swiss ones on the other side of Mount Cervino, form a unique ski resort with

over 350 kms of ski runs, called Matterhorn Ski Paradise.

Thanks to the considerable height of the resort, the skiing season goes on from the beginning of

November to the beginning of May. Moreover, it is possible to practice Summer skiing on the ski runs of

the Plateau Rosa Glacier, using the Swiss facilities.

Keeping on going towards the west, we reach Valtellina, where the high ski runs of Livigno (1816 m.)

are waiting for us.

Cervinia

Livigno

The Plateau, surrounded by the mountains in the middle of the Alps, has characteristics like Himalaya;

for this reason Livigno is known as “The little Tibet”: always snowy in winter and fresh in summer, it is a

tourism destination in all seasons.

We arrived in the east and we are in front of the magnificent sight of the Dolomiti!

Pointed and rocky, in 2009 they were declared ”World Heritage site”; they are the paradise for everyone

who likes trekking and skiing. Cortina d'Ampezzo and Madonna di Campiglio are famous touristic

places.

Dolomiti Superski, a very beautiful ski resort, includes 12 skiing areas, 450 ski lifts installations and

1.220 kms of ski runs: with only one ski-pass, Dolomiti Superski, the winter lovers can explore the

different ski- areas and among these, the Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi ski-area.

The Anterselva Valley is also a fantastic place, with its Alpine lake and its cross-country ski-runs.

Last stage: Mount Zoncolan!

This is a great trial for all the cycling fans, and a classical stage of the Giro d’Italia (Tour of Italy)

Mount Zoncolan is one of the most difficult climbs in Europe, the Zoncolan has been compared with El

Angliru, the fearsome climb in the Spanish region of Asturias. the Zoncolan has a gradient of nearly 20%.

Mount Zoncolan is situated in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

We go back down, with the mountains in our hearts, ready to continue our journey through Italy.

What about mountain-biking?

The bike is very useful for our itinerary! The Alps offer long itineraries of cycle paths with signs,

ristoration points, bike parkings, internet points, etc.

Article written by class 1C (Scuola media di Gravellona Toce)

Foto di Marco Ferrari