Skiing in the Dolomites

I have been lucky enough to ski in many resorts across Europe but only two places have really made me go wow! Slovenia was the first and I continued to return year after year for great skiing throughout the country but also the beautiful scenery, quiet slopes and amazing hospitality. You can read my Skiing in Slovenia post here

Civetta, in Italy was the second. It’s a small unassuming ski resort mainly used by locals and Italians in the know but the scenery and skiing is absolutely fantastic.

Tucked away in the Dolomites, the ski area of Civetta can be accessed from two sides with the majority of people staying by the lake in Alleghe. The views as you ski down to the lake are impressive but on a sunny day this side of the mountain can get cold  when the sun moves around in the afternoon. I based myself in Mareson Pecol which is the other side of the mountain but gets the most sun, if it comes out!

If you’re looking for a new resort to try I would definitely recommend Civetta. The closest airports are those in Venice so it makes for a good twin centre break. After you have spent a few days on the slopes it’s just a 90 minute journey back to Venice allowing you to spend some time exploring the city. Winter is a great time to be in Venice too as its much quieter than the peak summer months.

Civetta Peak or Monte Civetta is an imposing sight and can be seen from nearly all of the runs in the Civetta region. It makes a breathtaking backdrop for a day’s skiing.

Italy isn’t the cheapest of areas to ski but a pass here is quite good value at around €200 for a week. For an extra €50 or so you can upgrade the pass to cover the whole of the Dolomiti Superski area which is good value. The area has an excellent ski school and there are some very rewarding runs for beginners and intermediates and those who like to ski leisurely for the more advanced you will probably have done most of the Civetta area in two days in which case it’s a good idea to get the Dolomiti Superski area pass. All runs either end up at the bottom of the gondolas in Mareson Pecol or Alleghe and its worth mentioning that you need to leave plenty of time to get from one side of the mountain to the other at the end of the day otherwise it’s a very long taxi or bus trip back!

The village of Mareson Pecol is fairly quiet with a smattering of restaurants a couple of lively bars and a sports centre swimming pool. If you are after lively après ski then this isn’t your place. The longest I ever queued for a lift here was about five minutes so it’s a great quiet resort for those who love nothing better than to ski on quiet slopes.

Civetta is located in the Italian Region of Cortina d,Ampezzo and is close to the famed resort of Cortina you can read more about the region here http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/oct/16/skiing-italy-insiderguide?INTCMP=SRCH

So if you ever do go to the Dolomiti Superski and Civetta im sure you will love it as much as me – but sssshhhhhhh keep it a secret 🙂