Attractions in Italy

If you love winter sporting activities or simply appreciate the freezing climate, you will be pleased for a winter trip to Italy. Whereas several tourists would not even contemplate a visit to Italy in the chilly winter months, snowboarding lovers and the rest who enjoy the snow can experience an Italy distinct from everything they'd understand usually in the hectic summer months or maybe the spring and fall time of year.

One of several main factors to go to Italy in winter is usually to enjoy the winter activities offered here. In 2006, the town of Torino Turin, Italy was the host of the Winter Olympic Games. All through those days, everyone had the opportunity to witness just how magnificent a place Italy can be for a wintertime tour. Moreover, snowboarding in Italy is a little cheaper than skiing in other places in the Alps including France, Austria, and Switzerland. That is not to say that this is a "cheap" vacation spot, the services are often top-notch but the majority tend to be an appealing superior worth. Discount hotels are accessible as well if you are not hunting for swanky.

A wintertime tour to Italy might comprise a stopover in Cortina, one of the leading Italian ski places for guests and for rich Italians. The surroundings here is basically wonderful and Cortina itself is an eye-catching town, offering activities and facilities for non-skiers as well together with a lot of shopping and some impressive modest eateries. For individuals who like the powder, however, Cortina provides something for skiers of  all ranges, together with novices and intermediates. The season is occasionally brief, but this is a genuine Italian event that has no equal in the U.S.

On the other hand, if you are a lodger, a winter trip to Italy might take in an expedition to Arabba, section of the Sella Ronda route, the most-recognized ski itinerary in the Dolomites. Also a vast area for mountain cycling in the summer months, Arabba provides several of the unsurpassed heli-skiing in Italy as well, so if that is your fad, be certain to include it on your schedule. Much of the Sella Ronda track is most fitting for adults as there are not a lot of kid-friendly activities in Arabba and several of the other resorts, so arrange accordingly. 

However, whether or not you are a skier, you will definitely discover a excellent deal on holiday packages and tours during the winter months in Italy. Tour particulars, like resorts and air reservations, do not require to be booked as far and advance as they do during the spring, summer, or fall, so a unprepared visit to Italy is very much a prospect in the months of January or February. Also, all the sights that have lengthy queues in the peak tourist months barely have lines at all throughout winter. That means you can stuff more sightseeing into your Italy trip throughout this time of year. And, of course, rates are typically very appealing as well.

Clearly, it is going to be colder here throughout winter, although if you won't mind the chill, this might be the appropriate moment of year for you to  get a trip to Italy. As you might have to go beyond the Venice gondola trip for now, you will discover there is more than enough to keep you occupied.

When it comes to snow sports, Italians tend to be a little more laid back with their skiing compared to their French, Swiss or Austrian cousins. In Italy, rather than queuing to catch the first lift to the summit, skiers are more likely to rise late, take a long lunch and finish early for an après ski Peroni beer, a glass of Cinzano or a shot of dark espresso. On a sunny day, you're likely to find more sun seekers than snow seekers, and it's not uncommon to see people stripped down to the briefs and bikinis, sitting on a slope-side sun deck soaking up the rays.

Italy is normally overshadowed as a ski destination by the better known ski resorts in France, Switzerland and Austria, but the Italians have a superb selection of their own resorts and are perhaps happy to keep their skiing secrets to themselves.

However, as hosts of the 2006 winter Olympics which took place in and around Torino (Turin), Italy has proven itself worthy of competing as a ski destination in the international arena and for many clued-in Brits, Italy's laid back attitude to life, love of fine food and wine, good value for money and beautiful mountains are an ongoing draw.

Italy has over 100 resorts scattered throughout the northern part of the country, in the Italian Alps, and the jagged Dolomites. With plenty of cheap flights to Milan, the city is one of the gateways to Italian ski resorts, with a number of superb options less than three hours' drive from the airport.

Bardonecchia, the French border town which hosted snowboarding events for the 2006 Olympics, is a truly authentic Italian experience with tree lined streets and rustic chalets. Cervinia, has a long ski season running from December to May, and is also linked to Zermatt in Switzerland, meaning you can pop over the border for lunch, should you feel the need for a chunk of Swiss chocolate!

One of the more recent favourites with British skiers is the duty free ski town of Livingo. Known for its lively nightlife, (not surprisingly fuelled by the availability of duty free alcohol), wide open and expansive pistes and one of the best terrain parks in Italy, the resort tends to attract a young crowd looking for a great value destination with superb skiing and snowboarding.

As Britain's skiers become increasingly well travelled, Italy, along with other countries slightly less well known for their skiing, are likely to become even more popular for those looking to experience the laid back lifestyle, incredible scenery and warm Italian reception.