Winter

At the point in which Italy, Austria and Slovenia meet, majestic mountain peaks lie in wait, proffering up innumerable paths that unwind for miles and miles and sometimes run through a forest of 23,000 hectares. From the heights of these peaks the topography swoops down into an extreme dip, that is into Val Resia, inhabited by an ancient Slavic community as well as by curious myths and luminous lakes. An itinerary that begins in the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia's northeast makes stops in the towns of Moggio Udinese, Malborghetto, Pontebba, and Tarvisio, and arrives in Carnia, brushing past the slopes of Jof di Montasio and the summits in Val Resia.

Monte San Giorgio, south of Lake Lugano, on the border between Italy and Switzerland, is one of the world's most important fossil deposits from the Middle Triassic, when this mountainous area was a lagoon in a tropical environment. How about time travel back to 250 million years ago?

A 14th-century Romanesque bell tower stands alone in the middle of a blue lake. Its height has allowed it to remain the sole protagonist of a place submerged and out of time, which answers to the name of Curon. Legend has it that you can even still hear the bells ringing, at least on windy days.

The 32nd International Ice Sculpture Festival in the South Tyrolean resorts of San Candido and San Vigilio di Marebbe is an original way to enjoy the beauty of winter. These are veritable open-air art galleries, where you can admire imaginative shapes carved out of ice.

Cortina d'Ampezzo sits in the heart of the Veneto Dolomites, in an ample valley surrounded by high peaks, and is one of the most famous mountain localities in the world. Host of the 1956 Winter Olympic Games and defined solely in the terms of chic and ski, Cortina is a glitzy, glam symbol both on the Italian and international scenes Cortina has always been a top destination for mountain and nature enthusiasts, as well as those in search of winter sport activity and, in general, fun.

An important ski tourism draw the world over, Courmayeur, in Valle d'Aosta, is known for both its beauty and hospitality. This ancient village weaves that authentic Alpine atmosphere into its entire being: the visitor can feel it whether walking through its main streets – such as the central Via Roma – or getting lost in its most hidden corners. Courmayeur stands at the 4,016 feet-marker of Mont Blanc, within a verdant basin surrounded by firs, spruces and larches, and of course mountain peaks, glaciers and other gorgeous and traditional towns along the Dora Baltea River that traverses the entirety of Valle d'Aosta. The welcome that locals give to their visitors and their care for and attention to the details are evident in the numerous lodging structures – from luxury hotels to typical Alpine baitas, from the historic cafes in the town center to the mountain huts in the vicinity of the slopes.

In the Upper Tagliamento Valley, the Forni di Sopra ski resort is the perfect ski holiday for those seeking fun, sports and relaxation, far from the crowds, in the enchanting scenery of the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The ski resort of Forni di Sopra, which rises up from 900 to 2,500 metres above sea level, offers activities to suit everyone, with downhill slopes, cross-country trails, a well-equipped snow park, ski mountaineering and hiking routes, ice climbing, an ice rink and a sports centre with facilities dedicated to wellness and indoor activities.

Surrounded by the extraordinary landscape of the Dolomites, with 450 ski lifts and 1,200 kilometers of ski slopes in twelve different ski areas where you can ski with just one single ski pass, Dolomiti Superski is one of the largest and most exciting ski areas in the world. Each of the twelve Dolomiti Superski areas boasts a number of one-of-a-kind features that are worth knowing about. Let's find out about them.

Are you planning a skiing week? Did you know that Emilia Romagna is perfect for people who love mountain sports? Thanks to the longest bob track in the Apennines, descents for expert skiers and beginners alike and fun snow parks for snowboarders and freestylers, this beautiful region is an unmissable destination for a skiing holiday. Here are 3 places to choose from:

The Milan - Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics is scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd 2026: two electrifying weeks of pure competition, showcasing the best athletes in the world involved in 16 different disciplines. In the meantime, why not explore the places that will host this unmissable international event and learn about the activities and events scheduled? Here are the places and activities so that you can already start to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Milan - Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

It was once also renowned for a spring of iron-rich water of various qualities, which has since been lost. It rises in a basin, between Bormio, the Stelvio Pass and the Passa Gavia, at the foot of the mountains of the Ortles Cevedale group and there is no season when mountain lovers cannot appreciate it. Of course, skiing is the reigning discipline here. Santa Caterina Valfurva hosted the Women's Alpine Skiing World Championships and several Alpine and Nordic Skiing World Cup races in 1985. Its real attraction is the slope dedicated to Deborah Compagnoni, a three-time Alpine skiing gold medallist, inaugurated for the World Championships in 2005 and illuminated at night to allow moonlight skiing. It is over three kilometres long, reaches a gradient of 75 per cent (only in some places) and is one of the most varied and exciting slopes in the entire Alpine region. In the heart of the Stelvio National Park, the ski area is a true jewel of nature and snow-capped peaks. An oasis where you can find tranquillity amidst the mountain scenery.

The slopes are perfect, the mountain scenes captivating, Paneveggio forest enchanting, the services and entertainment rich and varied. Not to mention the enrosadira, the spectacle of sunset on the Dolomite mountains, where the rocks glow rosey pink as the sun goes down. So mesmerising it will take your breath away, the Pale di San Martino puts on quite a show.

'Mens sana in corpore sano' said the Romans, perhaps thinking of Ischia and its thermal baths. As the thermal properties of the island were known as far back as the Roman Empire, water and mud were likely already used for creams and cosmetics. Ischia offers various options for those in need of specific cures or treatments or, more simply, for those who have made wellness their philosophy of life. Here then is an itinerary among the colourful thermal gardens, natural springs and the magic of fumaroles. From Molo Beverello in Naples, boarding a ferry or hydrofoil, it takes less than an hour to reach Ischia, an island that from the sea reveals itself as a block of rock and Mediterranean scrub and that contains within itself a microcosm of environments with a character that is anything but homogenous. The climate is mild all year round, the nature lush and untamed, the sea crystal clear, the beaches a dream, the towns picturesque. And if you add to all this the thermal waters, the island's true natural heritage, it is evident why Ischia is at the top of the rankings of favourite destinations for tourists from all over the world.

In Veneto, wellness and nature combine perfectly at the spas of Abano and Montegrotto. These thousand-year-old spas, well-known to the Ancient Romans, now offer specialised and modern centres for relaxation and preventive health, in a natural park to be explored on foot or on horseback, in the evocative landscape of the Euganean Hills. In the two main spa towns and throughout the surrounding area, you will find architectural works, ancient villages, museums, castles and ancient residences that are all worth a visit.

At the thermal baths of Abano and Montegrotto, the cold season is the perfect opportunity to fully enjoy the experiences offered by the area. Here you can be pampered by the warm embrace of the thermal waters, enjoy the marvellous autumn and winter landscapes of the Euganean Hills, soak up the magical atmospheres of the cities decked out in festive garb, and delight your palate with traditional products and typical cuisine.

This wonderful corner of Italy, where cities, towns and villages are perched on the highest peaks in the Alpine chain, may well best be narrated by its many food and wine products (wines, delicatessen meats, cheese) with PDO and DOC designations. Or the numerous wellness treatments offered by the high altitude spas where - between one ski run and the next - you can treat yourself to relaxation in facilities where modernity has always had enormous respect for tradition. Yet, naturally enough and especially in winter, the Aosta Valley means winter sports and experiences to be enjoyed in every possible way and well within everyone's reach. Learners can take their first steps in the many official ski schools available on every slope and at every altitude. If, on the other hand, you are already a super ski expert, here you can also try the unique and daring off-piste experience on slopes not served by lifts, thanks to the heliski service. A helicopter will take you up and follow you in flight until you return to the valley. In short, if you are keen to plan a stay in the Aosta Valley, you will find suggestions below chosen from the infinite possibilities of adventure and discovery that this region has to offer for not to be missed experiences.

Surrounded by some of the most spectacular mountains in the Dolomites, such as the Marmolada, Sassolungo and the Vajolet towers, the Val di Fassa is a beautiful area where you can enjoy skiing, both downhill and cross-country, in some of the most spectacular and famous ski areas in the world. Equipped for the needs of families as well as for the most discerning skiers, it also offers thermal spas and a notable gastronomic scene. In the summer months, too, there are some fabulous walks.

Looking for a vacation marked by nature, relaxation and reinvigoration? Want to enjoy sports and athletic activity in the fresh air? Bormio is one of several Italian destinations ideal for all of the above. Set within the expansive fields and pastures of Valtellina and traversed by the River Adda and the Frodolfo Stream, Bormio is a splendid little town with a magnificent position. It lies below the Stelvio Pass and the peaks of Ortles and Cevedale, and is rather well-known to the ski set. Of course Bormio’s thermal baths are one of its highlights, but those merely seeking out breathtaking views of Lombardy's mountains will feel just as at home as those arriving for the curative properties of its boiling waters – everything is a possibility here!