Ski Italy

Cervinia lies at 2,006 m (6,581 ft) above sea level, at the foot of the Monte Cervino ( Matterhorn ) – one of the highest peaks in the Alps (4,478 m a.s.l) , and the emblem of Swiss Alps.

Cervinia shares a ski area with Zermatt in Switzerland with smaller surface, but much cheaper than its Swiss neighbour. The special skipass bought in Italy allows also skiing on Swiss side of Matterhorn.
The region between Matterhorn and Monte Rosa is one of the major glaciated area in the Alps. The glaciers and the altitude of Cervinia (one of Europe’s highest resorts) provide long snow, and the great skiing conditions.

The history of rock climbing in Matterhorn area is about two hundread years old, but only in 1930 the present town Cervinia has been founded by Mussolini.

In 1936 the first cable (Breuil-Plan Maison) has been opened, and sooner after the hotel Gran Baita at the bottom of the ski run.

Since the beginning in the area were introduced and developed the latests skiing facilities, at present the sophisticated electronic equipment allows to control

the data from various internet cameras, and weather conditions from meteo stations in real time.

There is a great variety of pistes, the lovers of heights can choose ski run Ventina with 1,480 metres of height spread, the ‘speed lovers’ could go for Bontadini run.

If you don’t rush you can choose the slower runs with beautiful views on Cervino, up to Monte Bianco on the horison.

The highest parts of the mountains are accessible only for Alpine skiing, also Helski (dropped by helicopter), Kite Ski or paragliding.

In Cervinia there is also the longest ski run ( 22 km ) that stretches from the Klein Matterhorn in Switzerland down to Valtournenche in Italy.

The new opened snowpark ‘Indianpark’ situated near chair-lift Fornet attracts the fans of Freestyle Ski.

The official name of the ski area is compresorio Breuil-Cervinia Valtournenche
The altitude varies between Piccolo Cervino( peek at 3,883 m,ski slope from 3480 m) Breuil-Cervinia 2,050 m and Valtournenche ( end of slopes 1562 m, town level1,524 m),
that gives 1918 m of difference between the highest and the lowest point of slopes.

24 (57 with Zermatt )skilifts serve 150 km (350km with Zermatt ) of ski runs, where 57% of them are red, 23% blue and 20% black.

Alpine informations

[photo by giustino ]

Tags: cervinia, resorts, Valle d`Aosta