Ski Italy

Land surface: 89.28 Km2
Altitude: m 1518 (chief village)
Minimum height: 1,454 m
Maximum height: 3,280 m
Distance from Turin: 81 Km

The name is has its origins in old words ‘Prata’ ‘Gelata’ and it states the land frozen for most time of the year.
The middle ages history starts form 10th century documents in which Countess Adelaide of Susa gives the land to the Benedictine Abbey of St. Maria near Pinerolo.

In later times Pragelato became the part of an autonomous body, the Community of the Escartons with its capital at Briançon.
The name came from the French term “escartonner”, which means ‘divide taxes fairly’.
In the 18th century the Community loose it sovereign , and finally in 1791 became the French district.
In turning of 19th and 20th centuries many of habitants moved deeper into France, especially after the accident in 1904 where avalanche killed 81 miners in Val Troncea.
During the Winter Olympic Games in Torino 2006 in Pragelato took place competitions for cross-country skiing, and ski jump.
Ski Jumping Stadium Pragelato provides 5 ski jumps. 2 with artificial light: Large Hill HS 140, and Normal Hill HS 106. There also three Training jumps HS66, HS33 and HS15.
Snow machines guarantee snow on 10 km long courses, some of them used for Torino 2006.
Around Pragelato are 50 km of well-tended pistes, with panoramic views, suitable for both beginners and the real experts.
The new cable car Pattemouche-Anfiteatro connects Pragelato with the slopes of Sestriere and the ski area Vialattea.

[photo by JungleBoy ]

Tags: resorts, Vialattea