Ski resorts in Italy
Val Gardena

Val Gardena: about the resort

Don't try to find the town of Val Gardena on the map - it doesn't exist. Like other resorts in the Dolomiti Superski region, Val Gardena (or Gröden in German) is the name of the ski region that unites three resorts. Val Gardena is located in the center of South Tyrol; this part used to belong to Austria, and this is felt literally in everything. The local population speaks three languages ​​fluently: Italian and German - the official languages ​​of South Tyrol (Alto Adige), and also the rare Ladin - native to the local population. Many villages and names in the Val Gardena and neighboring valleys often have two, and sometimes three names, often different from each other. Ortisei in Italian sounds like Ortisei, in German St. Ulrich, and in Ladin Urtijei. The Ladin language (it belongs to the Romansh language and is considered one of the endangered ones) is spoken by only about 25 thousand people, and often each region has its own dialects. For many centuries, the mountainous areas of Trentino were isolated from the outside world; traditions and crafts are still strong in the local villages. In many Dolomite villages, wood carving and lace weaving are held in high esteem, and the locals themselves are friendly and hospitable.

Val Gardena is one of the most popular places in the heart of the Dolomites. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, located on the famous Sella Ronda circular route. All of the region's main towns offer a good range of accommodation options. Val Gardena hosts international competitions every year, including the legendary Alpine Ski World Cup on the Saslong piste.

pros
- Large selection of accommodation options
- Magnificent scenery
- Good track preparation
- Lots of opportunities for children
- Good restaurants

Minuses
- Slopes and lifts are often crowded
- Fairly high price level
- Some long trails for beginners
- Not too lively nightlife
- Ski-in ski out options are limited

Val Gardena: how to get there

The nearest international airport is Bolzano - 40 km. To Innsbruck airport – 120 km, to Verona airport – 190 km. The journey by car from Munich takes more than 3.5 hours (316 km).

By train you can reach Val Gardena via Brunico in the Kronplatz region (16 km from the resort), then by bus. From Milan the train runs 5 times a day, the journey takes 3.5 hours, with a change in Verona. The village of Ortisei is closest to the highway.
Bus schedule - http://www.sii.bz.it, taxi order - http://www.taxiautosella.it.

Val Gardena: facts and routes

Ski area – 1060-2518 m
The total length of the tracks is 175 km
blue – 35%
red – 55%
black – 10%

Lifts:
Gondolas – 2, cabins – 7, chairlifts – 43, rope tows – 30

Season:
The first ski lifts open in November, full season: early December – early/mid April

Val Gardena ski passes

Ski pass Dolomiti Superski
For 6 days:
265-294 euros for adults, 185-206 euros for children over 8 years old.

Children under 8 years old ride for free when purchasing a ski pass from one of their immediate family members.
There are also discounts for riders over 65 years of age. At the beginning and end of the season there are discounts and special offers. The ski pass is valid in all 12 valleys of the Dolomites Superski region (in total, this is 1200 km of slopes in various resorts, but not all of them are fully connected).

Application for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) and Android (webcams, news, events, weather, snow, ski lifts, maps and diagrams, photos and videos, reference information): . The application is free.

Val Gardena: prices

Rental of a set of equipment for 6 days – 160-180 euros
Group classes (5 days, 3 hours) – from 250 euros
Individual lessons with an instructor – from 47 euros/hour
Visit to the aquatic center – 8.5 euros
Visit to the ice palace – 6 euros

Sella Ronda

Sella Ronda is one of the most beautiful ski safari routes in Italy and perhaps in the Alps, passing through the Ladin valleys (Val Gardena) Alta Badia(Alta Badia) Val di Fassa(Val di Fassa) And Arabba(Arab). On this route you can travel clockwise (indicated in orange on the route map) or against it (indicated in green on the map) for about 40 km, of which about 23 km are ski slopes. Sella Ronda is suitable for intermediate skiers. The "orange" route is considered to be slightly more difficult than the "green" route.

Val Gardena: where to ride

Val Gardena is a former Austrian possession that became part of Italy after the First World War; the influence of Italy and Austria is intricately mixed in the local culture and cuisine. Val Gardena consists of three resort towns: Ortisei(Ortisei, 1235 m), Santa Cristina(Santa Cristina, 1466 m) and Selva Gardena(Selva Gardena, 1563 m). Ortisei not bad for families with children, the resort has many hotels with wellness centers, a good selection of restaurants and shops. Santa Cristina- the most compact resort in the region; there are few hotels in this town, but they are good. Selva Gardena or, in German, Wolkenstein - a good option for those who want to ride more difficult trails and travel to neighboring regions. Selva (also called Selva di Val Gardena) has many good hotels, and apartments are also easy to find; this is the busiest of the Val Gardena resorts.

Val Gardena is famous for the quality and variety of trails. From the top station of Piz Cella you can take the black piste towards Selva or go to the Sellajoch piste (2240 ​​m) and the piste above Plan de Galba (1780 m). The most difficult black run is the long and winding descent into Selva Gardena from the top of Ciampioni (2254 m). From the same peak, but on the eastern side, a shorter and less winding, but also very difficult black trail descends to Santa Cristina. For lovers of difficult descents, the Piz Cella – Monte de Seura area (2115 m) is recommended with interesting red slopes that pass through the forest in the lower part. Some red pistes in low snow conditions can have quite difficult black sections. The traditional route along Sella Ronda may seem too boring for experienced skiers, but it is worth paying attention to the black and red slopes at Porta Vescovo above Arabba. For those who like to ride between the trees, it is worth paying attention to Piz la Ila: the slope under the gondola to La Villa (this is the Alta Badia region) is quite long and steep. For beginners, the Alpe di Siusi area is more suitable; strong skiers may be interested in testing their speed on a special section.

The long and wide pistes between Santa Cristina and Ortisei are well suited for beginner skiers and snowboarders. A gondola from Ortisei takes you to the main ski area to Monte Piz (2109 m). The resorts of Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena are connected by a system of lifts; ski-bus runs regularly from Selva to Ortisei.

At the height of the season in Val Gardena, virgin soil is rolled out quite quickly. But with desire and some effort, you can find incredibly beautiful freeride routes. In particular, having climbed on the Sass Pordoi cabin to the mark of 2950 m, you can go a little north on foot to the Boe hut (2873 m, it is usually closed in winter). From here begins the picturesque Val Mezdi ("midday valley", so named because only at this time the sun penetrates into it). Slightly gloomy, but defiantly beautiful cliffs, untouched snow, narrow canyons - the route requires good technical skills and it is advisable to go through it accompanied by a guide. From the top of the route there is an incredible view of the resorts below.

Val Gardena: Apres-ski

In the restaurants of Val Gardena, Tyrolean and Ladin cuisine reigns, with a clear predominance of meat dishes (although you can also find good fish in hotel restaurants). In Selva, many good restaurants are located in hotels. Tyrol, Dorfer, Nives, Mignon are popular; they serve traditional South Tyrol dishes. Each of the good hotels has its own bars and restaurants. There is an excellent gastronomic restaurant at the Alpenroyal Grand Hotel. The charming restaurant Anna Stuben is famous for its cuisine and pleasant atmosphere and is awarded by the Michelin Guide. Most guests choose to stay with half board, and the food in most hotels is tasty and plentiful, so don’t overextend yourself. During the high season (Christmas and New Year, school holidays, February) in the most popular restaurants it is better to book a table in advance, otherwise you will not get in.

Having a snack or a hearty lunch in the mountains is also not a problem in Val Gardena, because you are in Italy. Most mountain huts and restaurants offer Tyrolean, Ladin and Italian cuisine, and there are several excellent fish restaurants (notably Vallongia). Traditional lunch - various soups, polenta with mushrooms and other additives, and, of course, all kinds of pasta. Full list of mountain restaurants -

Good fashion stores are located in Ortisei, prices are more in line with elite resorts. During the season, the resorts in the valley host many interesting events. In December, Santa Cristina hosts the Alpine Skiing World Cup - a very spectacular and interesting event that attracts thousands of fans.

Val Gardena: not only skiing

The valley towns have indoor swimming pools, skating rinks and wellness centers. You can play tennis and squash in Ortisei. In the evening you can sit in a cafe, restaurant or go to a disco. Specialized ski shops and souvenir shops are open in Selva and Santa Cristina. In the local history museum you can get acquainted with the history of the valley, see ancient household items, and carved wooden sculptures. It is worth visiting the ancient castle of Fischburg in Santa Cristina, built in the 17th century. There are many luxury hotels in the valley, many of them with excellent wellness centers. In Ortisei there is the Mar Dolomiti aquatic center with a large swimming pool, a complex of cascades, saunas and a wellness complex. Alpin Garden Wellness Resort has a luxurious Wellness & Spa Cleopatra complex with an area of ​​more than 1000 sq.m. with swimming pools, several Jacuzzis, a variety of saunas and a beauty center. There is also a fitness center with panoramic views of the Sassolungo Dolomite rock. In the village of Selva Gardena, there is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Alps, repeatedly recognized as the best ski and spa hotel in Italy - Sporthotel Alpenroyalp Gourmet & Relax. It is one of The Leading Hotels of the World and offers a state-of-the-art spa and a wide range of treatments.

Val Gardena: with children

The resort has a kindergarten with a ski school. A large children's sector at the foot of the mountain is located in Ortisei. Mickey Mountain Club, located in Selva, is designed for children from 4 to 12 years old and offers a varied program. Junior Club, designed for teenagers from 11 to 18 years old, is located in Selva. In addition to the actual skiing, the family is offered a large selection of entertainment: special programs, snowshoeing, dog sledding and horse sledding, toboggan runs and skating rinks - Be prepared for the fact that most of the ski instructors do not speak Russian (Italian, German, etc.) less often - English - local standard).
- When planning a trip to the Sella Ronda or to other remote valleys, carefully study the opening times of the lifts. Getting “stuck” in a neighboring or not quite neighboring valley is an expensive pleasure: traveling between resorts on skis is much faster than by road, and a taxi ride can cost a pretty penny.
- Avoid riding the Sella Ronda during peak periods, otherwise you may end up spending a lot of time in queues.

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Val Gardena has 175 km of slopes at altitudes of 1235-2520 m in four ski sectors. To the south above Ortisei, 800 m above the resort, is the picturesque Seiser Alm plateau with very easy “red” and “blue” slopes ranging in length from 600 m to 2.5 km. The Monte Piz (2109) and Bullaccia (2100) routes have a southern orientation. The wide and gentle paths in the area between Spitzbuhl (1939) and Punta d'Oro (2210) face north, as do several pleasant forest slopes of Zallinger (2100). No trails from Seiser Alm lead to Ortisei - you can only go down by gondolas.

The ski area Seceda (2518) - Col Raiser (2103), shared by Ortisei and S. Cristina, is located on the other side of the valley; Both resorts can be skied from there. In the direction of S. Christina there are spacious roads with a predominantly southern orientation.

To Ortisei, to the west, there is a beautiful, sometimes quite narrow 10.5 km descent with a height difference of 1300 m, the longest in Val Gardena. The most interesting ski area is located above S. Cristina and Selva, on the forested northern slopes of Ciampinoi (2254). It is here that the most technically difficult slopes of Val Gardena are laid, where a very spectacular stage of the Alpine Ski World Cup is held every year in December - super-G and downhill. Much easier are the routes above Plan de Gralba, on the eastern slopes of Piz Sella (2284) and Piz Seteur (2063).

On the other side of Selva is the Dantercepies sector (2300). From there there are several fairly long (4.5 km) high-quality “red” trails, from which a panoramic view of the entire Gardena opens. These always crowded west-facing slopes are part of the most popular ski safari route in the Dolomites around the Sella mountain group (3151) - see.

For experts

Strong skiers should first of all pay attention to Ciampinoi. The legendary “black” slope Saslong A starts from a narrow ridge in the direction of S. Christina, where a very spectacular stage of the Alpine Skiing World Cup takes place every December - men's downhill and super-G. It was thanks to her that Val Gardena, together with the Austrian Kitzbühel (Streif circuit), the French Val d'Isere (Face Bellevarde), the Swiss Wengen (Lauberhorn Weltcup Abfahrt) and the German Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Kandahar), from the very beginning entered the so-called “Club 5", which presents alpine resorts that have the most difficult sports tracks and regularly host stages of the White Circus.

The length of Saslong A is almost 3.5 km; the average slope is 24.5%, and the maximum, at the starting section and below Sochers, is up to 57%. Diving into the forest, the route narrows noticeably. Approximately in the middle, at around 1813 m, lies in wait the insidious Kamelbuckel, the “Camel’s Hump”, which during professional competitions throws skiers 50-80 m away - of course, it is better to slow down in front of it. Before the straight finishing section there will be a couple more steep turns with a slope of up to 51%...

No less interesting is the “red” descent Saslong B, which goes behind the Sochers mountain hotel to the right. It is longer than the “black” A, also has several high-speed sections, and in addition, shortly before the finish in S. Cristina, it passes by the Gardena landmark - Fischburg Castle; from the piste you can look through a low wall into the courtyard... Both options are equally popular among experienced skiers. In the morning, the trails are always in excellent condition; by evening, they often develop bumps and ice patches. Two very decent descents lead from Ciampinoi to Selva. The left "black" begins in the same place as Saslong, and below the Saslonch restaurant it continues with a steep, hard corridor in the forest area. The right “red”, having passed along a narrow ridge, on both sides of which there are steep cliffs, rushes into the valley with pleasant rolling bends. On the way out, in order to cross the bridge over the river to the gondola lift that returns to Ciampinoi, you will have to pull yourself up on a rope tow about a hundred meters.

We advise you not to miss the barely distinguishable “black” and “red” trails, laid on the forested slope of Mont de Seura (2117). An excellent chance to race without interference - there are always very few people here: the slopes are located somewhat away from the main ski area. The only way to get to their beginning is by going up on a 4-chair chair from the Monte Pana clearing (1667), which still needs to be reached.

For advanced skiers

Almost all of the routes described above are quite feasible for skiers with average training, although they require their attention and concentration. Representatives of the most common category of skiers in Val Gardena like a lot - not to mention the opportunity to travel to the Marmolada glacier (3342). Both adults and children feel confident on the “red-blue” slopes to the right of Piz Sella, where there are high-speed 4- and 6-chair lifts, as well as a couple of rope tows.

Easy “red” paths lead to Plan de Gralba. On Ciampinoi, in addition to Saslong and the descent to Selva, in the upper part of the slope there is a moderately difficult track, served by a 4-chair Sochers. The only problem in this area is the steep exits from the peaks.

The “red” descents to Selva with Dantercepies would deserve the highest rating, if they were not so overloaded with people hurrying along the Sellaronda route. From the right branch, however, you can go to a high-quality, completely deserted forest track in Langental.

The Seceda sector is very popular among skiers based in Ortisei and S. Cristina. The trails here are mostly wide, with a pleasant gradient in the upper sections and gradual drops towards the end. There is always a lot of sun, the snow is soft. There are a couple of short, nice tracks on the south-eastern slope of the wooded Col Raiser hill... Every year in late March - early April, the popular Gardenissima competition ("the most giant slalom" in the Dolomites"), in which everyone can take part.

As for the “home” ski area of ​​​​Ortisei, Seiser Alm is able to deceive the expectations of trained skiers. Many of the local slopes, marked as “red”, are in fact elementary “blue” slopes with a very slight elevation difference, no more than 300 m. Only a few pistes, Monte Piz, Bullacia Puflatsch, and the Zallinger slopes located at the other end of the plateau, more or less correspond to their “red” marking.

For beginners

If the Seiser Alm is a little boring for decent amateurs, then beginners, on the contrary, feel the best here. That is why, when assessing Val Gardena from the point of view of conditions for beginner skiers, we confidently give the entire region a **** rating. Most of the bright, spacious, soft slopes of the high mountain plateau are excellent for training sessions and mastering the basics of skiing techniques. Alternating between climbs and easy descents, you can go around Seiser Alm along the Skitour Hexen route, “Baba Yaga’s ski tour”: little skiers will be completely delighted with such a safari... However, for those who put on skis for the first time in their lives, before climbing Seiser Alm, it’s still better to first hang out a little in the “paddling pool” located below, directly next to Ortisei.

S. Cristina's main training area is located above the resort, on Monte Pana. Several simple “blue” slopes are served by four rope tows. You can go down on a double chair. There is also a small slope for beginners in the upper area of ​​the village.

In Selva, beginners spend most of their time on a gentle slope with Dantercepies. Here they have seven yokes at their disposal; the upper two extend onto a steeper part of the slope. Conditions for educational skating are tolerable, but not ideal: the “paddling pool” is unceremoniously invaded every now and then by everyone skiing down to the resort. To be fair, it is also worth noting that on the map of the region these “blue” slopes are shown much wider than they actually are.

Ski safari

There are a great many options for ski safaris, multi-hour ski trips without repeating the descents, in the vicinity of the Sella mountain group (3151). The total length of interconnected trails here is about 480 km, and a unified lift system allows you to make interesting trips along some new routes every day. A distinctive feature of such safaris is that they take place in the completely unique, fantastic scenery of the Dolomites.

The materials about , present the possibilities of ski safari in these ski regions. In this article, we will talk about how to quickly, within one day, get acquainted with the most interesting routes of Val Gardena. Start with Ciampinoi (2254). Rising early in the morning from Selva, take a walk to S. Cristina. For the first warm-up descent, the “red” route Saslong B is more suitable. On the steep upper section and below, near Sochers, you will probably still find corduroy tracks of snowcats; there will be no bumps in the narrow passage near the Fischburg castle and at the finish rollout - they will be dug later.

From S. Cristina, using the gondolas and 6-chair chairs, go up to Ciampinoi again. From the top station, an excellent, moderately difficult four-kilometer track rushes down to Selva. Having passed the beautiful ridge, turn left at the couple's chair - the right descent will lead to the village of Plan de Gralba. Be careful at the intersection with the “black” route - do not jump out at the feet of skiers coming from above. When exiting, stay to the right. In the passage between the houses and front gardens you will have to push around with sticks for about a hundred meters, after which, crossing the road, you will pull yourself up to the opposite slope in a 4-chair.

Short descent to 6-seater gondolas, climb to Dantercepies (2300). The “red” routes back to Selva, not broken and not too crowded in the mornings, do not contain any unpleasant surprises: the slope is average, there are practically no sharp changes. Having gone down to the foot, do not miss the left turn onto the narrow road leading into the resort. Having reached the end, cross the road again and climb Ciampinoi again: from slope to slope - like on a swing...

The fifth descent of the day is ahead, this time to Plan de Gralba. Moving forward from the top gondola station, you have to overcome a not-so-pleasant section along the double chairlift (in a good way it should have been given a “black” marking) - but further on there is a normal “red” route and a very gentle slope to the funicular. It will take you to Piz Sella (2284). Descending from here, keep to the right to get onto an easy scenic route that goes under the kilometer-long rock tower of Sassolungo (3181). After a couple of kilometers, the descent will turn into a gentle forest traverse and widen again in the Monte Pana clearing (1667).

Without wasting time, take a 4-chair up to Mont de Seura (2117) and go back down along any of the tracks. If you choose the “red” path, turn right at the right time. It is very important not to miss the passage above Monte Pana: on the map it is shown as a dotted line, in reality it is not marked with any signs at all. Meanwhile, it is precisely this that allows you to get out immediately after the shallow ravine onto the “black” descent Saslong A, approximately 350 m from the finish rollout to S. Christina. Having gone down, take off your skis and take the “metro”, which in a matter of minutes will take you to the upper area of ​​the resort, to the gondolas that take Col Raiser (2103) to the opposite slope. Ascent, short drive to the 4-chair chair, another ascent to the Seceda slope (2518). All this, taking into account possible queues, will take at least half an hour. Next comes a very long, ten-kilometer descent to Ortisei. The route first rushes south along the ridge, then, turning sharply at Cuca Sattel to the northwest, descends under the sheer rock wall of Seceda, into the Annatal valley. A couple of high-speed sections, a turn to the intermediate lift station. After it, the route noticeably flattens out and, having presented several beautiful “episodes”, such as a stone ledge with a frozen blue waterfall, it calmly finishes on the outskirts of Ortisei. You can cross it on foot in 10-15 minutes, climb Monte Piz (2100) and go explore the Seiser Alm trails. However, you clearly don’t have enough time for this. The route described above is about 4 hours of continuous movement; it takes about the same amount of time to go around the plateau above Ortisei. But it would be nice to get back to Selva on skis (and not by bus!); Besides, the long piste leading from Seceda to S. Cristina has not yet been climbed... So better leave the soft slopes of Seiser Alm for another time. It is, of course, possible in principle to drive through all the sectors of Val Gardena in one day, but there is no point in such a race.

Off-piste

Off-piste skiing in Val Gardena is not very popular. Either there are not enough steep and wide slopes suitable for this activity, or freeriders are quite satisfied with civilized slopes... Most likely, both.

A good off-piste experience can be found on the north side of Ciampinoi, under the 6-chair lift and to the left of it; However, the avalanche barriers located at the top of the slope interfere a little. Under the 4-chair Piz Seteur (2063) there is usually a fun off-piste path. From the upper “red” traverse leading to the Passo Sella pass (2244), you can go down through virgin soil, between rare low pines, to the lower “blue” one - it’s a pity, it’s too flat here. Moving from Mont de Seura in the direction of Ciampinoi, it is interesting to leave the marked road to the left and first along an open slope, and then through the forest to the road to Monte Pana.

Good opportunities for off-piste in the Seceda sector. Moving away from the marked descents at a decent distance, you have time to taxi to the bottom station of the main 4-chair. The problem is that the fluffy virgin soil on the southern slope does not last long - after a snowfall it is almost immediately covered with a firn crust. However, later, when the crust thickens properly, you can safely walk off-piste in any direction.

The same picture is in the Seiser Alm sector - on Monte Piz and Bullacia Puflatsch, brutally attacked by the sun, whose height does not exceed 2100 m. The snow on the slopes of Punta d’Oro (2210) is slightly better, but for full-fledged off-piste skiing the slope here is more than modest.

Snowboard

Val Gardena is primarily a ski area: it is less interesting for snowboarders. On the slope of Piz Sella, at the 6-chair Comici, there is an easy boardercross track.

A more serious park is located in the Passo Sella area, in the Col Rodella sector, which practically belongs to Val di Fasse. Getting there from Selva or S. Cristina is long and difficult for border travelers; A particularly unpleasant place is the long, very flat traverse behind the Citta dei Sassi chair, along which you basically have to walk.

On the Seiser Alm, the halfpipe is usually built on the northern slope, at the 4-chair Laurin. Above the village of Kompatch (1980) there is a small park for beginner snowboarders.

Val Gardena from A to Z: map of hotels and ski areas, slopes and pistes, lifts and ski passes. Vivid photos and videos. Reviews of ski tourists about Val Gardena.

• Tours for the New Year to Italy
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Val Gardena is a valley more than 15 km wide with a large selection of quality trails. The skiing season here lasts from early December to mid-April. The resort includes three towns with well-developed infrastructure - Ortisei (1236 m), St. Cristina (1428 m) and Selva (1563 m).

Entertainment and attractions

The resort infrastructure in Val Gardena is well developed: there are many attractions, discos, bars, cozy restaurants, fashion shops, indoor skating rinks and swimming pools.

Guests are also provided with cultural leisure - Italy, after all. Getting acquainted with the historical heritage of the region is worth starting with the Museum of Local Lore (website with English version). Among its exhibits: ancient archaeological finds, fossilized reptiles, ancient wooden toys, centuries-old sculptures and paintings.

The works of woodcarvers are presented at the permanent exhibition Art 52 (website with English version). You can admire masterpieces of sculpture and painting in the Unika art gallery (website with English version).

There are many beautiful churches in the Dolomites, for example the parish church in Ortisei. This magnificent Baroque building impresses with its colorful exterior and interior decoration. Tourists also like to take a ride to ancient medieval castles, or rather, their ruins. The most visited castles are Wolkenstein and Fischburg.

In summer, breathtaking panoramas of the blooming Alps attract travelers no less than icy slopes and snow-covered spruce trees. Tourists are invited to go hiking, fishing, horse riding, mountain climbing, rafting, parachuting or cycling.

7 things to do in Val Gardena

1. Take a 40-kilometer walk along the famous “Dolomite Carousel” - Selle Ronda.
2. Go to a restaurant on the observation deck and forget about food, admiring the most beautiful mountains in the world.
3. Learn at least one trick on the ski jump at the snowpark.
4. Capture your descents with an action camera to show off to your friends.
5. Practice mountaineering and want to conquer Everest.
6. Capture in photos dozens of shades of the famous pink sunsets.
7. Organize the most epic après ski, because the parties of Val Gardena allow it.

Val Gardena for children

Val Gardena is great for a family holiday. The range of children's winter activities is naturally wide - they go here not only skiing, but also snowboarding, sledding, and skating. There are also mountaineering centers at the resort.

In sports schools in Val Gardena, even those who have barely learned to walk are put on skis.

For a dashing sled run in Ortisei, a special 6-kilometer track has been opened. The ascent takes place from the Rasciesa station. There are skating rinks everywhere - even in hotels and restaurants. The most popular sites are the skating rink at the Iman sports center in Santa Cristina and Pranives (website with English version) in Selva.

The theme of sports entertainment is continued by the Mar Dolomit aquatic center (website), however, the entertainment here is only a swimming pool, there are no attractions. In summer, kids will love the PanaRaida obstacle course, which features exciting mazes, a tunnel with elves and a giant forest swing.

Middle-aged children and adults should visit the Col de Flam Adventure Park (website

Cloudy, rain, thunderstorm

15 °C during the day+11 °C at night

Cloudy, rain

7 °C during the day+6 °C at night

The climatic conditions in the local valleys are almost always ideal - the air is clean and not too humid, the sun is generous and soft, the snow is fluffy, and there are no severe frosts. The ski season lasts from December to April, and the resort is very popular during the New Year holidays. Prices for entertainment during these weeks are high, but unforgettable experiences are guaranteed - Italians know how to have fun, and they have almost no equal in creating fireworks.

In the summer, residents of Italy escape in the mountains from the tiresome city heat, because in Val Gardena the air is fresh and temperatures are moderate.

Val Gardena is a wide, picturesque valley in South Tyrol, located in the north-west of the Dolomites, a superb mountain range with UNESCO World Natural Heritage status. According to experienced tourists, Val Gardena is the most attractive valley of Sella Ronda, a circular ski route with a total length of 500 km. The valley itself offers 175 km of trails of breathtaking beauty.

Val Gardena offers its guests many opportunities for entertainment. Among them you can choose the most suitable one: winter excursions, freestyle, hockey, paragliding, figure skating, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, sledding and much more. The variety of active recreation attracts tourists from all over the world.

The resort includes three small towns with well-developed infrastructure - Ortisei (1236 m), Santa Cristina (1428 m) and Selva (1563 m).

Ortisei, the largest of them, is an excellent place for families with children. There are many restaurants, spas, various hotels and shops. The first ski lift is just a 10 minute walk away.

Santa Cristina is the smallest resort town in the valley. It is very cozy here and there is no noise.

Selva is a fairly popular resort due to its convenient location to the Sella Ronde mountain route, where many trails begin. It has a developed tourism infrastructure.

Previously, Val Gardena was part of Austria-Hungary, so people here speak German more readily than Italian. As for the local population of Val Gardena, they are very hospitable and sincere. Local people speak a rare Ladin language that is over 2000 years old! You should definitely talk to them.

Val Gardena annually hosts the World Alpine Ski Championships. Interestingly, all the action takes place on the steep Saslong highway. With just a little bit of courage, you can also taste victory by going down this famous track.

The Val Gardena valley is part of the Sella Ronda circuit, which includes 500 km of ski slopes. It is here that international men's slalom competitions are held every year.

Val Gardena is part of the Dolomiti Superski association - an incredibly beautiful ski area of ​​16 ski regions. A particular advantage is the ability to ski all 1,200 km of Dolomiti Superski pistes with a single ski pass. And 450 lifts will take you to the best peaks of the Dolomites with ease. By visiting the Alta Bedia resort, you are guaranteed to get the most out of an active holiday!

The Val Gardena valley lies in the heart of the Dolomites in Italy (province of South Tyrol) and is very popular among skiers. The main advantages of this ski region are stunning mountain views, cozy villages and endless opportunities for skiing and ski safaris: almost 200 km of slopes plus convenient access to the Sella Ronda circular route and neighboring areas. In total, vacationers have access to almost one and a half thousand kilometers of slopes, connected by lifts and ski buses.

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Until the end of the First World War, Val Gardena was part of Austria-Hungary, as a result of which the German language is even more common here than Italian. The local population also speaks Ladin, so all geographical names and settlements in the valley have 2-3 names. For example, the village of Ortisei in Italian sounds like Ortisei, in German it is called St. Ulrich, and in Ladin - Urtijёi.

Trails, slopes, lifts

In the Val Gardena valley in Italy there are three winter resorts: the village of Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena.

From Ortisei you can easily access the Alpe Di Siusi area, excellent for relaxing skiing and learning, and Seceda & Col Raises, which will interest more experienced skiers (in particular, the region's longest run, the 10 km La Longia, is located here).

From the village of Santa Cristina, located in the center of the valley, you can easily reach the already mentioned area of ​​Seceda & Col Raises, as well as Monte Pana (the area for beginners) and Ciampinoi, where the most difficult and famous slopes of Val Gardena are concentrated, including the “black » Saslong track, where the World Cup stage in giant slalom and downhill is held.

The lift to Ciampioni also starts from Selva. In addition, from Selva there is direct access to the Plan de Gralba ski area, where blue and green slopes predominate, and Dantercepies with training slopes where local ski schools conduct classes.

In addition, the famous Italian “around the world” route, the Sella Ronda route, runs through the Val Gardena valley: you can go around it or go through it to the slopes of the neighboring valleys - Val di Fassa, Alta Badia and Arabba Marmolada.

Entertainment and active recreation

Val Gardena has illuminated trails for night skiing, fun parks, cross-country ski trails, ski kindergartens and ski schools. In addition, local villages are perfectly prepared for relaxation after skiing.

Thus, in Ortisei, the Mar Dolomiti aquatic center is equipped with a swimming pool, saunas and spa. Santa Cristina has a small museum and a 16th-century castle, an outdoor skating rink and a paragliding school. In Selva there is a sports center, a tennis center Tennis Center GMA, an ice palace Stadium PR Anives, extreme sports centers - paragliding, rock climbing, winter hiking, etc. In addition, this village has the largest number of entertainment facilities - in the evenings there are pubs, a shooting range, sports bars, discos, bowling alleys, etc.

Local cuisine and wines

Restaurants in Val Gardena will introduce their guests to the best traditions of Tyrolean and Ladin cuisine, rich in meat dishes, and will also offer pizza, spaghetti and risotto typical throughout Italy. The choice of establishments is also quite wide: there are restaurants in every village, many of them are located at hotels - and there are also mountain huts on the slopes where you can have lunch while skiing.

Where to stay

Many hotels in Ortisei, which is considered a family resort, are aimed at quality holidays with children. There are very few hotels in the fabulous Santa Cristina, but here you can truly relax in a quiet and cozy atmosphere. In Selva, the busiest village in the valley, the range of hotels is the most diverse - from modest 2* hotels to expensive, comfortable chalets with spacious rooms, restaurants, wellness centers and swimming pools. In particular, here is the Sporthotel Alpenroyalp Gourmet & Relax 5*, which has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best hotels in the Italian Alps.