Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
LAST CHANCE!
Hit the slopes in Alta Badia this winter, for a taste of the true South Tyrol...
Submit your best travel shots to our annual Travel Photo of the Year competition and be in with a shot of winning a trip to Texas
TRAVEL PHOTO OF THE YEAR 2019
Alta Badia is a ski destination like no other. Sitting in the southernmost reaches of the Val Badia valley, and towered over by the Unesco-listed Dolomites, this South Tyrol (Südtirol) spot is the last stronghold of the Ladin culture, where unique alpine traditions blend with Italian dolce vita (good life).
As you might expect, the skiing in Alta Badia is world class. It’s part of Dolomiti Superski, the largest ski resort complex in Europe, so with just one ski pass you have access to 12 ski resorts – encompassing 1,200km of slopes – in the heart of the Dolomites. Whether you’re an experienced skier or a total beginner, you’ll find the perfect slope for you.
Conditions are always perfect – with 300 days of sunshine every year, and state-of-the-art snow machines to ensure the powder is perfect. Add in plenty of modern facilities and some breathtaking views, and you’ve got a ski experience to savour.
But that’s not all: Alta Badia is also regarded as the culinary capital of the Dolomites. You’ll find four Michelin stars within its borders, and the tiny huts and bars that dot the slopes are just as discerning as the area’s award-winning restaurants. Even the humblest meal is one to remember.
Alta Badia’s traditional Ladin cuisine is simple, wholesome, and made from fresh locallysourced ingredients. Stand-out dishes include Cajincí (ravioli filled with spinach) and Furtaies (swirls of batter, fried and dusted with sugar) – just the kind of hearty fare you need in the mountains.
Great food, unique culture, pristine slopes… this is skiing as it was meant to be.
UNIQUE WINTER ADVENTURES
For more than 50 years, the six villages in Alta Badia have been synonymous with sporty winter breaks in South Tyrol and the Dolomites. Italy’s first chairlift was opened here in 1946 – the Col Alto in Corvara – and ever since then ski enthusiasts have flocked to the region for its crisp winter air, beautiful
snow-capped mountains and immaculate ski slopes.
Located in the centre of the Dolomiti Superski skiing region, Alta Badia boasts 130km of runs, served by superb facilities – and the local transport links have a skis-on connection to more than 500km of slopes around the Sella mountain. But what really sets Alta Badia apart from other European winter sports destinations, however, is the truly unique ski experiences it can offer.
The most famous is the Sellaronda, one of the most impressive ski circuits in the Alps. This beautiful 40km lap takes you across four mighty Dolomite passes, through remote Ladin communities, and around the entire Sella Massif – all in just one day.
Another one for your skiing bucket list is Alta Badia’s fascinating First World War circuit. Many battles were fought right here on Mount Col di Lana, and this 80km circuit weaves past rock-hewn trenches, parapet walks, and forts and equipment abandoned by retreating soldiers.
For relaxed runs and panoramic views, the Valle
Stella Alpina is ideal. Also known as the Edelweiss valley, its wide and sunny slopes on the edge of Puez-odle Nature Park have plenty of elbow room – as well as cosy mountain huts and uninterrupted vistas all the way across the Val Mezdí to the Sella Massif.
FANTASTIC CUISINE
Drawing on both its Ladin traditions and Italian influences, Alta Badia is the gastronomic capital of South Tyrol. No other area of the Alps has such a high density of award-winning restaurants: you’ll find four stars within just nine square miles. Restaurant St. Hubertus, at the Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano, boasts three Michelin stars for its Alpine/italian fusion cuisine; and La Stüa de Michil, at Corvara’s Hotel La Perla, has received one star for its rustic mountain fare.
Food matters here. From the most sophisticated restaurant to the most rustic of mountain huts, great care is taken to prepare food that is delicious and satisfying, showcasing local ingredients and pairing perfectly with South Tyrol’s famous wines. Couple that with traditional Ladin hospitality, and every meal is an event.
More recently, Alta Badia has become famous for combining its greatest assets – gourmet food, natural beauty and world-class skiing – in a series of unique events known as ‘A Taste For Skiing.’
For example, Roda dles Saus (15-22 March) is a gastronomic ski circuit through Ladin cuisine, with skiers sampling the area’s most famous dishes in
‘Alta Badia is the gastronomic capital of South Tyrol. No other area of the Alps has such a high density of Michelin-starred restaurants’
traditional huts along the La Crusc/santa Croce ski area.
Open throughout the ski season, the Skitour La Crusc – set in the striking Fanessenes-braies and Puez-odle nature parks – is yet another gourmand’s delight. The slopes here are arguably the area’s most picturesque, with the pretty Santa Croce pilgrimage church and the mighty Dolomite peaks as a backdrop. The tiny mountain huts nearby are famous for their traditional Ladin dishes such as Turtres (fried pastries filled with spinach), Panicia (barley soup),
Bales da Ciocie (savoury bacon dumplings) and Kaiserschmarrn – a shredded pancake that literally melts in your mouth.
Wine connoisseurs can try De dl vin (22 March), a winethemed ‘ski-safari’ that visits four different mountain huts, each offering a tasting of the best South Tyrolean red, white and sparkling wines – all above 2,000 metres.
FAMILY FUN
Alta Badia is ideal for a fun and relaxing family winter holiday – with unspoilt nature, warm hospitality, family-friendly accommodation, and winter activities designed for all ages.
With so much sun, you’re rarely stuck indoors. And outside there’s plenty to do – from building snowmen in the mountain-view meadows to ski lessons on the wide, gentle slopes. The blue run in the Edelweiss valley is especially well-suited for children and beginners.
Not a skier? No problem: locals have been ice-skating and ice-curling on the frozen Sompunt Lake since the 1950s, and there is a regular ‘ice disco’ at the rink in
Corvara where skaters can glide to the latest hits.
Tobogganing is another family favourite, with an easy 1.8km forest run from Rid to Biei and a 3.1km trail at Tru liösa Foram that will take you through snowy fields and enchanting woodlands – before a final Schuss (steep run) straight down to the valley.
For a more gentle way to explore the terrain, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests and meadows. The family-friendly rides start and end in La Villa, and encompass some of the most enchanting winter landscapes in Alta Badia.
And don’t forget to drop by the Museum Ladin Ursus Ladinicus – the Museum of the Sleeping Bear – in San Cassiano. It houses the fossilised remains of a prehistoric bear found ‘sleeping’ in a cave in Conturines, and is a fascinating introduction to the history of the region.