Saturday, November 23, 2024

My new love – the sacred Dolomites (and their amazing snowmaking): Mark Palmer explains why this ‘special region of Italy’ is better than the Alps for a ski holiday

Must read


Written by Mark Palmer, from the Mail on Sunday

December 29, 2023 08:27, Updated December 29, 2023 08:27



Alps or Dolomites? As someone who has skied the former almost every year of my adult life, it feels almost disingenuous to side with the latter.

No, there aren’t that many ski-in, ski-out hotel options or host-hosted chalets. Natural snow cover can also be a problem. But what it lacks in the Dolomites it makes up for with its charm, friendliness and spectacular mountain views.

And frankly, you’re in Italy, not France. It is a special region of Italy where most people speak Italian, German and Ladin. Also, with twice-weekly flights from Stansted to Bolzano, you can now take a direct flight to the Val Gardena area, rather than Innsbruck, which is about two hours away.

Additionally, snowmaking is more extensive here than anywhere else in the world. There was very little snow on my last visit, but the slopes were still open.

We are staying in the village of Ortisei. It is very close to the famous Sella Ronda, which is probably the biggest ski circuit in Europe.

Alps or Dolomites? Mark Palmer has said: “It feels almost disingenuous to take the latter side.” He is staying in the village of Ortisei, just outside the famous Sella Ronda (above), “probably the biggest ski circuit in Europe”.
Mark is happy with the Dolomites
The Church of St. Anthony of Ortisei dates back to 1673.

Twelve valleys are connected, and if you can stomach the great restaurants along the way, you can ski in one day by following the signs to Sella Ronda.

Before tourism gained attention, Ortisei’s prosperity was mainly due to its woodworking industry. Near the village, you’ll pass shops selling life-size statues of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the entire heavenly legion of saints. Locals will tell you that there isn’t a Catholic church in the world that doesn’t have something made in this beautiful little town.

Strolling through the pedestrianized area feels like a reminder of halcyon days. This is not the realm of young people on tour.

When you base yourself at Gardena Grodnerhof, you will find yourself surrounded by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The hotel opened in his 1923 year and has been run by the same family ever since. That shows.

Some even help you put on your ski boots in the morning and take them off again in the evening. Perfect.

Mark is staying at the Gardena Grodnerhof Hotel (pictured), where he says “there will be a warm and welcoming atmosphere”.
A room at the Gardena Grodnerhof Hotel, which opened in 1923 and “has been run by the same family ever since.”

The hotel provides shuttles to the various elevators that connect to Sella Ronda. Black run fiends may be disappointed, but those who love wide, open, perfectly groomed slopes can’t ask for much more.

Here you can ski closer to gigantic rock walls than anywhere else in the Alps, and when the sun sets over these jagged peaks they glow a delicious pink.

One evening we had dinner at a restaurant called Friedrich August Refuge on the mountain. The interior is wood-paneled and the lights of Canazei twinkle in the distance. The tomahawk steak is huge, but extremely tender, and the local wine is excellent.

Now, it would take a lot of convincing for me to go on a ski trip to a private resort. I felt this strongly as I stood outside the small chapel of St. Anthony (built in 1673). The door opened just wide to reveal an altar with flickering candles and a beautiful painting above it.

Then I could see the snow-covered Dolomites looming on the horizon in the evening light. And they also look absolutely divine.

travel facts

IB&B rooms at Gardena Grodnerhof from £310 (gardena.it). Stansted to Bolzano from £342pp (skyalps.com).

Ski passes and guides at dolomitemountains.com. For more information, please visit valgardena.it.



Source link

More articles

21 COMMENTS

  1. Simply want to say your article is as astonishing.
    The clearness in your put up is simply cool and that i could suppose you’re knowledgeable on this subject.
    Fine together with your permission allow me to snatch your RSS feed to stay updated with drawing
    close post. Thanks one million and please continue the rewarding work.

  2. از این اطلاعات استفاده می کنیم ؛ تعویض قطعه؛ مدارات پرکاربرد که در بردها
    استفاده می شود را یاد می گیرید که
    شامل مدارات تغذیه، مدارات راه انداز
    یا درایو، مدرات مربوط به سنسور ها و… می باشد؛ و نهایتا این
    مدارات کنار هم

  3. I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this
    sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled
    upon this web site. Studying this info So i’m happy to show that
    I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed.
    I most unquestionably will make sure to do not overlook
    this web site and provides it a glance regularly.

  4. Heya! I’m att wor surfin afound your boog fropm mmy new iphone 3gs!
    Just wanted tto saay I love reading thtough yourr
    blog annd look forward too all youjr posts! Caery on the superrb work!

  5. Excellent blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any forums that
    cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really
    like to be a part of online community where I can get opinions
    from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest.
    If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Bless you!

  6. I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills and also wwith the layout on your blog.
    Is this a paid theme or did you customize itt yourself?
    Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see
    a great blog like this one nowadays.

    Heree iis my web site :: craft Supplies

  7. It’s really a great and helpful piece of info. I am happy that you simply shared this useful info with us.
    Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  8. Thank you for some other informative web site. The place
    else may just I am getting that kind of information written in such
    an ideal manner? I’ve a project that I’m simply now operating on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such info.

  9. It’s in reality a nice and helpful piece of information. I’m
    satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us.
    Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest article