South Tyrol, Italy’s northernmost province combining traditional alpine villages with Italian joie-de-vivre. The region’s Dolomite mountains not only form the world’s largest ski area – the Dolomiti Superski – they’re also a UNESCO heritage site. South Tyrol entices its visitors with its variety and harmony of opposites, consisting of four picturesque Italian resorts…

Selva

Home to the UNESCO-protected Sella Massif one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Europe, the Sella Ronda. Selva is ideal for intermediate skiers, who are spoilt for choice by the range of open and wooded red runs, and the sunny open bowls of Ortisei are great for beginners and less confident intermediates. Once part of Austria, you’ll find a lot of similarities in this resort to its neighbouring country including the language and its aprs scene. The town has an excellent range of aprs bars such as La Stua and Bar Saltos where staff wear traditional South Tyrolean dress and serve local drinks.

Corvara/Colfosco

Corvara is picturesque with beginner runs spanning up from the village and easy access to the wider Dolomiti Superski, it’s a great base for novices and intermediates alike. Perched just above Corvara is the pretty village of Colfosco, sitting at the foot of the majestic Sella massif and known for its beautiful gothic church. Both villages have excellent access to the ski area via the Sella Ronda circuit, a scenic, 26km route of mostly intermediate slopes – and for the Dolomiti Superski area with its 1,200km of piste.

Top tip: If you need to get between the two villages you can hop on the Borest gondola, which takes just 7 minutes.

Kronplatz

Considered by some to be Europe’s best-kept ski secret, the area of Kronplatz offers world-class skiing for all abilities, with links to the wider Sella Ronda and Dolomiti Superski areas. It’s made up of small villages and towns that surround the ski areas ‘panetonne’, shaped exactly as it’s named. With long, scenic runs for all abilities and great snow-making and grooming – what more could you ask for?

Plus: new for 2017 is the brand new Hinterberg run that starts from the top of Kronplatz and weaves its way 2.9km down the mountain to the base station for the Marchner gondola.

Ortisei

For a scenic alpine village with Italian and Austrian influences – look no further, Ortisei is for you. The resort’s great for beginners and intermediates with lots of sunny runs in the Alpe di Suisi area. It also gives you direct access to much of the extensive Dolomiti Superski area as well as the Sella Ronda, and from its location in the heart of the dramatic UNESCO protected Dolomites, the Val Gardena combines a wonderful mix of unique food, culture and traditions.

Not only are there a plethora of gentle runs to progress to in Ortisei but with 105km of piste suitable for intermediates, you’ll never have to ski the same run twice – unless you want to, of course.

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