Val Gardena

Val Gardena is a valley ski resort situated in Northern Italy beneath the Dolomite peaks. It is made up of three villages namely Selva, which is the most popular resort of the valley; Ortesei which is bigger and Santa Cristina which is the smallest among the three. This area is particularly proud of the celebrated Sella Ronda with its astonishing network of lifts and trails.

Val Gardena demonstrates the perfect mix of Italian and German cultures, architecture and cuisine. Its accommodation facilities are best described as quaint while showcasing typical alpine hospitality. Most of these facilities are to be found around the city center and around the bases of lower lifts of the resort easily, which are accessible either by foot, ski or ski bus. Getting around the slopes is quite simple due to the resorts interconnected lifts.

As in all winter resorts in the area, much of the activities center on skiing. More than half of its slopes cater to intermediate-level skiers with a smaller percentage catering to beginners and a much smaller percentage still to experts. Other winter activities to be experienced are snowboarding, heliskiing, cross-country skiing, ice climbing, tubing, tobogganing, ice skating, ice hockey, horse-drawn sleigh rides and snow hiking.

Selva and Ortesei are the best venues of Val Gardena’s nightlife while Santa Cristina is the best choice for those who prefer peace and quiet. Dining out can be a real pleasure especially with the sampling of Ladin food, the region’s traditional ethnic cuisine. Other activities are shopping, workshop tours of local wood carvers, swimming and day trips exploring Italy’s treasures.

Val Gardena has the advantage of an exceptionally stunning Dolomite landscape with limestone cliffs seemingly rising out of pastureland. Its excellent network of lifts and trails is comparable to France’s renowned Trois Vallees. Families, particularly those with small children will find Val Gardena’s kids program a welcome treat.