Ski Holidays in Val di Fassa, Italy

• Val di Fassa Resort Statistics+

  Slope Direction	N S E W
  Very Easy Runs	0
  Easy Runs	2
  Medium Runs	5
  Difficult Runs	1
  Toughest Run Name	Aloch
  Skiable Vertical	1031m
  Number Of Lifts	7
  Top Lift Height	2354m
  Night Skiing	Y
  Snowboarding Parks	0
  Half Pipes	0
  Swimming Pools	1
  Night Clubs	0
  Mountain Restaurants	6

• Val di Fassa Transfer Times+

  Verona:	3 hours
  Milan / Milano:	5 hours

The Val di Fassa is a region of half a dozen ski villages in the Italian Alps, each with their own ski areas, all linked together by a valley bus service. The main resorts here are Pozza di Fassa and its neighbour Vigo di Fassa, Canazei and its neighbour Campitello and Alba.

Whichever village you choose to stay in you'll find the local Ladin culture remains strong. You will also find strong regional influences to everything from architecture to cuisine if you look closely enough. Otherwise you can just enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and friendly hospitality of the locals.

Most of the ski terrain in the area is graded red, and the scenery is very special with magnificent vistas of towering Dolomite cliffs of pink stone.

Canazei is one of the largest and highest of the villages in the valley, it is also one of the best connected to the vast ski areas that lie all around this area. The village itself spreads along the valley road (so much so that you may need a ski bus or taxi to reach some facilities, including the gondola up the mountain, depending on where you're based) and is made up largely of attractive chalet style buildings.

The centre has a good selection of shops, bars and restaurants and can be quite lively. Pozza, Vifo and Campitelo are smaller and more compact.

You can opt to buy a lift ticket for the local ski area only of the village where you stay, or there is a Fassa Valley ticket covering about 220km (140 miles) of piste at all the ski centres in the valley, or with the third and most expensive option, the Dolomiti Superski pass, you have access to 1200km (750 milres) of piste served by nearly 500 ski lifts in a dozen valleys nearby.

With this you can ski almost anywhere in the region, including in to the giant Sella Ronda circuit directly above Canzei and Campitelo, which links together 510km (320 miles) of piste - the world's second biggest ski area.

• Skiing for Beginners+

  Each ski area tends to have a nursery slope with drag lift by the village, but if snow cover isn't adequate (possibly at the start and end of the season), it's usually a case of taking the gondola up to the more snowsure high altitude slopes at each resort.
  
  We also offer a package deal incorporating tuition, rentals and lift tickets for complete beginners, which should save time and money on obtaining these separately.

• Intermediate Skiing+

  Intermediates have the most to benefit from a stay in the Fassa Valley. Above Canazei the local slopes at Belvedere are mostly graded red and for Dolomiti Superski ticvket holders extend for hundreds of miles/kilometers around the Sella Ronda as far as Alta Badia and Val Gardena.
  
  Whichever village you are staying in you can jump on the free ski bus and visit one of the neighbouring ski areas so long as you are in possession of a Fassa Valley or Dolomiti Superski pass.
  
  From Alba, take the cable car up to Ciampac where a small network of half a dozen chair lifts serve more red runs with the opportunity to ski down to Pozza. The Catinaccio ski area above Vigo di Fassa is also well worth a day's investigation.
  
  Night skiing is available on the Pista Aloch ski stadium, 2.7km long, above Pozza on several evenings each week through to 11pm.

• Advanced+

  At Alba a third of its 15km (nine miles) of piste are graded black and include one of the region's most challenging runs, the three kilometer (nearly two mile) long Pista Ciampac which has a 658m vertical.
  
  From Canzei you could ski half way round the Sella Ronda to access the famous steeps of the Marmolada glacier, or head in to Val Gardena and the men's downhill course.
  
  There are also some famous off-piste descents to tackle with a guide, that run down some of the rare cracks in the façade of the Sella massif.
  
  The kilometre (two thirds of a mile) long Rodella run is the steepest locally with a 28 degree pitch. Off piste routes are also popular and abundant in the area.
  
  The most famous off piste runs include Laste/Lusia, Sass Pordoi/Val Lasties and over at the Marmolada glacier and at Passo S. Pellegrino/Col Margherita. All are best attempted with a local guide.
  
  The Italian National Alpine Team have chosen to train in the Fassa Valley every year up to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

• Snowboarding at Val di Fassa+

  Snowboarders will enjoy the wide ranging opportunities and easy-to-ride modern uplift as much as skiers.
  
  Freestylers searching for terrain parks will find a half pipe, boardercross and fun park above Canazei on Belvedere. A second boardercross is located at Col Rodella / Campitello and a new snowboard park has opened at nearby San Pellegrino.
  
  Other parks can be accessed via the Sella Ronda or by the ski bus to other resorts in the Fassa Valley.

• Other Activities And Facilities at Val di Fassa+

  The Fassa Valley has a wide range of activities to do off the slopes, with some - such as sleigh rides, snow shoeing, cleared winter walks, paragliding and tubing available in all or most villages, others specific to one resort or another.
  
  For example Canazei has a public spa with a swimming pool, hydro-massage, Turkish bath, Termarium, relaxation area, beauty treatments and massages on demand. There are also several bowling alleys, a library, cinema, concert hall and 30 or so shops here.
  
  Whereas close to the valley's cable-car station at Ischia, a modern and well-equipped sports centre has been developed in recent years.
  
  It has, amongst other things, a permanent climbing wall, a Rollerblade hockey court, a basketball court, mini football, tennis, golf driving range, even a landing area for those keen on paragliding and hang-gliding, who have made this area an international meeting point.

• Apres Ski And Dining Out+

  Canazei is one of the livelier resorts in the region with about 30 bars and a couple of night clubs. Popular venues there include the Husky Pub, the Speckheller and the Stua dei Ladins.
  
  The other resorts have a more limited (but still adequate) choice. Most are quiet in the week but livelier at the weekend when crowds arrive from the nearest population centres.
  
  In Vigo di Fassa the Il Pavone disco pub is usually busy, in Pozza di Fassa the place to be is the Pub Miro.
  
  In Campitello the Bar Ristorante Pizzeria Da Michele is one of the more popular all purpose eating and drinking establishments, or for a more intimate experience, try the accurately named Mini Restaurant.
  
  Otherwise Canazei also has most of the restaurants with around three dozen to choose from, serving a mix of traditional Italian pizza or pasta as well as South Tyrolean mountain cuisine. El Pael, and la Stalla are good choices, and for pizza the simply named Pizzeria Italia.
  
  The other villages have similar but smaller selections with most restaurants part of hotel complexes.

• Ski Holidays in Val di Fassa suitable for Families+

  Some operators run private nursery facilities in Fasssa Valley resorts but the only public facility in the valley is provided by Canazei.
  
  Here the Kinderland Skischool Canazei accepts children from age three. It is open from 8.30am - 5pm daily and children may stay from a half day to a full week with entertainment, lunch and ski school for all abilities.
  
  In the other villages (where guests can also use the Canazei facility if they take the bus to and from it each day) children may join ski school from age four. Ski lessons normally last for about three hours each day, Sunday to Thursday mornings. Children 12 and older usually join adult classes.