Tuscany: Tree-lined Slopes And Modern Lift Systems - While Tuscany conjures images of sun-drenched landscapes, with old stone farmhouses and rolling olive groves, it is also increasingly becoming known as a winter destination. Visitors can combine city breaks to Florence, Bologna, Pisa or Lucca with ski holidays. Italy's largest mountain range is...
Full OverviewTuscany: Tree-lined Slopes And Modern Lift Systems -
While Tuscany conjures images of sun-drenched landscapes, with old stone farmhouses and rolling olive groves, it is also increasingly becoming known as a winter destination. Visitors can combine city breaks to Florence, Bologna, Pisa or Lucca with ski holidays.
Italy's largest mountain range is the Appennine in Tuscany. The largest ski resort is Abetone, set 1400 metres altitude near the border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna. The Tuscan town of Abetone is not far from Florence, Pisa, and Lucca and has been popular with Italian skiers for more than 70 years.
There are 80 kilometres of ski slopes here which run down into four valleys: the Sestaione, Luce, and Lima and Scoltenna valleys. The 37 tree lined slopes are linked by 21 modern chairlifts and gondolas.
Abetone has a good separate nursery slope served by two chairlifts and a magic carpet lift. Beginners can also take advantage of the five ski schools with English speaking guides and wide, gentle slopes. Abetone enjoys reliable snow cover between December and April. The resort also features cross-country trails, artificial snowmaking facilities, ice skating rink, and a good selection of traditional restaurants. Abetone is 117 kilometres from Pisa Airport, which is approximately 1.5 hour’s drive. The city and airport of Florence is just over an hour away and Lucca is about 45 minutes.
Close to Abetone is the resort of Val di Luce, ‘Valley of Light’. This is very much an Italian resort that is known for its traditional charm. As a ski centre, Val di Luce is relatively unchallenging for experts, but it does offer modern lifts and brand new snowmaking facilities.
Another resort close to Tuscany’s main ski centre of Abetone is Fiumalbo. Set at an altitude of 970 metres, Fiumalbo is a medieval village with a skiing altitude ranging between 800 – 2165 metres on Mount Cimone. The area is thick with forests, which makes for plenty of pretty tree-lined slopes.
Mount Cimone has 24 runs, mostly for intermediates and advanced skiers, including: eight blue runs, 18 red, and six black. Runs are connected by 25 lifts and the longest piste measures 36 kilometres. Skiers can reach a height of 2165 metres altitude. There are also 20 kilometres of cross country trails and three snowparks. The nearest airport is Bologna.
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