The SkiArea Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta in Trentino, Italy incorporates the four resorts of Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Folgarida and Marilleva. One hundred and fifty kilometres of pistes all seamlessly linked by ski runs and ski lifts.
Piste Map of the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio, a very chic Italian resort, huddles inside a towering crescent of the spectacular Brenta Dolomites in Trentino. During the day the snow on its craggy peaks sparkles in the sun. As the sun rises and sets nature’s cathedral spires glow a rosy pink.
Peaks of the Brenta Dolomites above Madonna di Campiglio in the Ski Area in the Italian Dolomites
Threading their way through the wooded lower slopes the pistes here vary from long easy blue runs to a couple of tough blacks Spinale Diretissima and Pancugolo. There are four distinct ski areas each one accessed by a cabin lift. Grosté, above the tree line has an easy blue and two reds on its lunar landscape at the top. Lower down it is linked to the Spinale ski area by a short chair lift. In this area there are blur, red, and black runs to suit all standards. Take the travelator across the bridge at the bottom of the Grosté cabin lift to Pradalago and Cinque Laghi.
Early Morning on Pradalago in the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
Pinzolo
Whereas Madonna di Campiglio developed as a resort Pinzolo was established as an agricultural centre. Its ski area is above the town and accessed by two cabin lifts. The Tulot lift is just outside Pinzolo on the main road through the valley. A long cabin lift departs from the Cinque Laghi ski area in Madonna di Campiglio. This long cabin lift links Pinzolo with Madonna di Campiglio and arrives at the bottom of a lovely red run, Brenta. From the top of this run skiers can enjoy a wide, sweeping view of the valley below. Pinzolo has the widest and longest black run in the SkiArea, Dolomitica, but it is not snow sure and also best skied early morning.
Brenta piste in Pinzolo in the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
Folgarida
Folgarida is a small settlement that has developed along the road that links Val Rendena and Val di Sole and has several access points via cabin lifts along this road. The centre of Folgarida is at the bottom of the Folgarida cabin lift where a cluster of shops including ski rentals and a mini-market cluster around a large square. Regular buses run to and from this area.
Folgarida in the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
Marilleva
Marilleva is also very small and mainly comprises hotels and holiday apartment blocks. There is one cabin lift that accessing the ski area here. Between Folgarida and Marilleva is a glorious long red piste Mastellina. This ends at the mid-station of the Dosaola cabin lift. At the bottom of its lower section, in the valley, this lift connects with the mountain railway that runs a regular service from the town of Trento.
Between Folgarida and Marilleva in the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
Snow Boarding in the SkiArea
Each ski area has a snow park for snowboarding but the largest and best is at the top of Grosté in Madonna di Campiglio.
Snowboarders Enjoying the Slopes of the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
Mountain Restaurants in the Ski Area
One aspect of skiing the SkiArea I really enjoy is the variety of good mountain restaurants my favourite for quality of food, cosy ambiance and friendly staff is Ristorante Viviani. As they charge the menu every Thursday and I really enjoy their creative pasta dishes I usually try to eat there at least twice a week. Whereas I prefer to have my food brought to me one exception I am always prepared to make is Chalet Fiat. The self-service restaurant serves tasty food quickly and efficiently. The tables outside are always full at lunchtime and diners can drink in the spectacular views across the valley.
Chalet Fiat at the top of Spinale in the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
A very traditional eatery on the slopes above Pinzolo is Malga Cioca – not so easy to find but worth the effort to warm up by its open fire. For those who enjoy a really good pizza with the added bonus of the expert pizza maker twirling her dough on one finger then Rifugio Albasini at the top of the Folgarida cabin lift is where you want to be.
Pizza Production at Rifugio Albasini in Folgarida in the SkiArea in the Italian Dolomites
Getting to the Ski Area
The Flyski Shuttle operates a network of transfers from the airports of Verona, Bergamo, Venezia-Treviso, Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa to the mountain resorts of Pinzolo and Madonna di Campiglio. An alternative for those going to Folgarida and Marilleva is the Dolomiti Express from Trento.
This article was based on the personal experience of Valery, an ExperiencedTraveller.