Located to the southwest of Trento, Monte Bondone ski resort is one of the oldest and best known ski and snowboard destinations in Italy and is the venue for many competitions throughout the winter season. Monte Bondone’s appeal also lies in its surroundings, with the Adige Valley, the Brenta Dolomites, Adamello Glacier, Garda Lake and the Austrian Alps in the background.

The villages of Vaneze, Vason and Sardagna serve Monte Bondone ski resort and have modern facilities and a good range of shops, banks and a hospital; while nearby Trento offers a broader range of facilities. There are over 1,000 beds, mainly in hotels and apartments, and the après-ski features folklore evenings, concerts and several bars and discos.

Monte Bondone ski resort features 20kms of downhill skiing across 19 pistes, the longest of which is four kilometres (Gran Pista) down an 800m vertical. Intermediate skiers and snowboarders get the majority of the terrain, and one draglift and six chairlifts supply all the pistes. In addition, there is a snow park, with jumps, rail and snow-cross for snowboarders.

For alternative skiing, nearby Folgarida, Marilleva and Madonna di Campiglio offer some superb terrain, while back in Monte Bondone, head for the top of Palon for some awesome views of Trento and the surrounding peaks. Trento itself is a very Italian city, revered for its Gothic Renaissance and Romanesque buildings.

The Monte Bondone ski season runs from December to April, with excellent snow conditions in February. The easiest way to get here is to fly to Verona and take a train to Trento, from where buses go to the resort.