Renowned for its laid-back and peaceful atmosphere, Santa Caterina Valfurva ski resort is remotely situated in Italy’s famous Alta Valtellina region and is perfect for families and beginners wanting to escape the crowds of Livigno and Bormio.

Perched at 1,737m, Santa Caterina Valfurva ski resort has stunning views and reliable snowfall. The village is located deep within Stelvio National Park, and is proud of its wooded, natural surroundings. Small and uncluttered, the resort is private and intimate, with a real sense of leaving the world behind. Despite this, the resort does have one claim to fame, producing the Italian ski champion Deborah Compagnoni.

Accommodation at Santa Caterina Valfurva varies from hotels to traditional chalets and small cottages. Après-ski is limited, in keeping with the resort’s family-friendly theme, with only a few restaurants and bars in which to spend the evening. Lack of lively après-ski is compensated somewhat by a unique range of alternative recreational activities such as trekking, mountaineering, ski-touring, and guided tours of the national park.

There are a total of 22kms of prepared slopes at Santa Caterina Valfurva, consisting of 10 runs, most of which are geared towards beginners and intermediates. The slopes are served by seven lifts, creating a capacity of 7,065 skiers per hour, which is more than enough for this small resort; additionally, the vertical is a reasonable 989m. Cross-country skiers can look forward to 18kms of well-marked trails, while snowboarders will have to make do with off-piste areas.

While you may find Santa Caterina Valfurva’s array of slopes a bit restrictive, the resort is located near to the world famous St Moritz resort across the Swiss border, and is also close to seven other ski resorts in the Alta Valtellina area, such as Livigno, famed for its duty-free shopping, and Bormino, known for its thermal baths.

Winter at Santa Caterina Valfurva runs from December to March, with the cheapest times at either end of the season. Milan Airport (four hours) is the air transportation gateway to Santa Caterina Valfurva.