Cervinia, Italy - Altitude, Attitude and Ambiance

The village at the base of Matterhorn is called Cervinia, today's acclaimed ski resort. Cervinia ski resort is a skier's sanctuary, allowing beginner and intermediate skiers the vast snowfields they need to eventually become experts. If you've come to Cervinia to try your hand at skiing, you have easy access to Switzerland's Zermatt. You get here by buying a lift ticket (you can make online reservations) that allows you access to both the Italian and Swiss sides. To access Zermatt, start from the Plateau Rosa. Generally, beginners and intermediates stick to the Italian side of Matterhorn while the steeper runs and tapered trails on the Zermatt side affords experts some strenuous challenges. The lifts are interconnected so you can access so much in the way of multifaceted runs. In Cervinia, for example, you'll have access to Val Tournenche, affording any energetic skier over 100 km of groomed ski runs. You can even take the Plateau Rosa to Val Tournenche run for over 20 km, flying down the mountainside for over 5000 feet. You'll have no trouble, however, getting back to the top as long as the ski lifts don't break down (not likely). At an altitude of just over 2000 meters, Cervinia ski resort lies in a high valley of biting mountains. Unlike some ski resorts that unfortunately face the wrong way from the sun and snowfall, Cervinia's direction (south by southwest) and altitude assures snow coverage and sunny weather. As any alpine resort in Europe favors, Cervinia has extensive slopes that have greeted FIBT World Champions in the 70s and 80s. Way back then, you'd need a reservation a year in advance. The infrastructure, then, is in place and ready for whatever tourist want to do. Though the lift can close in blowing winds and the upper reaches of the resort areas are treeless, the long runs are gentle with a good dusting of powder and excellent panoramic views. From launch to finish, you'll have nothing blocking your foray with the mountain. And a mountain it is: The highest lift takes you to all but 3500 meters with a 22 km run from one country into the next (Switzerland to Italy).

There are as good as 60 different-16 beginner; 36 intermediate; and 7 advanced-runs and one snowboard park. You'll have access to 5 cable cars, 13 chairlifts and 28 snow cannons assuring sure-fire fresh flakes. Plus, Cervinia resort can accommodate almost 30,000 uphill capacity people. You'll have no reservation about mingling with new friends on-slope or apres ski. Speaking of apres ski, popular venues include skidoo, gym, bowling, indoor pool, ice skating, snowshoeing, heated outdoor pool, bowling, parapenting, walking trails, discos, bars, restaurants and cinemas. You and your family can all go your different ways (making reservations at some of the more popular restaurants is a fine idea).

Then, meet up later for drinks and music at any one of the bars.

There will be no time for sleep if you want to fit it all in. Most of the accommodation in Cervinia should be made by reservation if you plan on visiting during the high season. If not, there's a fair choice of hotel or apartments to choose from. Chalets are harder to find, though you'll have access to all the said apres ski ventures as the center of the resort town is reserved for pedestrians. Here, you'll find a softer glow than what tourist saw in the 60s. At present, a good deal of the erstwhile unsightly buildings are getting makeovers, a facelift that will add a wooden ambiance to the whole of downtown.