In Lombardia, near the Swiss border, Bormio has winter sports and wellness holidays down to a tee.
Ski lifts first popped up in the fifties, and by the late sixties the area had grown to reach a whopping 3000m high. These days the local ski pass covers Bormio's local slopes as well as those in nearby San Colombano (11km away) and Santa Caterina (13km). The Alta Valtellina pass adds Livigno (38km away) into the mix, as well as a reduction on the St Moritz day pass if you fancy a trip over the border to Switze...
In the Bormio area, beginners have training zones at the base station in the Gormiti Park, higher up at Ciuk (accessed by cable car) and also at Bormio 2000 by the cableway top station. This is the bigger of the three, with bars and shops nearby – you can drive up there, or take the lift from town.
Intermediates have the run of the mountain, with red pistes streaming like spaghetti from Cima Bianca. We like the long Bimbi al Sole descent, which lands you at 2000 for the chance to take the lift and ski it al...
The main watering hole here is the BeWhite Bar by the cableway base for Bormio 2000 –usually open from 3pm with themed parties and plenty of beer. If you fancy trying something new, ask your barman for a Amaro Braulio – a local legend of a drink whose recipe has been kept secret for over 140 years.
Being the land of La Dolce Vita, the restaurants here are brilliant. Umami has a Michelin star for fusing the foods of Naples with Alpine cuisine, and presenting it in a form of art. Enoteca Guanella does modern...