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Ski Holiday in Sestriere
With a prime position at 2035m on the powdery pass between Val Susa and Val Chisone, the population of Sestriere swells from under 1000 inhabitants off-season to over 20,000 in a typical ski season. It comprises of several small satellite villages, including Sestriere Coll at the higher reaches of the pass, Sestriere Borgata, Champlas Janvier and Champlas du Col.
The snow terrain stretches from 1350m to 2823m and there’s a cracking 400km skiable area across the wider Milky Way with a wide range of pistes for skiers of all stripes, plenty of off-piste for freeriders and terrain parks where snowboarders can pit their wits against gnarly obstacles.
Sestriere’s high resort altitude and plenty of northwest facing slopes contributes to its snow reliability, but it’s also the jewel in a crown of encircling mountains which include 2850m Monte Motta, 3280m Punta Rognosa di Sestriere, 2658m Monte Sises, and 2701m Monte Fraiteve.
The local Sestriere terrain is characterised by wide expansive runs but you’ll also find some terrific tree-lined runs and rugged off-piste terrain where freeriding skiers and snowboarders will be in their element. A superb snow park with lots of well-designed obstacles completes the local mix and overall there’s something for snowsports fans of all abilities here.
Sestriere’s reputation as a ski resort of international standing was sealed when it was a venue for the 2006 Turn Winter Olympics, and it has also hosted FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events and the IPC World Championships. However, its history stretches back much further because it’s Italy’s first purpose-built ski resort and its two iconic hotel towers were designed by FIAT entrepreneur Giovanni Agnelli and date from the 1930s.
The apres-ski in Sestriere is a little more reserved than the party atmos at neighbouring Sauze d’Oulx, but there are plenty of bars for social butterflies to flutter around, there’s ample quality cafes and restaurants and the accommodation mix is excellent.
