Paganella, an Italian secret with outstanding pistes and oodles of cuisine

260

LOCAL AREA: Paganella Ski Area

CONNECTED AREA: Skirama-8 ski resort in Trentino, 1 skipass, 380 km of slopes (not ski connected)

SEASON START & END: End November – Early April

SKI ALTITUDE IN METRES:  1035-2125 m / Vertical Drop- 1000m   

PISTES: 25% Beginner / 72% Intermediate / 3% Expert

Local Resort: 31 Pistes for a total of 40km  (11 Blue / 27 Red / 2 Black)

Connected Area: no connection by ski – part of Skirama Area (slopes 380km)

LIFTS: Total 19 / (3 gondolas / Chair lift 11 / Magic Carpet 5)

Connected Area: no connection by ski – part of Skirama Area (150 lifts)

SNOW: 180 snow cannons – 100% of slopes

LIFT TICKET PRICES: See Online for best prices.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: 10 km

LANGUAGE: Italian

AIRPORT: Verona, Valerio Catullo 125 km, Bergamo Orio Al Serio 210 km

TRAIN: Mezzocorona (20km) and Trento (35 km)

SKI FACTS: Paganella Ski area has the most panoramic views of the Region, from the slopes you have a wonderful view on lake Garda and the Dolomites / 

Paganella Ski Area is the European training base of the Norway ski team since 2011. 

Paganella Town

The Skiing of Paganella is served by two main towns Fai Della Paganella at 1000 metres and Andalo at 1000 metres. Both are very close to Trento and only a 30-minute drive for Fai Della Paganella and 40 minutes for Andalo, although it can be quicker if an Italian is at the wheel. 

Paganella is situated just north of Lake Garda and at the foot of the giant Brenta Group of mountains which are in the Dolomiti UNESCO world heritage site; so suffice to say these are some of the most picturesque of mountains. In fact you see the same mountains as in Pinzolo, but from the other side

Andalo is a fairly charming town, with a large selection of apartments and hotels. We enjoyed staying at the 4-star superior Corona Dolomites Hotel in Andalo, a modern and very well-designed hotel with fabulous views of the Brenta Group of mountains, delicious cuisine and impeccable service. When it comes to dining out on traditional Italian Alpine cuisine we recommend Andel Haus for its rustic menu and gourmet pizzas.

Skiing in Paganella

Being so close to Trento, Bolzano and Verona means that at the weekend the local Italians turn up to ski Paganella in force, so we recommend skiing on a weekday and you will have a stunning resort all to yourself. 

Whilst Paganella may only have 50 km of piste, they are certainly 50 km of fun and exhilarating pistes. If on the mountain early head north to the fresh corduroy red pistes from the top of the Cima Paganella peak down to Fai Della Paganella; these catch some of the early sun and provide an adrenaline-fuelled ride that snakes their way down the mountain providing 1125 metres of decent in one go, careful it can be fast and steep and times. 

Red piste Jana Granda is a fun descent but with some of the steep sections being more comparable to a black piste. The only black Piste Olimpionica 2 is a great north-facing descent, and often one of the quieter pistes on the mountain. Once the early sun leaves the red pistes down to Fai Della Paganella then head southwest to the more gentle pistes down to Andalo.

With 14 mountain restaurants dotted around the mountains, there are plenty of opportunities for morning coffee and lovely long Italian lunches in the sun. The Rifugio La Roda has 360 views of the Trentino region and wonderful views of Lake Garda. We also like the fact that prices on the mountain are very competitive compared to some of the famous mega resorts out there.

BEGINNER
The mountain has 5 snow play parks for children and some basic blues at the base of Andalo and a little higher up the mountain. The next step up is to ski the blue pistes of Salare and  S. Antonio 1 but do bear in mind that red piste or the chair down is the only way back.

INTERMEDIATE
Long Red pistes galore, Paganella is certainly a fun ski resort, but beware that some of the red pistes have very steep sections that might be tricky now and again.

EXPERT
Do not be fooled by the lack of black pistes on the map, some of these large steep red pistes are a lot of fun and certainly require some good carving techniques.

Ecology & Sustainability Facts

-Molveno Lake, at the foot of the ski resort, since 1957 has provided hydroelectric power. 

-Each municipality produces solar energy.

-Also snow cannons use the water of the lake to produce energy.

Paganella
Province of Trento
Italy