Welcome to Sestriere, Italy’s inaugural purpose-built ski resort, standing proudly at an altitude of 2,035 metres. Renowned for its ski-in, ski-out convenience and a post-2006 Winter Olympics upgrade, Sestriere takes all the stress out of your ski or snowboard holiday. Whilst it’s might not be the prettiest town in the Via Lattea, you’ll be able to forgive the architecture because the location is awesome. Slap bang in middle of the Via Lattea, Sestriere’s not only a brilliant resort all by itself, it’s also connected to four other ski areas – Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Claviere and the French resort of Montgenevre. Sestriere’s local slopes feature an excellent beginner zone at the Town’s edge, with smooth progressions to longer blues. Intermediates can enjoy challenges like the reds at Nuevo Nube and explore diverse terrain across the valley and there’s some great off piste towards Pragaleto. Beyond the slopes, Sestriere is a cosmopolitan resort with a laid-back ambiance and genuine Italian hospitality. After a day on the mountain, unwind in chic bars or explore boutique shopping options back in town. Like all resorts in the Via Lattea, you’ll find a reasonably priced resort, that won’t break the bank, but Sestriere also has a few swanky hotel an bar options for special occasions.