Travel Eye on Selva Di Val Gardena (Italy)

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Overview:

Selva and Santa Cristina are near enough joined to make up the largest resort on the Sella Ronda circuit, with its 175km of runs. It's a big domain, with a highly efficient lift system, 120km of snowmaking coverage, great scenery and generally good value.

The resort stretches over 2¾ mls along the valley with most buildings concentrated around the main road (although much of the accommodation is in the smaller hillside suburbs). The liveliest part of town is around the Ciampinoi cable-car station, where most of the apres-ski activity is situated.

Once on the slopes, intermediates will find the most runs for good cruising. Experts might be best heading to Arabba for decent challenges, but beginners should be okay. Learners have lots of good boarding/skiing.

Selva is the largest of 3 valley communities, the others being Ortisei and Santa Cristina. Part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918, the Tyrolean influence is still evident in the local architecture, cuisine and linguistic heritage (Selva is equally well known by its German name, Wolkenstein). Selva is also the heart of a distinct local culture and language called Ladin, which is spoken by most of the town's 2,500 inhabitants.

Visitors here are mainly up and middlemarket, with a good mix of age groups. Something for all grades of skier but best for intermediates. A range of non-ski-related attractions make it a reasonably entertaining option for nonskiers. Also a summer destination.

There is a good choice of hotels, apartments and pensions, a handful almost adjacent to ski-runs which offer spectacular views.

Locality:

Selva Di Val Gardena is located in the Alto Adige area of N Italy, within the Dolomites mountain range (25 mls NE of Bolzano, 50 mls S of the Austrian border, 140 mls NW of Venice, 130 mls NE of Verona and its airport, 75 mls S of Innsbruck airport). Selva is situated at the E end of the undulating Val Gardena, occupying the valley floor along the line of the river and straggling up into the foothills leading to Passo Gardena and Passo Sella.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Snowboarding - Boarding on all pistes.

Other Snow Sports - Cross country: 98km, Cross country equipment available, Snow shoeing, Snow shoes available, Telemark, Sleigh rides:

The ski school at Selva has received mixed reviews, but most are positive. It's a big domain, with a highly efficient lift system, 90km of snowmaking coverage, great scenery and generally good value. There are 82 lifts in the Val Gardena area; the busy cable car at Ciampinoi in the town centre eases much of the normal lift-traffic congestion and there is a good choice of runs at the top of Ciampinoi including the World Cup black run to Santa Cristina.

As in all ski-resorts the usual range of ski-wear and souvenir shops, a few supermarkets and a number of shops selling local produce such as wooden carvings, wine and food are all available from the resort.

During the day there are plenty of activities for all types such as; ice-skating, cross-country sleigh rides, tobogganing, mountain walks, several local churches of historical interest, ruins of Wolkenstein Castle, a local heritage museum, indoor tennis, billiards, bowling, squash and minigolf. In summer, bird-watching and horse riding are appealing to animal lovers

The nightlife is quite lively apres-ski with numerous tavernas, bars and 2 discos.

There is a fair choice of restaurants, many of them in hotels. Mainly a mix of Tyrolean and Mediterranean cuisine.

Local excursions can be taken in winter, exploring the town and nearby resorts and also ski tours. In summer, half day tours of the Dolomites.

Full daytours can be taken to the nearby towns of Merano, Bolzano and Innsbruck (Austria) and Lake Garda. A two day trip can be taken to either Venice or Salzburg (Austria).