A SLALOM BETWEEN GOURMET MOUNTAIN HUTS

Enjoy a day's skiing and taste the flavours of the region at the local shops. In the Trentino ski areas, five-star quality does not only feature on the slopes and lifts but also in the many mountain huts along the slopes. Several high-altitude venues are also open in the evenings for an unforgettable dinner, after riding a snowmobile or onboard a snowcat.

A NEW ADDITION TO THE GOURMET SCENE

In western Trentino, in the Madonna di Campiglio - Dolomiti di Brenta ski area, a carousel of 150km of slopes connecting Pinzolo, Madonna di Campiglio and Folgarida – Marilleva, there is an important novelty: the Dos Sabiòn restaurant mountain hut, which joins the new lift from Prà Rodònt to the summit of Doss. Three major redevelopment projects are in tune with the environment and with low energy consumption. Once you get off, or rather emerge from the new facility, being completely underground, you can get directly to the slopes or go up, via escalators or lift, to the brand new Rifugio Doss del Sabion.

A point of reference for skiers seeking refreshment since the opening of the first facility in 1969, the building is now being expanded and adapted to the needs of tourists with the creation of a bar overlooking the Brenta Dolomites. The new bistro and terrace on the second floor will provide guests with stunning 360-panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountain ranges whilst enjoying a traditional Trentino lunch.

The gourmet restaurant is completely new and will guarantee guests an exclusive experience, with large windows and a strong reference to the territory which will also be found in the gastronomic offer and will focus on the variation of local products in a not only traditional but also contemporary way. A structure where attention has also been paid to limiting emissions into the atmosphere, equipped among other things with a photovoltaic system on the roof to reduce energy consumption.

Chalet Spinale on the summit of Monte Spinale reflects the glamour of Madonna di Campiglio with its refined and decidedly Alpine style. Guests can also experience dinner at altitude every Thursday and Sunday by booking a reservation. Reaching the Grostè area after a long descent to Passo Campo Carlo Magno, you now ascend the Pradalago side of Campigliana before moving onto the Marilleva - Folgarida resort where you will find the Orso Bruno and Solander Mountain huts, ideal for tasting some of the specialities of the Solandra cuisine, the Casolèt cheese in particular.

 In Val di Fassa you can spend a whole day skiing by travelling between the most beautiful ski areas in the upper valley. Starting from Pozza di Fassa, climb up the Buffaure and after a breakfast with a view of the Catinaccio from the Baita Cuz hut, follow the Panorama Skitour slopes to the Conca del Ciampàc before descending the black slope to Alba di Canazei. An exclusive hotel overlooking the Dolomites of the Fassa Valley, the Fienile Monte, can be reached from the slopes of the famous Sellaronda route. Understated glamour and a relaxed, intimate atmosphere characterise this restaurant, which can seat fewer than thirty people and serves gourmet dishes at an altitude of 2,260m. Don't miss the view of the Dolomites from the lounge chairs, which offer a spectacular view of the alpenglow at sunset. It can also be visited in the evening for dinner with the snowmobile service available to guests.

In the nearby Val di Fiemme, the ski area of the Ski Center Latemar between Trentino and South Tyrol, is an ideal ski tour to combine skiing and five-star flavours which can be enjoyed in the many restaurants along the slopes on both sides. On the Trentino side, at the top of the Tresca chairlift in the Predazzo area, visitors will find the new restaurant In.Treska at an altitude of 2200 metres, offers the greatest innovation in terms of gastronomy, to surprise the palate through a considered mix of tradition, authenticity and innovation.

In the heart of this part of the resort is the Chalet 44 Alpine Lounge, with modern and minimalist lines and large windows that outline the exterior together with the 600-square-metre terrace overlooking the Pale di San Martino and the Lagorai chain. On the inside, a cuisine that pays tribute to mountain tradition through the skilful combination of the highest quality local products. A few kilometres to the east, above Passo San Pellegrino, beside the top of Col Margherita cable car is the restaurant In Alto. It is worth a stop on this scenic terrace overlooking the Trentino and Veneto Dolomites before tackling the long descent of the La Volata slope where champions are known to learn their skills.

In the nearby San Martino di Castrozza - Passo Rolle, the ‘Skitour delle malghe’ is, in itself, an invitation to take some gourmet breaks at the mountain huts. Malga Ces has been home to excellent cuisine, friendliness and tradition for over 70 years.

On the Alpe Cimbra, on the border with Veneto, travel along the ‘Skitour dei Forti’, passing by the most visible memories of the Great War and stopping between descents in the numerous high-altitude huts: the Stella d 'Italia huts above Fondo Grande and Baita Tonda above Serrada, for example. A few kilometres from Luserna, in the heart of the Cimbra forest, there is Baita Neff built from solid wood trunks on the slopes between the Lavarone ski resort and the Alpe di Vezzena.

From the top of Paganella, you can enjoy the exceptional panorama of the Trentino mountains and the valley of the lakes as far as Lake Garda. The terrace of the La Roda mountain hut is in a privileged position at the highest point of the ski area. The hut serves typical Trentino cuisine, but at dinner, after enjoying a beautiful sunset, you can also order fish dishes. From there, you can choose whether to descend from the Andalo or Fai side to other scenic locales. Following the slopes on the Santel - Fai della Paganella side, you reach the Meriz Alpine Lounge hut, where you can relax surrounded by the warmth of the wood interiors.

Further information: www.visittrentino.info/en/articles/snow-and-gourmet/gourmet-huts