Pinzolo ski resort is not as famous as Madonna di Campiglio. But you can ride on the same steep slopes, rent ski equipment. Prices for services are cheaper than in a popular recreation center in Italy. They have been connected to each other since 2012 by a network of slopes and roads. Madonna is part of the commune of Pinzolo, the city is located at an altitude of 770 m above sea level and is surrounded by the mountains of the Brenta Dolomites. Its slopes are suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers.
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Resort Information
Pinzolo, a ski resort, is connected to three other bases – Madonna di Campiglio, Folgarida and Marilleva. To ride them, you can use the ski pass Skirama. They are united in a single network by lifts. Tonale, Peio, Folgaria-Lavarone, Andalo Fai della Paganella and Monte Bondone (Tonale and Peio stick out due to the large number of tourists and vacationers. There is a developed structure, there are accommodation services, complex catering, rental of skis, snowboards, mountain equipment.
In Pinzolo, a ski resort in Italy, the slopes are divided according to the level of difficulty:
- “Green”, for beginner skiers – 72 km (48%).
- “Blue”, designed for tourists with experience – 57 km (38%).
- “Black”, designed for athletes and extreme sportsmen – 21 km (13%).
The upper part of the Pinzolo zone is at 2100 m. It is not that high, but the slopes are well oriented and even on warmer days the snow quality is good. Only the top of the resort is not surrounded by forests. There is only one lift from the city, so it can get crowded in the morning.
The resort area of Pinzolo is larger than on the map of the Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta ski resort. Malga Grual and Pra Rodont are the most interesting lifts. After riding them, you can climb the slope that goes down to Tulot (not for beginners).
Lifts and descents
To get to the rest of the Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta and Madonna ski area, you need to spend more time. The Pinzolo Campiglo Express lift leads to them, the trip lasts 16 minutes. It offers a beautiful view of the nature of the mountains of Italy.
The Pinzolo ski resort has 57 ski lifts and 150 km of groomed slopes. The highest point of the recreation center is Passo Groste, 2444 m. To get to it you need to spend 1 hour 45 minutes. Intermediate point – Groste Express. Queues often form here, the peak is from 12:00.
The most interesting track is Spinale Direttissima. She was assigned the “Red” category, the angle of inclination is up to 70 °. Madonna di Campiglio regularly hosts the FIS World Cup.
Part of the Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta ski area is dedicated to freeriding. The ski lifts Malga Grual and Pra-Rodont lead to these slopes. The ascent point is the summit of Doss del Sabion. Here you can choose from several routes for skiing or snowboarding. The landscape is steep, the terrain is open, without trees.
Pinzolo has a small snow park for snowboarding. It has all the technical facilities – rails, boxes and kickers. The largest snow park is located on the top of Mount Groste and is called Ursus Snow Park. There are several routes of varying difficulty here. There is also a small park at 5 Laghi Madonna but it is more suitable for children. Folgarida and Marilleva have their own landscape parks, but they are much smaller.
How to get to Pinzolo
Pinzolo is located in the northeast of Italy, in the province of Trentino. It is much better connected to the nearest “big” city of Trento than its much more famous neighbor, Madonna di Campiglio. There are regular daily bus services from Male, Trento, Milano and Brescia. Pinzolo is 57 km from Trento, it will take about 70 minutes to get from one place to another by car.
The nearest airport is in Brescia, 111 km or 1 hour 53 minutes by car. Verona Airport is located 137 km, 2 hours by car. Bergamo is 164 km away, it will take 2 and a half hours by car. If the train is chosen, you will need to go to Trento, since Pinzolo does not have a station. Buses from Trento are not as regular and you will need to check when the last one leaves.
Accommodation in a ski resort
Accommodation prices in Pinzolo are much cheaper than in Madonna, you can choose cheap studio apartments in hotels. The top season is around Xmas and in February you will have to pay more during that period. During the first and last week of the season you can get a ski pass for free (check it when you book your accommodation). You need to find accommodation near the ski lifts, otherwise you will have to walk with equipment.
If you plan to take a break during the day, you can try bombardino. This is a popular hot Italian winter drink made with eggnog, rum or cognac, served with cream and a small cookie on top. There are recipes with espresso, which is not surprising since it is Italian. Bombardino gives a surge of strength.
Speck Stube was my favorite restaurant (not quite in the center, 4.5 km to Madonna). The shops are on a lower level than in Madonna but the supermarkets are much better. If you are a history buff, you should definitely visit the Adamello Museum of the Great White War. It is very interesting to see how Italian and Austrian soldiers fought during the First World War at high Alpine heights during harsh winters.