Madesimo - what a difference a night makes.

Village nestled on Alpe Groppera in the Valchiavenna.

Where to go skiing this year?  Our choice was made when I read this article describing five of the best places to ski in Italy.

Madesimo.  It ticked every box on our wish list - high altitude therefore more reliable snow, a small alpine village but with lots of variety in ski runs, bargain prices for accommodation and an easy transfer service from Milan. 

 

A free chauffeur driven Mercedes whisked us from the centre of Milan to the front door of our hotel in less than two hours.  

Albergo Soldanella is a family run hotel right in the middle of town and best of all, only two minutes walk from the main lift.  It proved to be an excellent choice not only because of its position, but mostly because of Barbara, the hotel owner and perfect hostess.

Barbara has been running the hotel since she was twenty.  Yes, you read that correctly, twenty years old.  A Madesimo local, she followed her father's advice and took out a lease on the hotel twenty-five years ago.  Twelve years later, she bought it.  Barbara and her partner Francesco, who is also the chef, have two daughters who work with their parents in this sweet albergo. When we arrived Barbara excitedly explained that she'd had a very busy Christmas as she'd just become a Nonna! After being looked after by Barbara and Francesco for only a week, we felt as though we'd joined their Madesimo family.  

Barbara warned us that the snow was patchy this year.  Last year 10 metres of snow fell in the village, a fifty year record, but this year it was a different story across the Alps. 

While there was enough snow on the mountain to ski, it was icy - reminiscent of the slopes in Australia but without the biting winds, or crowds. 

Although the snow wasn't perfect, we enjoyed our first few days in Madesimo easing ourselves back into the routine of skiing to work up an appetite for the delicious three course dinners every evening.

But then we woke to this view from our balcony.

Madesimo was blanketed in a cover of sparkling white.  Rather than rush up the mountain, we took a stroll along the main street.

After only one night, Madesimo had been transformed into the picture-perfect Italian alpine village we had expected.

Up on the mountain those scratchy sounds of skis on ice were silenced!

And the snow kept falling...

It was still snowing when we said arrivederci e grazie mille Barbara e Francesco per una settimana meravigliosa!

 Our transfer back to Milan wasn't as speedy as when we arrived, nor was it quite as luxurious, but we didn't mind being driven down the mountain in a small bus.

While cars with winter tyres were skidding all over the road causing the local carabinieri to take their gloves off, our friendly bus driver was entertaining us with a commentary about terrible Italian drivers.   

And we were relaxing in the front seats, very glad to know that we were in the safe hands of another Madesimo local.

Ci vediamo.  Prossima volta a Bormio.

Where we stayed and ate, and ate, and ate: 

Albergo Soldanella CLICK HERE
It's not just us who love this little hotel.  CLICK HERE for other reviews.

Bus transport is free from Milano Centrale, Linate and Malpensa aiports during December and January.  CLICK HERE for more information.

If you'd like to see a map to locate Madesimo CLICK HERE.  It is opposite Bormio, at the other end of the Valtellina in a smaller valley called Valchiavenna.