Sawis located in northwestern Italy and is part of the famous Valle d’Aosta ski region. This resort is distinguished by the convenient location of the tracks and is recommended for family vacations. A fairly wide selection of routes allows skiers to easily determine the skiing areas, and the soft fluffy snow ensures complete comfort and safety of this process. All slopes are carefully maintained throughout the season, and a modern lift system provides tourists with prompt movement between areas. Due to the fact that Pila is located in very picturesque places, during the ascents, guests of the resort can enjoy the wonderful beauty of the alpine peaks. Clean mountain air, in combination with dense massifs of pine forest, makes the local atmosphere extremely relaxed,

Pila is a modern resort, built in the form of a single pedestrian zone, ski tracks pass right through the town. The architecture is unique: chalets are adjacent to large multi-story buildings, typical for resorts in France. Some old buildings have also been preserved.

You can diversify your stay on the territory of the ski complex by taking an exciting excursion around Pila, where many interesting historical monuments are located. In addition, there are ways to have fun in the resort area, for example, by visiting a local disco or enjoying traditional Italian cuisine in one of the local restaurants.

Pila ski resort, located at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level in Val d’Aosta, is more popular among connoisseurs as well as professional skiers. Here, there are much more “sports”, difficult tracks, and a small, domestic territory along with a calm atmosphere make this resort quite suitable for serious sports purposes. The resort offers halfpipe snowboarding, ice skating, paragliding and many other sports activities. However, this does not mean that you should not come to this resort with your family, just the opposite – in the modern town of Pila, a very interesting skating area is equipped, which includes a children’s slope, a play area with an imitation of “bobsled” pipes and other winter sports areas. All activities are located in the immediate vicinity of the city center. There is also a club for children under 12 years old in Pila.

The climate of the Pila resort.

The Pila ski resort is located in the Alpine climate zone. Accordingly, the climate depends on the height of the mountains – it is moderate at the foot of the slopes. But the weather conditions on the peaks are usually very harsh.

In this region, the winter is quite long – constant precipitation in the form of snow is observed here already, as a rule, at the beginning of November. At certain altitudes, snowfalls are very powerful. If the snow lasts for several months on the ski slopes, then it lies permanently on the tops of the mountains. The air temperature in the resort of Pila in the winter months can drop to -15°C. The influx of visitors is observed here from November to March.

Summer in this area, in turn, is short and quite cool. Warm weather usually lasts from July to September, but September is often rainy.

How to get there

The valley is connected to Central Europe by two tunnel highways, from which a network of excellent roads branches off. From Switzerland, they go here through the Grand-Saint-Bernard tunnel, and from France – through the tunnel under the Mont Blanc massif. The world-famous resorts of Breul-Cervinia and Monte Rosa , Courmayeur and Pila, La Tuile and San Vincente are located here. Courmayeur, Saint Vincent and very small Valtournenche are also famous for their healing thermal springs.

A special role may have been played by the fact that in 2005 the Italian Bormio hosted the World Skiing Championship, and the 2006 Winter Olympics were also held in Italy – in Turin.

Nearest airports: Turin (about 120 km), Milan (about 200 km), Geneva (about 100 km).

For snowboarders, some resorts have board parks and half-pipes.

The duration of the ski season is from mid-December to the end of April.

The slopes of Mont Blanc

If the trip to Pila is from the territory of other European countries, then you should first overcome the Great San Bernardo tunnel, and then follow the SS 26 highway to Aosta and, further, the Gressan-Pila highway.

The Alpine resort of Pila , which lies at an altitude of one thousand four hundred and forty one meters, is recognized as a very comfortable and compact skiing region with conveniently connected tracks and cable cars. Tourists often come to Pila on vacation with the whole family, since there are few difficult trails here, and the level of service allows vacationers of all ages to feel comfortable. It is also worth noting that at this resort you can buy a single ski pass, which gives you the right to ski not only in Pila, but also on the slopes of Monte Rosa, Cervinia, La Thuile and Courmayeur.

Ski lift (Pila, Italy)

Infrastructure

Pila is a great place not only for skiing, but also an excellent starting point for trips around the region. In addition, fabulous views of the majestic Mont Blanc and other mountain peaks surrounding Valle d’Aosta can be seen from the slopes of the resort. A wide selection of hotels allows guests to decide on a place of accommodation based on their preferences and financial capabilities. All hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of the lifts, so guests do not need much time to get to the ski areas.

The resort offers vacationers 5 hotels ***, 3 hotels **, 1 hotel ‘**, a town of the “Valtur” system. In total, the resort can accommodate 2,000 guests. Most of the hotels and guesthouses are located directly on the slope.

The main thing is to choose where to stay: here or in Aosta itself, where the atmosphere of the old town has been preserved. In Aosta, most of the *** category hotels are located in the center. There is a **** hotel, a casino. From Aosta, it is easier to reach other resorts in the valley.

After skiing, you can enjoy dishes of unique Italian cuisine in 20 restaurants and bars open until late. For those who want to dance, 4 discos are open in the city. There are many shops. Aosta and Pila are mainly visited by Italians, so communication in restaurants and cafes can be difficult – other languages ​​are not widely spoken in Italy.

Organized infrastructure, which includes a large number of restaurants, cafes and entertainment venues, does not allow tourists to get bored in the evening. Thus, Pila meets the highest requirements and is rightfully considered one of the most visited ski resorts in Valle d’Aosta.

Pila is a group of hotels located on the mountain next to the lifts and tracks. The resort is very young, so it is equipped with the most modern lifts. The tourist infrastructure is well developed: there are shops, equipment rental points, and underground garages.

A huge choice of accommodation – in Courmayeur alone there are 62 hotels of various categories. Hotels and cottages, villas and apartments – the type of accommodation can be chosen based on one important fact: prices in the valley are higher than in other Italian resorts. The most economical accommodation option is in the city of Aosta itself, but of course you need to reserve a place in a hotel or apartment in advance.

In the valley there are many opportunities to engage in other sports – there are swimming pools and ice rinks in almost every town. The thermal springs in Valtournanche or San Vincente must also be visited. And the kitchen will not disappoint you anywhere.

Don’t forget about another interesting option in Val d’Aosta – skiing at the resort of Pila, which is connected to the city of Aosta by a lift. Although this skiing area is quite small (70 km of pistes), it is quite interesting for all categories of skiers. Accommodation in Pila or Aosta is for those who value nightlife and shopping no less than skiing and cannot imagine a quality vacation without city life.

Resort height (m) 1800

Maximum height of tracks (m): 2752

Number of tracks: 20

Track length (km): 70

• Greens: 0
• Blue: 8
• Red: 52
• Black: 10

Number of lifts: 13

• Telecabin: 2
• Armchairs: 9
• Bugelnykh: 2

Capacity (people / hour): 16300

Number of running tracks (km): 8

Skiing areas

There are 4 “black” slopes suitable for professional skiers. The same number of “blue” slopes. But there are about 30 “red” slopes here. The most interesting slopes, on which trained skiers feel good, are Grimondet, La Barma, Pre-Noir and Chamole. Slightly better prepared tourists can ride on the tracks Tra-Cruise, Resselin and Kuis-1. And the half-pipes and border parks available here are perfect for fans of rapid descents on a snowboard. Those tourists who do not think of a winter vacation without freeriding, in Peel will be able to ride in the pine forest near the Du Bois track and to the left of the Chamole ski lift area.

Indexes of the Pila ski resort

The vast majority of tracks are in the resort of Piladesigned for intermediate level skiers. At the same time, there are enough training routes for beginners and good slopes, where real “pros” can show themselves to the full. All tracks are located at an altitude of 1,800 to 2,800 meters above sea level. The height difference is quite significant, which actively attracts freeride fans here. As already mentioned, Couis 1, Resselin and Tra Creuisa stand out among the most difficult ski routes. These tracks are recommended exclusively to specialists, and only well-trained skiers can go down them. As for intermediate descents, Grimondet, Chamole, Pre Noir and La Barma fit perfectly into this category. Beginners should start with Grimod and Chatelaine. These are quite gentle and long tracks, which allow inexperienced skiers to fully adapt to the surrounding environment and stimulate further development. Snowboarders have the opportunity to improve their skills in specially designated half-pipe fan parks. Lovers of cross-country skiing are also not deprived of attention and have at their disposal a couple of tens of kilometers of cross-country skiing. Special tracks are equipped for fans of sledding. Next to the resort area is a flooded skating rink. In Pila, the interests of all fans of winter sports, regardless of gender and age, are taken into account. Special tracks are equipped for fans of sledding. Next to the resort area is a flooded skating rink. In Pila, the interests of all fans of winter sports, regardless of gender and age, are taken into account. Special tracks are equipped for fans of sledding. Next to the resort area is a flooded skating rink. In Pila, the interests of all fans of winter sports, regardless of gender and age, are taken into account.

Attractions

One of the main objects in the vicinity of the village is the historical and cultural center of the region – Aosta. It is only 20 minutes away by cable car from Pila and is full of various attractions, as well as architectural monuments of the past years. The Arch of Emperor Augustus has been preserved here since the Roman era, and the Praetorian Gate and the building of the Roman amphitheater have not lost their grandeur. A massive stone bridge stretches across the Dora-Baltea river to this day, like a symbol of past centuries. Among the medieval architectural objects, the collegiate church of Sant Orso stands out, somewhat gloomy, but still attracting attention, the monastery of Santa Caterina, the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, with its museum, the massive chapel of San Grata and city ​​hall building.

Considering the fact that the Valle d’Aosta region is not gigantic and is the smallest in this part of Italy, it can be well explored in a fairly short period of time. Historical castles concentrated in these places are of particular interest to lovers of antiquity. One of them is Fenis Castle, built in 1242. Today it is a museum, where you can see the armory with the military arsenal of those times displayed in it, a tank for collecting rainwater, rooms for servants and living rooms where influential people spent their leisure time. In the same area is the castle of Isson, which is even older than Fenis. At one time it was the residence of the bishop of Aosta. First of all, Isson is famous for its unique fountain, which is shaped like a pomegranate tree. Not far from it stand two more medieval castles,

Fenis Castle, Italy

Mainly, the region is famous for its natural values. Around the majestic Gran Paradiso mountain, for example, there is a large national park. Initially, the park was created to protect against the extinction of a very rare species of alpine mountain goats, whose population was greatly reduced in the 19th century by uncontrolled hunting. In addition to these rare animals, in the reserve you can also meet many rare species of birds, in particular, eagles. Gran Paradiso is also known as a habitat for ermines. The huge territory of the national park covers more than 700 square kilometers. There are large glaciers, dense forests, and picturesque alpine meadows, which are popular with many visitors as places for picnics and walks.

Another great mountain in this region is Monte Rosa. The name of this peak is translated from Italian as “pink mountain”. And indeed, when the sun is reflected in the large glaciers, the face of the mountain begins to beautifully shimmer with all shades of pink and purple.

All these sights give vacationers the opportunity to take part in many interesting excursions. Some trips are arranged directly from Pila, but for most the departure point is Aosta. In addition to mountain castles and national reserves, resort guests can visit Milan and Turin.

Places for entertainment and shopping in the Pila resort.

In addition to a wide selection of ski slopes, this small resort offers its guests a lot of other entertainment. The tourist infrastructure is very well developed here: guests are ready to receive numerous hotels, boarding houses and campsites, and cozy bars and cafes open their doors in the evenings. Beauty salons, spa centers and shops are also available to visitors. Shopping opportunities here are not very wide, but for profitable and pleasant shopping you can go to the nearby city of Aosta or, even better, go to Milan or Turin for a day.

Conclusion

Pila is a great vacation option for families with children. And also for beginner skiers. For professionals, the local slopes may seem boring, but a large number of easy and exciting trails are ideal for attracting children and beginners to skiing in this area. Also, any tourist will fall in love with the charm of the local nature, and exciting trips made in between sports activities will remain in the memory for a long time as pleasant memories.