2023 - 2024 Far West Skier's Guide - 76

MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO
THE HAPSBURGS AND
STENMARK
The Dolomites are, perhaps, the most
beautiful mountain range in the world. Since
2009, they are a UNESCO World Heritage site
- a tribute to their unique beauty and appearance
- and they have attracted climbers,
skiers, hikers, geologists, and other diverse
mountain lovers to their spectacular cliffs
since long before their recognition by
UNESCO.
With respect to the skiing, the Dolomites
are divided into two distinct areas. The main
part of the range is situated east of the Adige
River, and includes 450 ski lifts and a staggering
1200 kilometers of pistes. It includes the
Olympic resort of Cortina, as well as many of
the most famous ski resorts in Italy, like Val
Gardena, Arabba, and Canazei.
West of the Adige is a smaller section of
this fabulous range known as the Brenta Dolomites.
The most famous resort in this sector
of the range is Madonna di Campiglio. However,
in recent years, Madonna has connected
its lifts with those of nearby Pinzolo, Folgàrida,
and Marilleva to create a rather extensive system
of its own, including 58 lifts and 155 kilometers
of pistes. While these numbers pale by
comparison to those of the main range, they
are certainly more than adequate for providing
an excellent week of skiing. In fact, one would
probably need a month or more to properly
explore the main range covered by the Super
Dolomiti ski pass.
The landmark peaks in the Brenta Dolomites
include the Campanile Basso, the Campanile
Alto, the Cima Tosa, and the Crozzon
di Brenta, and they are every bit as spectacular
as their counterparts east of the Adige.
It is probably the stupendous scenery
that has, more than anything else, made Madonna
a household name among skiers. Of
course, the village has also had a bit of marketing
help through the years from the Austrian
royal family, as well as the ski-racing establishment.
Kaiser Franz Josef and his wife,
Princess Sissi visited Madonna on a couple of
occasions way back in the late nineteenth century,
and the Hapsburg family maintained a
vacation residence there all the way until the
mid-1950s. From the time of the royals' first
visits here, the location began to attract many
of central Europe's aristocracy and upper
classes.
Not that long after the royals sold the last
of their properties in Madonna, a new source
of fame and notoriety was bestowed on the little
Alpine village. In 1967, the first of many
men's World Cup slaloms was held on the Canalone
Miramonte piste. That race began a
long tradition of World Cup ski races in Madonna
that put the village in the spotlight on
a regular basis.
While Madonna became most famous for
hosting the slalom races, giant slalom and
downhill competitions have also been held
here quite often in the years that followed.
Madonna di Campiglio in Italy, known as the
Pearl of the exquisite Dolomites, has been attracting
skiers for over a century. Views like this inspired
the Austrian royal family to visit Madonna way
back in the 19th century. They kept a home there
until the 1950s. From the time of the royals' first
visits here, the location began to attract many of
central Europe's aristocracy and upper classes.
Noted for its beautiful terrain, the resort remains
a popular destination year around.
RIGHT: A bluebird day in the Dolomites can fill
a photo album with memories.
photos by Jimmy Petterson
76 Far West Skier's Guide 2O23 - 2O24
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2023 - 2024 Far West Skier's Guide

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