The school ski trip is an annual summer ritual beloved by many adults and children alike. Celebrating the annual July high holiday weekends in Europe, these getaways are generally well organized and most of the major European resorts are represented, along with the usual national fare. What makes a school ski trip different from others, however, is that the destination is specifically chosen: usually a prestigious Alpine resort.
Alpinistissima
The summer holiday season is certainly hectic and companies should be ready to act quickly to satisfy the enormous public demand for Alpine Alpine weekends. The decision to select Alpinistissima, in Italy, was particularly important and involved a delicate balancing act between the company and the town council. The town council, famed for its warm and welcoming attitude towards visitors, had previously turned students away by imposing a ban on school visits. In April 2009, the council abandoned this policy and the Alpine way of life was once again opened to the public.
This year, however, the council determined that instead of sending representatives to all four resorts, a limited number of mixed-peria groups would make the trip to all four resorts. The mixed- persona groups are groups of friends and families that have interests in common, such as a love of skiing or rock climbing, along with a common goal – to experience the Alps.company representatives, aged 18 to 30, were sent to the four most popular resorts in Italy: Val di Bezzan, Val di Mammare, Locorotondo and Chiaia.
At each resort, the company set up a meeting point at which to meet prospective customers and conduct training sessions. Between the meetings, the company ran informative campaigns about the ski transfers, the local area, flora and fauna, and the cultural activities the resort was famous for.
These efforts were made possible by the excellent infrastructure that most resorts in Italy have nowadays and the recent and extensive road network. All these amenities made possible what was, in turn, a huge increase in customer numbers.
One of the most popular resorts opened its facilities to the public in 1990: Val di Bezzan, at the bottom of the Italian Alps. Today, more than two million people per year aredropping into the resort’s chalets and swimming pools.
The Barcelona of the north
Once you drop into one of the better-appointed chalets in the Tuscan region of La Cinuelica, you’ll feel immediately quite comfortable in your surroundings. Lying in a hollow between towering mountain peaks, this resort is a famous landmark in the region for its mild, challenging slopes.
The resort is situated in the Pescara Valley and only a brisk walk will get you to the large village of Pollensa. Within minutes of exploring this attractive area, you’ll find yourself plunging into a mix of forest and open alpine meadowland, with its abundance of pine trees and flowering plants.
The combination of natural beauty and human accomplishment make this Italian gem quite like nothing you’ll experience at home.
Tuscany’s Roman history
Harassed and nearly destroyed by multiple conquerors during the multiple wars that characterized much of the region’s history, Tuscany has developed a strong identity all its own.
Because it was once one of the dominant European states, it values the respect it still bears from that period – this is evident in everything from architecture to cuisine.
And yet, it neither feels nor exhibits the mentality of conquerors and conquerors, instead feeling and showing the appreciation of a demanding and influential time in history. Many of the remnants of that time still hold the place today, providing the opportunity to examine the idea of ancient Italy in its entirety.
The Renaissance and the Middle Ages
Just as the specialty of the Golden Age of Rome is its history, so too is the strength of the Renaissance. saturated with the blood of heroes and sages, Europe’s expanding sphere of knowledge soon became the foundation of new states and ideas. Once it had bloomed, many looked to the old classical past of Italy to shore up their own understandings about the new.
It is this fusion of the old and new that has made Italy among the most sought after destinations in the world. In particular, cities like Florence Berry and Venice have sought to re-create the palaces and canvases of ancient art to layout their city streets. So too have towns like Pisa beckoned travelers to immerse themselves in the glory of the ancient Italian way of life, with its precious art and friendly people.
Whether you are vacationing in Italy for the simple fact that you enjoy the history, architecture, and culture, or for the more complex fact that you appreciate the artistic elegance of an older era, you will find your journey’s end at these wonderful places.
