Via Lattea - Sestriere: Ski area guide

The Via Lattea is the largest ski area in Piedmont and one of the biggest in Italy. It also has a piece of history no other Italian resort can match: it was the first ski resort in the country built from scratch, at the direct wish of the Agnelli family in the 1930s.

Sestriere, the ski town

Sestriere was founded in 1934 from a visionary project by Giovanni Agnelli, who wanted to build a ‘ski town’ from nothing on the heights above the Val Chisone, before the very idea of a ski resort had caught on in the western Alps.

The result was a settlement designed around the mountain. The two original cylindrical towers of the Fiat village still stand out on the skyline today as unmistakable architectural landmarks.

The idea was simple and radical: bring the mountains within reach of Fiat’s employees and create a centre of sporting excellence that reflected the prestige of the brand. It worked beyond all expectations, and over time the name Sestriere became a byword for quality Italian skiing.

The 2006 Olympics

The Olympics gave Sestriere lasting international fame. At the Turin 2006 Winter Games, the Sestriere slopes hosted the giant slalom and slalom races, with global TV coverage and tens of thousands of spectators in the stands.

The Olympic legacy is still visible in the infrastructure: renewed lifts, one of the most extensive snowmaking systems in the Alps and FIS-certified timing systems. The runs are still homologated for international competition and are regularly used for circuit races.

The size of the ski area

The Via Lattea is not just Sestriere: it is a system. On the Italian side it brings together Sestriere, Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Claviere and Cesana Torinese, for a total of about 400 km of runs and 70 lifts.

The variety is real: wide, fast runs for experienced skiers, well-marked intermediate runs and children’s areas in the lower sectors. With the slopes rising from the valley floor up to 2,823 metres, the snow window is wide, from late November to Easter in most seasons.

The French side

One of the most interesting features of the Via Lattea is its international link. Through Claviere, the westernmost Italian municipality in the Alps, you cross the border without any physical barrier and ski straight into Montgenèvre, the French part of the Via Lattea.

The international ski pass, which you can buy at the Italian ticket offices, lets you ski on both sides with no formalities: ski down one run, cross into France, ride up on the other side. For a mountain ski area, this kind of open border is a real asset, not a brochure detail.

Value for money

The Via Lattea has deliberately positioned itself at a more affordable price point than top resorts such as Courmayeur or Cortina d’Ampezzo. The day pass stays under €60 for most of the season, and accommodation in the villages of the ski area, Sauze d’Oulx in particular, covers every budget.

For intermediate skiers who want mileage, varied runs and good organisation without paying the premium of a luxury brand, the Via Lattea is one of the most sensible choices in the western Alps.

Getting there

• From Turin: the A32 motorway towards Fréjus as far as the Sestriere exit, about 1 hour 20 minutes in normal conditions.
• From France: the A43 motorway from Lyon and Grenoble.
• From Genoa: the A26 and then the motorways around Turin, about 2 hours 30 minutes.