Winter in the Fassa Valley : "The pleasure of being free..."
In winter, the Fassa Valley is first and foremost for skiing, but it is also an enchanting place bursting with natural wonders, fun and cultural interest. While nature is sleeping under the snow, the fun runs wild on the slopes by day and in
the pubs and discos by night: an unforgettable holiday among the most beautiful mountains in the world.
The Fassa Valley is a true skier's paradise with over 200 km of wonderful pistes and countless links to neighbouring ski areas.
But this beautiful Valley in the Dolomites isn't just for the lovers of downhill skiiing, it also provides a myriad choice of alternatives including the most varied sporting activities, always surrounded by the fantastic scenary of the Dolomites where
even non-skiers will find their every desire satisfied.

Canazei, with its four outlying areas of Gries, Chieva, Alba and Penia, not even being the most populated town of the
Fassa Valley is surely the most renowned touristically and is above all acclaimed nationally and internationally for its winter
tourism due to its strategic position by the Dolomite Passes of Pordoi, Sella and Fedaia. The very modern ski lifts make the area of Canazei a model resort in the alpine arc, directly linked to the Giro del Sellaronda. Set in a stupendous natural basin and at the foot of some of the most alluring Dolomite peaks, Canazei has seen a notable expansion in building work
during the last decade, while remaining firmly tied to its Ladin origins and traditions, of which many visible traces remain in the architecture like they do in popular customs. Great care is taken to safeguard and look after the customs of the Ladin people who here, like elsewhere, are welcomed in dance, theatre and culture groups. At the end of each summer the representatives of all the Ladino peoples gather at Canazei for the "Gran festa da d'ista", now a classic meeting of local tradition.
Canazei represents an ideal match between nature and sport, shows and culture, relaxation and night life: there are, in fact, many typical bars and restaurants, pubs, après ski and piano bars where people go, especially in winter, until the first
light of dawn.

Are you ready to live the snow?...
Fassa Valley, 200 km of pistes, 9 skiareas, the Sellaronda...
Skier's paradise is here! One of the important features of the skiing available in the Val di Fassa is the chance to ski
somewhere different every day and to tackle the most famous ski carousels with your skis on. From the Four Passes Tour, or
the Sellaronda, the tour around the imposing massif of the Dolomites, to the Tre Valli Tour, and finally, the brand new Great War Tour. From every village, every morning you can choose to follow a new ski route in the heart of the Dolomites, in breathtaking scenary and bright sunshine, which even in winter gives us days of a rare beauty. Snow, sun, warmth...unlimited fun!.

It is particularly easy to move from location to another here in the Valle di Fassa or to reach the ski-lifts from your hotel.
An extensive network of completely free ski buses allows you to move about easily all day long from one village to another
without the problems of traffic and parking, not only to spend the day skiing in a different resort every day, but also to
take an afternoon walk or to go shopping. And, what's more, over the Christmas/New Year period, the "active bus" public transport service operates also in the evening until 11 pm, stopping in the villages' main squares and near the sports facilities (Aloch "Ski Stadium Val di Fassa" slope, Canazei swimming pool, Alba di Canazei ice stadium).

Attività ed Eventi - The Fassa Valley never rests…

The Marcialonga (Fiemme and Fassa) has allowed the Fassa Valley to develop and consolidate its own traditions in cross country skiing too. The event starts from Moena and the route involves the whole of length of the valley. Every resort village along the prestigious route has provided cross country tracks or circuits, even using programmed snow facilities, which make the complete package provided for enthusiasts of this sport extremely attractive; they can also find well-qualified instructors to teach them the sport..
The Ciancoal cross country circuit at Pozza di Fassa, particularly enjoyable on account of its continual changes of rhythm, and a track at Fontanazzo are also floodlit in the evening. So you can train and yet still relax
in the silence of the darkness. At a higher altitude we find the fabulous Alochet Cross Country Centre at Passo S. Pellegrino
while at Alba di Canazei there's the Ciampac circuit which is reached by the cablecar of the same name as well as the circuit at Passo di Costalunga above Vigo di Fassa. The "Fassa" Cross Country Ski School operates from Canazei, contact them at the Baita al Parco (tel. 0462 602035), while at Passo San Pellegrino we find the "Moena - Alochet" Cross Country Ski School (tel. 0462 573810 - 0462 573618) at the "Moena - Alochet" Cross Country School. However, you can also book private and group lessons at all the Ski Schools in the other resorts.

Ski excursions, the charm of solitude, discovery, reaching your destination...
The Fassa Valley can offer the many enthusiasts of this discipline an infinite range of off piste routes, alternatives to the traditional ski pistes and surrounded by scenary with a thousand faces: woods, minor valleys and lonely peaks in the heart of the Dolomites. The choice is truly enormous, starting from the simplest routes right up to the most complex, in search of hidden corners of paradise, landscapes far from traditional routes. A close relationship with nature, the snow, the mountains, the sky...indescribable emotions after the effort. And for the competitive, two dates of international prestige: the 'Pizolada delle Dolomiti' and the 'Sellaronda Ski Marathon', around the four passes by night with seal skins and a torch on your forehead to challenge the snow.

"La Pizolada"
The event is the 25th since the beginning of this ski Alpinism event, named after "pisolar" (literally sliding on the snow) by a group of friends. It has managed to grow and keep up with the requirements of this tough sporting discipline while keeping to its route through the most beautiful slopes around Passo San Pellegrino. The next edition of the "Pizolada delle Dolomiti" will be valid as the Single Trial of the Absolute Italian Championships of Ski Alpinism and will thus decree the 2001 Italian Champions in the speciality.

"Scufonèda"
The Cogo Scufons in 2001, as evidence of the growing interest in this "alternative" sport and the liveliness of the group of Fassan enthusiasts, are offering a "telemark" theme week, with numerous initiatives aimed at both experts and beginners, from outings on seal skins to exhibitions of style and technique, combining sporting activities with "Ladin-Nordic" folklore and the gastronomic aspects of Fassan cuisine.

"Sleddog"
New for winter 2000/2001: sledge excursions pulled by dogs and sleddog training courses.
Campitello di Fassa at the Ischia Sports Centre - Information and bookings Tel. 0348 0060846

"Carnival in Fassa Valley" (folklore)
The mystery and charm of a carnival full of magic. During Carnival week in Fassa Valley it is not only the best-known ski resorts (Canazei, Campitello, Pozza, Vigo, Moena) which are full of people, sounds and colours, but also the more remote
villages and hamlets. It is the time of the Ladin Carnival which has its "heart" in Penia and Alba, a few kilometres from Canazei. Here, the now traditional masquerades are organised which have as their leading characters the Bufons (at whom all the jests, jokes and vulgar jibes are directed), the Lachè (servants, butlers, attendants and guarantors of the masks) and the Marascons (people wearing large masks with belts full of bells which are made to beat the rhythm to a particular dance).
On the last Sunday of Carnival in the square at Campitello it is still the Bufons, the Lachè and the Marascons who take part in the now famous and long-awaited march past of the Fassan carnival (Carnascer Fascian) together with "facere da bel" (people wearing masks with sumptuous and elegant clothing) and the "facere da burt" (people wearing ugly masks which, with the clothes, display the most negative aspects of rural society in times past).

For further information visit the official site : www.fassa.com