Across the Dolomites and the Apennines, the most beautiful snowy villages in Italy are all snow‑dusted bell towers, olde worlde stone lanes and glistening rooftops. Church bells drift through crisp air and trattorie ladle out polenta after a day on easy winter trails.
Top Italian villages to see in the snow
Cogne (Aosta Valley)
A stone‑roofed, car‑light centre with the wild hush of Gran Paradiso National Park on the doorstep. The valley floor turns into a Nordic playground most winters, with snow often lingering in shaded meadows through March. Icefalls in Valnontey give the place an adventurous edge. Famous for cross‑country skiing, wildlife sightings and long lunches of polenta with fontina.
Insider tip: the riverside loops are gorgeous after fresh snow, but check the open circuit map at the tourist office before heading out.
Ortisei (Trentino‑Alto Adige)
Picture‑postcard pastel façades, woodcarving workshops and a steeple that peeks over snow‑dusted rooftops. The Dolomiti Superski lifts up to Seceda and Alpe di Siusi keep things snow‑sure most winters. The best cover is typically January to early March, thanks to altitude and extensive snowmaking. It’s famed for Ladin culture, easygoing skiers, and scenic cable car rides that make even non‑ski days feel special.
Insider tip: the Seceda ridgeline at golden hour is a quiet, glistening perch for photos if you ride up just before the last lift.
San Candido/Innichen (Trentino‑Alto Adige/Südtirol)
A small Baroque core under the watch of the Collegiata, with tidy Tyrolean houses and a crisp, Alpine hush. Snow tends to settle early on the valley floor, with the epic Drei Zinnen peaks and vast ski Nordic circuits keeping winters long and reliable into March. Known for family‑friendly slopes, cross‑country skiing and torch‑lit evening strolls past merrily decorated windows.
Insider tip: the Prato Piazza plateau is a serene snowshoe day with big‑sky views if lifts are busy.
Sappada (Friuli Venezia Giulia)
Timber chalets and sleepy lanes, backed by ridges that hold snow beautifully in cold spells. The family ski area and Nordic trails usually glide along nicely mid‑winter, while carnival and mystical folkloric traditions keep it all feeling like living history. Known for slow travel, hearty frico cheese dish and snow that lingers in shaded corners.
Insider tip: after fresh snow, the wooden granaries in Sappada Vecchia are especially photogenic; early light tends to mean calmer, snow‑topped scenes.
Madonna di Campiglio (Trentino)
Belle Époque façades and a compact centre that hums on winter evenings, Madonna di Campiglio is an up-and-coming luxury ski spot. The linked Campiglio‑Pinzolo‑Folgarida network sits high enough to bank steady snow from January through March. Famous for polished mountain hospitality, frozen‑lake ambience and miles of interlinked pistes.
Insider tip: Grostè holds cold, chalky snow after sunny spells, so save it for late morning once the light softens.
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Cortina d’Ampezzo (Veneto, Dolomites)
An elegant high‑valley amphitheatre ringed by craggy towers, with a sleek avenue for an evening passeggiata. Snow cover is bolstered by altitude and robust snowmaking; peak cover often runs January into March, though cold, clear spells are common on either side. Famed for Olympic history plus the 2026 Olympics, stylish mountain cabins and snowshoe paths to WWI open‑air sites.
Insider tip: mid‑week on Tofana can be surprisingly quiet outside school holidays, and Lagazuoi at sunset is pure magic on a clear day.
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Bormio (Lombardy)
Stone lanes, steaming thermal baths and a mountain amphitheatre that feels untamed once the snow falls. The area benefits from cold air pooling in the valley and good altitude, so January and February are typically dependable, with spring skiing stretching out on north‑facing slopes. Known for Roman‑era bathing culture, World Cup pistes and honest alpine cooking.
Insider tip: Bagni Vecchi at twilight is a tonic after a sub‑zero day, and weekdays are calmer and more wallet‑friendly.
Livigno (Lombardy)
A high, wide valley with a long, cold season and a lively, duty‑free village core. Snow tends to arrive early and cling on thanks to altitude and cold inversions, with reliable conditions through March and often into April. Famous for broad groomers, cross‑country tracks and a spirited après circuit that’s more laid‑back than flashy.
Insider tip: early birds catch corduroy off Carosello before the sun hits, and afternoons suit Mottolino’s park laps.
Alagna Valsesia (Piedmont)
Walser chalets in wood and stone, narrow lanes and Monte Rosa looming like a white wall. Snow is generous on the high faces and holds well in the bowls. Peak reliability sits mid‑winter, with freeride routes needing stable conditions and good guidance. Known for serious mountain spirit, cable‑accessed backcountry and a village that keeps its olde worlde soul.
Insider tip: hire a local guide for the Passo dei Salati descents.
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Pescocostanzo (Abruzzo)
A Renaissance‑era hill town in stone, lace‑making heritage on show in tiny botteghe, and rooftops frosting over after evening bells. Snow is more variable than the Alps, but cold snaps can be generous. The nearby Alto Sangro area usually offers dependable mid‑winter pistes with tree cover as a buffer on windy days. Known for handsome palazzi, artisan culture and hearty mountain grub.
Insider tip: aim for clear weekdays after a storm for empty slopes around Roccaraso; weekends draw a Rome crowd.
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