Madesimo ski resort guide & reviews Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do in Madesimo
Resort overview
Madesimo is a beautiful ski resort in the Valchiavenna in the province of Sondrio in Lombardy and shares these majestic mountains with it's sister resort, Campodolcino a few kms down the valley.
Après-ski
Off the slopes, the streets are lined with many shops, cafes and restaurants and its easy to spend an afternoon wandering around taking in the history and visiting the other nearby villages especially at weekends with their farmers markets.
Apres-ski in Madesimo is relaxed with the focus more on quality dining although there are the usual lively après-ski bars you find in most resorts - these tend to get very busy at weekends.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 1550m |
| Top lift | 2995m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Piste (km) | 60 |
| Longest run | 3 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 9 km |
| Season | Dec - Apr |
| Snowboard parks | 1 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ✔ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed |
Madesimo ski area guide
At 1550m with north and westerly facing slopes, Madesimo has a good snow record and a long season and just in case, all the pistes have the benefit of snow cannons. The on-piste ski terrain is large and varied enough to keep most skiers and boarders entertained for a weeks ski holiday.
For children, the Baby Park is a fantastic place for kids, up to the age of 10, to learn to ski. There is also snow tubing which is great fun.
Beginners
Beginners will find a good selection of nursery slopes half-way up the mountain and the ski school is excellent.
Intermediate
Medisimo is well suited for early intermediate skiers and boarders with some long reds to cruise in the sunshine.
Advanced
Experts may be a tiny bit disappointed as there are just 5 black pistes that cover around 9km but there is some fantastic off piste such as the famous Canolone itinerary which is reserved for experienced skiers.
This is one of the most beautiful trails in the Alps. Once you reach the top of the Groppera lift at 2884m, you will need to puts skins on and climb up to where the trail starts.
Snowboarding
There is 1 snowpark in the Aquarela area called "MadePark" which is fully kitted out with a 130m half-pipe, jumps, rails and boxes.
Things to see & do in Madesimo
- Ice skating
- Snowshoeing
- Skiddoo safaris on 69km of tree-lined trails
- Snowkiting
- Sports center in Chiavenna with in-door ice rink
Spa & Wellbeing
If you are looking for a bit of relaxation after being on the slopes then you don't have to look far. The Boscone Suite Hotel in the centre of the resort has extensive facilities with a fully equipped spa, indoor pool and treatment rooms and is open to the public.
Our view on Madesimo ski resort
We think Madesimo is a great resort to visit any time of the year and is perfect for families with so many things to do to keep everyone entertained.
- Up for something different? - then try a dinner at the Rifugio Mai Tardi at 1730m. You start the evening in Madesimo then go by snowcat or skiddo up the mountain - superb evening fun
- A good day out is a trip to the glitzy resort of St Moritz over the Swiss border. The journey takes about 90 minutes with some stunning scenery along the way. St Moritz is famous for it's chic shops and restaurants as well as some excellent skiing terrain
If you like Madesimo you may also like to look at Pinzolo and La Villa in the Italian Dolomites.
