alaska-810433_1280pixabaySnow, excellent cuisine and loads of relaxation: these are the features of a holiday at high altitude. Here are some tips for a winter holiday in the warm atmosphere of our Farmhouses!

1) Snowshoeing and cross country skiing in Val d’Aosta

The beautiful mountains of Val d’Aosta are the ideal setting to practice some activities suitable for all ages: these include snowshoeing among the peaks over 3,000 meters of Monte Bianco, Monte Rosa, Cervino and Gran Paradiso, and over 200 glaciers that dot this beautiful region. Here fans of alpine skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing will be spoiled for choice.

Recommended: Farmhouse Plan d’Avie, overlooking the enchanting Aosta and the majestic mountains all around it. From the three apartments a stunning view can be enjoyed.

Farmhouse Plan d'Avie

Farmhouse Plan d’Avie

2) A taste of winter in Cuneo
Piedmont’s cuisine can be enjoyed at its best in the winter months: dishes based on venison, wild boar and chamois, porcini mushrooms, chestnuts from the Cuneo valleys, and the delicious cheese “toma”, served with DOC wines like Dolcetto Langhe. And then the typical polenta, ravioli with truffles, braised meat in Barolo and Barbera or the “ris in Cagnon” with melted cheese, to warm up the cold winter days.

Recommended: Farmhouse Ciabot Besimauda offers local homemade cooking making use of seasonal products: from ravioli to homemade taiarin, meat cooked in the wood oven, and cheese seasoned in the mountain pastures.

Farmhouse Ciabot Besimauda

Farmhouse Ciabot Besimauda

3) Nordic Walking in the Adamello Park
At the heart of the Rhaetian Alps, the Adamello Park includes the Lombard side of the Adamello mountains. This protected area enshrines the largest glacier in Italy and several valleys with beautiful huts scattered among the peaks. The scenario is perfect for Nordic walking, an outdoor sport suitable for everyone; this activity is striking in winter, allowing to admire a breathtaking view.

Recommended: Farmhouse Valsaviore, among the woods of the Park, dedicated to the cultivation of medicinal plants, vegetables and small fruits, and to taming quiet horses for riding in nature. Guests can enjoy a number of activities guided by qualified instructors, such as winter nordic walking and horse-riding.

Farmhouse Valsaviore

Farmhouse Valsaviore

4) Excursions among lakes, huts and shrines in Val di Non
Do not miss a romantic trip to Lake Tovel, also known as the “Red Lake” because of the redness of its waters in the past; a tour of the Alpine huts in Val di Tovel is also striking, to discover the culture of the mountain. In the beautiful scenario of the Brenta Dolomites, another must is the Sanctuary of Saint Romedio, which stands on the summit of a rocky outcrop and consists of five small overlapping churches, connected by a long staircase.

Recommended: Farmhouse Al Cermolo, in the heart of Val di Non, built according to the principles of eco-friendly design and energy saving. Its beautiful rooms have picture windows overlooking the mountains. A delicious breakfast includes typical regional products, like apples produced on the farm.

Farmhouse Al Cermolo

Farmhouse Al Cermolo

5) A museum trip in Trentino
Whoever said that mountain only means nature? For art lovers, a must is the Mart Museum, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rovereto, one of the most prestigious museums in Europe. Among the exhibitions currently on view, open until April 2016, we find “Manifesto 100. A Futurist Reconstruction of the Universe (1915-2015)”, displaying documents and photographs that show an interesting evolution inside the Futurist movement.

Recommended: Farmhouse Renetta, located in Val di Non among the Brenta Dolomites, surrounded by green orchards. It is mainly dedicated to the cultivation of apples, which guests can learn to appreciate. The atmosphere of the rooms is cozy and relaxing thanks to the wooden furniture and larch floors, and guests can also chill out in tea room.