Roccaraso – Rivisondoli

The Largest Apennine Resort

Roccaraso sits at 1,236 metres on the Altopiano delle Cinquemiglia in the province of L’Aquila, forming the centrepiece of the most extensive ski resort in the entire Italian peninsula south of the Alps. With 130 km of pistes spread across the Alto Sangro and 32 lifts, the resort uniting Roccaraso, Rivisondoli and Pescocostanzo has no rivals in the Apennines: an infrastructure that in scale and variety holds its own against many mid-sized Alpine destinations. But it is geography that makes it truly unique: being little more than two hours by motorway from Rome means it is the winter release valve for millions of Italians living in central and southern Italy who have historically looked upon skiing as a pleasure reserved for those living closer to the Alps.

Two Hours from Rome, Less from Naples

Accessibility is the first argument in Roccaraso’s favour. The A25 motorway, the arterial road that runs up through Abruzzo from Rome’s ring road, brings drivers to the Roccaraso exit in about two hours from the capital in flowing traffic. From Naples, following the A1 to Caianello then heading east, the journey takes around two and a half hours. There is no ski resort of this size anywhere in central or southern Italy this close to two major cities. Sunday mornings see the motorway queues that ascend the A25 become almost folkloric: Roccaraso at weekends is as busy as a large Alpine resort in peak season, with lift queues and an animation spread throughout the village.

The Alto Sangro Resort

The pistes are distributed across four main areas: Roccaraso, Rivisondoli, Pescocostanzo and the Monte Pratello runs. The black pistes of Monte Secine and Pizzalto above Rivisondoli offer the most technical runs with sustained gradients and good variety of aspects. The intermediate Roccaraso pistes attract the great mass of weekend skiers and are the ones that feel the strain most on the busiest days. For those seeking more peace, Pescocostanzo — the medieval village considered one of the most beautiful in Italy — provides an alternative entry point to less crowded pistes and an architectural setting of great distinction.

Snowmaking covers approximately 90 per cent of the pistes, a proportion that has progressively reduced dependence on natural snow and extended the season into December and March — traditionally the most unpredictable months in the central Apennines. The maximum elevation of 2,141 metres above Roccaraso guarantees temperatures cold enough for snowmaking even in leaner winters.

The Glamour and the History

Roccaraso is also known as the “Cortina of the South”, a nickname that encapsulates both admiration for the resort’s social cachet and a certain affectionate irony at the comparison with the more famous Dolomite destination. In fact, Roccaraso’s history as a resort dates to the 1930s, when the plateau became a sought-after destination for the Roman and Neapolitan bourgeoisie seeking summer coolness and winter snow. The Second World War brought near-total destruction to the village, which was rebuilt from scratch in the 1950s and 1960s. This reconstruction explains the modern appearance of the town centre, which retains little historic architecture but has built an identity of hospitality and entertainment appreciated by a loyal mass tourism clientele.

Getting There

The main access is the A25 motorway, with the Roccaraso exit approximately 100 km from Rome and 150 km from Naples. Roccaraso’s railway station, served by the Sulmona-Carpinone line, allows access without a car — a little-known but workable option, with shuttle services to the lifts active on weekends.