Veneto, Italy

Capital City: Venice
Closest Airport: Marco Polo airport - Bolzano
Population: 4,600,000
Resort Area: Corinta d'Ampezzo - Plan de Corones - Alta Badia - Val Gardena - Val di Fassa e Carezza - Arabba - Alta Pusteria
Snow Season: December - April
Main Language: Italian
Currency: Euro

Venice - a city of immeasurable beauty and the birthplace of the Renaissance - also happens to be capital city of a region that's home to some of the best ski resorts in Italy, including Cortina d'Ampezzo and Val Gardena.

What makes them so good is their vertical drop - close to 2,000 metres. Because the Italian Dolomites (in Italy's right hand corner) border Austria, they benefit from 'Austrian height' ... and that makes it possible (in some places at least) to ski most of the year round. This part of the world's not the easiest to get to but your effort is rewarded with some fantastic varied terrain and slick (if a little expensive) resorts.