After abundant snow-falls at the beginning of January, ski resorts around Rome are set for a good season. The main Lazio resorts (Terminillo, Monte Livata, Campo Staffi) and the ones in Abruzzo (Ovindoli, Campo Felice and Campo Imperatore) are within about an hour and a half of the city. They are therefore popular with weekenders but they can be crowded and expensive. Weekday lift tickets are cheaper and the ski conditions are better, with fewer crowds.

At Terminillo, where there is some of the most challenging skiing in the Apennines, a day ski pass is e17 during the week and e21 at weekends. At Monte Livata, which is popular with school groups, there are only a few runs and a day pass here costs e10 during the week and e16 at the weekends. In the Ovindoli-Campo Felice area, which has the largest choice of runs, the cost for ski lifts ranges from e20 at Ovindoli to e26 at Campo Felice. At Campo Imperatore, which is one of the highest resorts close to Rome and where it can be very windy, the price is e22 at the weekend, e16 on weekdays and e11 on Thursdays. Almost all resorts also have seasonal passes.

At the beginning of January new regulations were introduced throughout Italy to make ski slopes safer. Children up to 14 years must now wear a crash helmet while on the slopes and anyone caught skiing or snowboarding dangerously or too fast can be stopped and fined. Ski schools and ski-lift operators are entitled to refuse children without helmets. For more information see www.skiinfo.it.