Mondolè Ski is a big, friendly ski area in the Maritime Alps of southern Piedmont, in the north-west corner of Italy. It’s formed by three linked resorts, Prato Nevoso, Artesina, and Frabosa Soprana, which share one mountain and one lift pass. What makes it unusual is how close it sits to the sea. You're only about an hour from the Mediterranean coast and around ninety minutes from Turin, close enough that on a clear day you can look out towards the coastline from the top of the slopes. That nearness to the sea shapes the weather, too. Storms rolling in off the Ligurian coast can drop heavy snow on these mountains, while the southerly position keeps things sunny and mild, a combination that has made the area a long-standing favourite with skiing families from Turin and the Italian Riviera.

The skiing is spread across the three resorts and adds up to a large, varied area of well over 100km of pistes. Most of it is gentle, wide, and sunny, which makes it a lovely place for beginners and cruising intermediates, with long, rolling descents (the longest around 4km) and plenty of open, confidence-building terrain, including the Conca, a big sun-bowl at the heart of Prato Nevoso. There's more to test stronger skiers too, with a scattering of steep reds and blacks and some good tree skiing lower down, and the snowpark at Prato Nevoso is one of the best known in Italy, with lines for every level. The season runs from early December into mid-April, and while this is a relatively low, southerly mountain, heavy falls off the Ligurian storms and extensive snowmaking keep the slopes well covered.

There's plenty to do here beyond the downhill runs. You can head out snowshoeing, try a dog-sled or snowmobile ride, go tubing or sledging, or ski under floodlights, since Prato Nevoso runs night skiing several evenings a week. It's very much a family mountain, with a dedicated snow park for younger children right in the village. Each of the three bases has its own feel, Prato Nevoso is the largest and liveliest, a modern, purpose-built village with everything on your doorstep, Artesina is smaller and quieter, and Frabosa Soprana is a traditional stone-built Piedmontese village lower down. Most of the accommodation, and most of the activity, is in Prato Nevoso.

Check out Mondolè Ski deals to start planning your trip.