Alpe Cimbra: The Complete Guide

Folgaria and Lavarone share Trentino's Alpe Cimbra skipass - one larger and more varied, the other gentler and steeped in history. Here's how to choose between them.

Folgaria - the larger, more varied base

The bigger of the two, with around 74 km of pistes across the linked Folgaria and Fiorentini sectors and close to complete snowmaking coverage. Terrain leans toward easy and intermediate cruising, and the plateau is scattered with genuine First World War fortifications, including the Skitour dei Forti ski-touring route that follows their line. Best for: - Families and beginners wanting reliable, fully-snowmade cruising - Slightly more terrain and variety than Lavarone - Easy access from both Rovereto and Trento Read the full Folgaria guide →

Lavarone - gentler, quieter and steeped in history

Smaller and considerably gentler than Folgaria, with around 30 km of pistes of which roughly 73% are classified easy. Lavarone also has a strong cross-country identity via the nearby Millegrobbe trails, and sits beside Lake Lavarone - a favourite retreat of Sigmund Freud - and Forte Belvedere-Gschwent, the largest Austro-Hungarian fort built in Trentino. Best for: - Complete beginners and young families - Cross-country skiers, via the Millegrobbe trail network - A quiet, history-rich alternative to Folgaria Read the full Lavarone guide →

How to choose between them

Both resorts sit on the same Alpe Cimbra skipass, so whichever you choose as a base, you can ski the other too. The choice comes down to how much terrain you want and what kind of trip you're after. If you want the most pistes and the most variety, Folgaria is the better base - its linked Fiorentini sector brings the total to around 74 km, with a wider mix of easy and intermediate runs and close to complete snowmaking. If you're travelling with complete beginners, want a strong cross-country option, or are simply after a quieter, lower-key week, Lavarone is the better choice - its downhill terrain is almost entirely gentle, and the nearby Millegrobbe trails add a genuine Nordic skiing dimension that Folgaria doesn't have. History is a shared draw either way. Both villages sit on what was the Alpine front line in the First World War, with genuine Austro-Hungarian fortifications dotted across the plateau - Forte Belvedere-Gschwent, the largest of them, sits right by Lavarone, while Folgaria has its own forts nearby too. Lavarone adds a literary footnote of its own: Sigmund Freud spent several summers walking the shores of Lake Lavarone in the early 1900s. On price, both are among the more affordable options in Trentino compared with bigger names like Madonna di Campiglio, and the shared skipass can be extended to Paganella, Monte Bondone or even the Asiago plateau in Veneto for a longer, more varied trip.