Madesimo

Madesimo offers lots of fast lifts but limited extent of slopes. Not sufficient for a week, but the mountain has something for everyone and the system copes well with weekend visitors- it's a couple of hours from Bergamo or Milan.

The village spreads along both sides of a river; a random mix of traditional buildings and narrow streets on one side and more modern development on the other, but with a good choice of mid-priced hotels.

The slopes have an almost equal share of blue and red runs that make great intermediate territory, though there are a few notable challenges – including the classic Canalone ski route. For a resort with a respectable altitude and a generally quiet and queue-free mountain, it is worth considering.