Aprica-Corteno Celebrates Record-Breaking 2025-26 Season

The Aprica-Corteno ski area has officially closed the books on its most successful winter to date. Despite an agonizingly slow start due to a lack of natural snowfall, the 2025-26 season defied expectations, smashing visitor records and securing the resort’s financial future with a blockbuster performance.

The season’s success was driven by a massive influx of newcomers, with data showing an increase of over 17,000 first-time visitors. While domestic interest remained high, the resort also reported a significant "loyalty surge" from international tourists, many of whom have made the Valtellina destination a staple of their winter calendars.

The Olympic Advantage

A key factor in this year’s triumph was Aprica’s strategic role during the 2026 Winter Olympics. As crowds and athletes descended on neighboring towns, Aprica-Corteno became a vital hub for international teams.

The resort’s ability to accommodate the logistical flow of Olympic events and offer world-class hospitality for team training provided a major boost to both its reputation and its bottom line.

Managing the "Artificial" Challenge

The success did not come without its hurdles. Sita, the company responsible for managing the area’s facilities, faced a winter of high-stakes logistics. To combat the early-season snow scarcity, the team relied heavily on snow-making technology.

“The increased operating costs—largely due to the intensive use of artificial snow—presented a real challenge,” a representative from Sita noted.

However, the investment paid off. Despite the overhead, the company confirmed that this was the best season ever from a financial perspective, proving that high-quality slope maintenance can drive volume even when the clouds don't cooperate.

Looking Ahead: The New Palabione-Lago Palabione Lift

With the record season providing a solid financial cushion, Aprica is already pivoting to the future. Agreements have officially been signed with construction firms for the highly anticipated “Palabione-Lago Palabione” chairlift.

Financed in part by the Ministry of Tourism, the project is set to be a game-changer for the mountain's upper reaches:

• Design: A four-seater, fully canopied, detachable chairlift.

• Speed: Traveling at a brisk 5 meters per second.

• Capacity: Capable of transporting 2,400 people per hour.

• Efficiency: Reducing the journey to the lake to under five minutes.

This new infrastructure is expected to further modernize the resort, ensuring that the momentum from the "Olympic Winter" carries over into a new era for Aprica-Corteno.

Aprica and Corteno embrace a vast ski area with all kinds of ski slopes, from blue to black, to satisfy everyone, from beginners to the most proficient of skiers. The Campetti area is located in the heart of the town and is a veritable paradise for children learning to ski for the first time. Then, we climb up to 2300m, to Valletta, the heart of Palabione, overlooking the entire town.

More proficient skiers can put themselves to the test on red and black slopes, like the Magnolta "Pistone", while those looking to enjoy the panorama without too much sweat, will enjoy the Baradello Superpanoramica, over 6 km long. Slopes for all tastes, fun for grown-ups and children and, of course, chalets and solariums for relaxing after skiing. Thanks to its position and programmed snow cover throughout the entire ski area, Aprica is blessed with a long and stable skiing season, with enviable snow conditions.