Italy’s fabulous Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in the Trentino region once played host to the court of the Austro-Hungarian empire, when Emperor Franz Josef and Princess Sissi visited to hike up to the lakes and walk in the forest that surround the village back in 1889 and 1894.
The resort has never forgotten this Royal affirmation and every winter stages a week of aristocratic indulgence in the rest with balls and feasts and guests dressed in period royal attire.
The celebrations spill out on to the slopes one day each season – this year Thursday, 23rd February, 2023 – when visitors can sign up to ski in period costume. Accompanied by ski instructors, the day includes a Habsburg-themed aperitif-lunch at the 5 Laghi refuge.
A package including costume hire (wide skirt with crinoline for those wishing to ski as a princess), ski instructors and the lunch is €55 per person, excluding lift pass and ski rentals.
“The activity requires an average level of skiing ability; you must be able to ride the chairlifts dressed in period costume (full skirt with crinoline),” a resort spokesperson advised.
(All images credit: ApT Campigliodolomiti – Bisti Paolo)
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