Montecreto ski resort in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 60 kilometres southwest of Bologna. Montecreto is a part of Cimone Ski area. Monte Cimone ski district is arguably the best in the region and, with more than 50 km of slopes, it is certainly Emilia-Romagna’s largest and most modern ski resort.
The resort gets its name from the highest mountain in the northern Apennines: Cimone, 2165 m high. At its foot there are the towns of Montecreto, Fanano, Riolunato and Sestola. It is home to an important weather observatory belonging to the Italian Air Force and a National Research Council (CNR) centre. It also has a beautiful lake at 1,500 metres a.s.l., called Lake Ninfa
Montecreto ski resort - Cimone ski area
The Cimone ski resort offers mostly red slopes, meaning those suitable for intermediate and developing skiers. Their distinctive feature is their width, which is greater than the average width of slopes. If you are an expert skier you should really try the traditional medium-level (red) Baggiolara ski track with its semi-circular route and practically uniform slope, with the exception of a wall located approximately 1 km from the starting point, and the Baggiolara II track, formed in a manner resembling the first route and also featuring a similar wall. If you prefer simpler tracks you might try track 19, dedicated to the Olympic champion Giuliano Razzoli. It is known as the “rocket” track, a name which reminds everyone of Razzoli’s victory in the 2010 Winter Olympics slalom competition at Vancouver in Canada.
The width of the slopes, the natural shape of the landscape and the wide range of off-piste trails make Cimone a favourite destination for snowboarders who find the modern terrain park at Lake Ninfa the perfect place to challenge themselves with jumps and tricks.
The Snowboarding Park "Ninfa4all" is an integral part of the 50 km of interconnected slopes that can be accessed with a single pass so you can alternate between downhills and jumps or acrobatics on the ramps. There are many structures set up along the slope such as jumps, rails, and step-ups for all levels. It is an ideal area for all freestylers, freeriders, freecarvers and racers, for beginners and experts alike. The slopes and the pipe can be reached using lifts and magic carpets, and every run can be done without too much effort and always accompanied by music.
The resort also offers an interesting service for very young budding athletes. The Baby Parks, providing areas where children can play and acquire confidence as they familiarise themselves with the snowbound ambiance are designed especially for youngsters. These centres, equipped with inflatable sleds, saucers and rafts for sliding on the snow, are situated close to the Lago della Ninfa, Le Polle and Cimoncino.
Montecreto village
The town is built around the church of S. John. Once an ancient fortress, today there are only some parts of the walls and one of three towers, converted into the bell tower of the parish church. The old town, and in particular the Via Castello, with its courtyards, balconies and carved portals, is an excellent example of a fortified road.