Posted Tue Oct 28 20:57:00 UTC 2008

Living in southern Ticino, with its warm Mediterranean climate and lakeside breezes, does not mean you have to live without one of Switzerland’s most treasured pastimes—skiing. Ticino and its neighboring cantons offer plenty of wonderful ski resorts that are within easy reach of all the communities surrounding Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, and Lake Como. From the rustic, understated slopes of Nara and San Bernardino to the chic, internationally-famous St. Moritz resort, there is a Swiss ski resort for every mood and every skill level.

Andermatt
Just one hour north of Locarno and Ascona lays the beautiful Andermatt resort and village. Situated in the high Urserntal Valley at the heart of the Alps, the village Andermatt makes a perfect daytrip or Alpine weekend getaway location for those living near Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, or Italy’s Lake Como. Andermatt village is surrounded by thick forested areas and stunning panoramic mountain views, providing the perfect backdrop for all Andermatt recreation. In the summer season, Urserntal Valley is a playground for nearly every sport; hiking, cycling, golfing, mountain climbing, boating, fishing, and even paragliding can all be done here. But what Andermatt is most famous for is its ski slopes.
Skiing in Andermatt is what ski lovers’ dreams are made of. The resort is smaller than many of Switzerland’s other top ski destinations with only 82 km of groomed runs, but once you’re there, it is clear that Andermatt boasts quality, not quantity. At 1,500 meters above sea level, Andermatt has the advantage of great location and its slopes are guaranteed to have plenty of good snow from December to May. Andermatt’s Gemmstock Mountain, 3,000 meters high at its peak, offers unparalleled scenery of more than 600 summits and exhilarating runs that will leave your heart racing. Experts, novices, snowboarders, and off-piste skiers alike are all welcome in Andermatt.