Pila
Pila is a high snowsure ski resort linked by lift to Aosta, an old Roman town with cobbled alleyways and an elegant piazza. Pila does not have a big ski area but it's a good value resort, well suited to beginners, families and mixed groups that include non-skiers or part-time skiers.
Family-friendly and affordable, Pila has all the advantages of a modern purpose-built ski resort such as reliable snow cover, plenty of ski-in and ski-out accommodation and a traffic-free centre. But it also has an escape route back into the real world via a 20-minute gondola ride down to Aosta, the historic regional centre of this mountainous part of Italy.
Pila’s ski area is compact but interesting. There are 15 lifts and 29 pistes. Almost all of them are graded red, but there are also good nursery slopes and some good blue runs for beginners to make progress before tackling the gentlest reds. Experts have four black runs, a freestyle area and some good off-piste skiing on wooded North-facing slopes or on higher bowls some of which require a short climb. Almost the entire ski area faces North and is above 1,800m so snow quality is good.
Pila used to claim to have 75kms of runs but it’s now reduced its estimate to 50kms, which feels more accurate. For beginners, near-novices and occasional skiers who want to spend a couple of days looking at historical monuments in Aosta that’s probably just enough for a week. For stronger intermediates, keen piste bashers and advanced skiers, Pila only makes sense for a weekend (it’s very easy to reach), unless they plan to stay down the mountain in Aosta and travel to other neighbouring resorts like Monterosa, Courmayeur, Cervinia and La Thuile. There is a special Valle d’Aosta lift pass that covers them all.
Apres ski in Pila is relaxed, family-friendly and very Italian, just like the resort’s main clientele. Nightlife is limited, and the lift down to Aosta closes in the early evening. So whilst there are bars and clubs, if you like drinking and dancing till the small hours, you’d be better off staying elsewhere.
Pila Strengths & Weaknesses
+ High, North-facing snowsure slopes
+ Choice of tree skiing and open bowls
+ Good facilities for beginners and kids
+ Affordable ski-in, ski-out accommodation
+ Easy to get there
+ A good base for visiting other resorts
– A small ski area
– Very quiet at night
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