Skiing, Ferrari & the Italian Job: GB Ski Tours' Monte Cimone Resort Inspection
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
When our team headed to the northern Apennines for a resort inspection at Monte Cimone back in March, we weren't quite sure what to expect. What we found was a compact, welcoming, and extremely capable school ski resort in Italy — with one of the most memorable add-ons we've come across on any inspection trip.
Day One: On the Slopes of Monte Cimone
We woke early at the Hotel Roma in the pretty town of Sestola — and immediately got things right with breakfast. A generous buffet spread of toasties loaded with cheese and ham, scrambled eggs, bacon, and rich Italian coffee set us up perfectly for a full day on the mountain. First impressions of the town were excellent: charming, manageable, and with a genuine Italian character that school groups tend to love.
Sestola is an ideal base for visiting groups. A short walk from the hotel leads directly to the chairlift up to Pian del Falco, which connects easily to the main lift hub at Passo del Lupo via a regular, free ski bus. On arrival, ski equipment hire was swift and well-organised, with the ski school meeting point conveniently located right alongside the rental shop — a small detail that makes a big practical difference when you're managing a large group of students.
Exploring the Mountain
We began the day by heading up toward Pian Cavallaro before linking across to the Cimoncino and Lago della Ninfa sectors. These areas offer lovely tree-lined pistes, a good mix of wide red runs, and well-designed beginner zones that are ideal for school groups making their first turns. The connecting runs are gentle and accessible throughout, meaning skiers of all abilities can move confidently around the mountain without feeling out of their depth.
Lunch was taken back at Passo del Lupo, at the welcoming Edelweiss restaurant — the go-to spot for visiting groups. The food was plentiful and varied, with pasta dishes and traditional Italian options doing exactly what a mid-mountain lunch should.
In the afternoon, we completed a full ski area review alongside Harry from the local ski school, who guided us across the mountain and offered invaluable insight into how the resort works for visiting school groups. Monte Cimone sits in the northern Apennines and reaches approximately 2,165 metres, with all the main infrastructure centred around Passo del Lupo.
Harry walked us through the dedicated beginner zones used for first-time skiers — well laid out, with gentle gradients and wide pistes that are ideal for structured progression. Lessons typically begin in these controlled areas before students are gradually introduced to longer, more varied runs as their confidence grows. It's a logical, reassuring setup that experienced trip leaders will appreciate immediately.
Higher up, we sampled a range of intermediate and advanced pistes linking the main sectors. One of the standout features of the resort is the abundance of wide, open slopes that offer excellent visibility and plenty of space for groups to spread out safely. Several pistes also weave through forested sections, giving a more traditional Alpine feel and natural shelter when the weather turns.
The return to Sestola was smooth and straightforward — the free resort ski bus runs regularly and plays a key role in connecting the village, hire shops, and lift infrastructure, making it easy for groups to move around without the need for private transport.
The Verdict on Monte Cimone
Monte Cimone offers a compact yet varied ski area that is particularly well suited to beginner and intermediate school groups. Its layout allows instructors to move groups progressively around the mountain while keeping everyone within a manageable, clearly structured area — one of the most important qualities a school ski destination can have.
To round off the day, we visited three of the hotels featured in our Cimone programme, all based in Sestola:
Hotel Elena — right in the village centre, small, friendly, and family-run. A warm and personal option for smaller school groups.
Hotel Miramonti — at the entrance to Sestola and well-equipped for larger school and sports groups, with spacious rooms and generous communal areas.
Hotel Tirolo — set slightly above the town centre, comfortable and well-appointed, with lovely views across the Apennine landscape.
Together, they reflect the genuine hospitality that makes Cimone such an appealing destination for visiting groups — and gave us real confidence in what we're offering schools.
Day Two: From the Slopes to the Home of Ferrari
Our final morning began with the familiar buzz of a group packing up after a brilliant trip. Bags loaded, final coffees finished, and with the mountain peaks still visible in the distance, we set off south — not straight to the airport, but first to Maranello: the legendary home of Ferrari.
The drive through Emilia-Romagna was a pleasure in itself — rolling countryside, vineyards, and small Italian towns making for a scenic transition from mountain to motorsport. Anticipation built steadily as the iconic prancing horse emblem came into view outside the world-famous Museo Ferrari.
Our group was met by a knowledgeable guide who took us through an engaging tour of Ferrari's remarkable history — from the earliest racing machines built by Enzo Ferrari to the cutting-edge Formula 1 cars that have dominated modern motorsport. We stood feet away from championship-winning cars, heard stories of the drivers and engineers who shaped the brand, and got a genuine sense of why Ferrari remains one of Italy's most celebrated icons. For motorsport fans and casual visitors alike, it was an inspiring way to spend a morning.
After a few final photos outside the museum, we headed to Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport for our Ryanair flight back to London Stansted — reflecting, as we boarded, on a trip that had delivered everything we'd hoped for and more.
Mountains, motorsport, and memories. Monte Cimone might just be Italy's best-kept secret for school ski trips — and we're excited to share it with you.
Interested in a school ski trip to Monte Cimone? Get in touch with the GB Ski Tours team to find out more about our Italy ski tours.
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