UPFRONT
Skiing with a twist
By Janine Wood
There is no doubt that for those bitten by the ski bug this has to be the favourite season. Just the thought of crunching through the snow, snapping on those skis and launching off down the slope is enough to get the heartbeat racing. So really it is not a matter of whether but rather where and when.
healing thermal baths. Hotel Corona which sits elegantly on the river’s edge has been accommodating skiers in the know for some time now and are offering a complimentary week-long, all-mountain ski pass to their guests. Corona has also tapped into the hedonistic
combination of skiing your legs off during the day then relaxing in the thermal baths, followed by a therapeutic massage. To this end they have teamed with recently refurbished Bagni Bernabo to offer their guests some cool deals. Bagni Bernabo, which is situated across
these days seems to dominate more.... but give up on going skiing? hardly! So where do you go to get more bang for
A
your buck? Tucked 2000 meters up in the Apenines is a quiet ski resort which the Italians are trying to keep to themselves. Or so it would seem. There certainly are no hordes of tourists clattering on each others skis to get onto the chair lifts. And the news gets better because the ski resort of Abetone is less than 40 kms from Bagni di Lucca and this is where it starts to get really interesting. Whilst you obviously could simply stay up
in Abetone, it is well worth considering driving down the mountain a short way and having an entirely different ‘apres-ski’ experience. Bagni di Lucca is famed for its thermal
waters and there is nothing more luxurious than unwinding after a day of hard skiing in hot,
SPECIAL OFFER:
From December through to March Hotel Corona is offering complimentary all-mountain ski passes to its guests. These passes also offer generous discounts off selective bars and restaurants in Abetone. All hotel guests can benefit from discounted treatments at Bagni Bernabo.
THE TUSCAN MAGAZINE | 5
t the risk of putting a downer on the topic there is the inevitable cost factor which
the river from Hotel Corona, is accessed via a scenic foot bridge. The baths date back to 1593 when they were first opened to accommodate the Lucchese gentry who came for the water’s healing properties. It was actually Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister, Elisa who put them more firmly on the map in 1805 when she started visiting Bagni di Lucca. Most of the marble baths date back to those days and the setting is steeped in equal parts history and luxury. Back at the Corona we suggest you try some of their exquisite local cuisine. The restaurant
which overlooks the river has been drawing foodies from all over Italy, a little like Abetone it is one of the best kept secrets. The entire Bagni di Lucca apres-ski experience is at once sophisticated and relaxing - quite a departure from anything you will have enjoyed in the past, but no doubt something you will quickly get used to!
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