Slovenia and Italy united

29th October 2009, by Chris Gill

Attractively woody Julian Alps [(c) Sella Nevea]

Eastern Europe is about to meet the west, with the opening of a cable car and piste to link Bovec in Slovenia and Sella Nevea in Italy – two small ski areas in the Julian Alps.

The modern cable car will run from the border station at 2055m to the Italian slopes above Sella Nevea, and is due to open in December 2009. The connection will allow skiers from both the Slovenian and Italian sides of the border to share slopes in an area where, for much of the previous century, there was a strict divide between the two countries.

The ski area is likely to be known as Kanin-Sella Nevea, after the main mountain that overlooks the slopes. It will offer 35km pistes and a shared lift pass.

Bovec is on the south side of Mount Kanin, with some of Slovenia’s highest slopes (1500m-2290m) and mostly suited to intermediates. Sella Nevea means ‘snow pass’ and sits on the Italian side of the mountain. As its name suggests, the area has a good snow record – though snowmaking covers most runs. There are several red runs, a black run and nursery slopes both at valley level and up the mountain.

www.boveckanin.si

• italy
• slovenia
• sella nevea
• bovec
• small resorts
• kanin

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