When it snows, the mountain region of Monte Amiata has 10km of alpine ski slopes, another 10km of Nordic ski trails, cross-country pistes, snow-shoe tracks, and a large Snow Park Macinaie for snowboarders with jumps, rails, and jersey, and a pole jam. No, we don’t know what those are either, but it sounds cool.

It’s all set in the extraordinary beauty of the largest beech tree forest in Europe, day tickets are inexpensive, and ringed by the five mountain medieval towns wither their own customs, cuisine, and proud independent history. Our apartments are open year-round, cheap, and it’s a straightforward and lovely drive north through Manciano and up to the mountains.