Tuscany gives you almost everything: art cities, hills, vineyards, coastlines, rivers, thermal waters, and an endless catalogue of beautiful drives. One thing it does not truly give you is proper ski slopes. If someone in your group simply cannot renounce snow, the smartest answer is just beyond the regional border: Monte Cimone, on the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, a real mountain destination with a full winter-sports infrastructure. Monte Cimone is also the highest peak of the Modenese Apennines, reaching 2,165 m.
This is not a “quick” outing from Villa Vianci, and that is part of the deal. It works best as a deliberately intense day: early departure, full mountain hours, and a late return. For guests who have already done the classics and want a genuinely different Tuscany-adjacent experience, it can be a memorable change of rhythm.
At a glance
What to see in Monte Cimone
- Drive time from Villa Vianci: 200 min
- Best for:ski and snow lovers, families with kids, mixed groups (ski + non-ski), travellers who want a “snow Italy” day
- Time needed: full day (early start is essential)
- Booking tip: check snow and lift status close to your date; if you want rentals, lessons, or a very specific time window, arrange it in advance to keep the day smooth
- Highlight: a full ski area with about 50 km of slopes and a wide altitude range
Start by choosing a base area and keeping logistics simple. The Monte Cimone ski system is organised around multiple access points and “sectors” (the names you will see most often are Passo del Lupo, Pian del Falco, and Le Polle). Once you are there, the experience becomes clean and readable: rentals, lifts, slopes, and mountain lunch options in one coherent winter landscape.
If your group skis, the mountain has the advantage of being broad enough to feel varied. The ski area is typically described with an altitude band around 900 to 1,976 m, and about 50 km of pistes distributed across levels (a strong majority being intermediate-friendly), served by a substantial lift network. That mix is ideal for Villa Vianci groups because it reduces the “either expert or bored” problem: beginners can stay safe, intermediates can enjoy long, confidence-building runs, and stronger skiers still have options that feel athletic and satisfying.
If you are travelling with first-timers, treat the day as an experience, not as a performance. The quickest way to make it enjoyable is to build in one structured learning block early (lesson + easy slopes), then let the rest of the day open up. The ski schools listed across the main sectors (including Passo del Lupo, Cimoncino, Pian del Falco, and Le Polle) make it easy to match your group to the right terrain without wasting time “figuring it out” on the spot.
For mixed groups, Monte Cimone still works well because the mountain day can be layered. Some guests ski. Others choose a softer snow chapter: a short winter walk, a panoramic pause, photos, hot chocolate, and a relaxed lunch while the skiers do an extra session. The key is pacing: arrive, do your first snow block, pause, then decide whether to repeat or to shift into a slower afternoon rhythm.
Finally, accept the day’s structure and you will enjoy it more. Monte Cimone is best when you do not over-pack it: one base, a coherent set of runs or snow activities, a calm lunch, and a last mountain hour before you start the drive back. That’s how you return to Villa Vianci feeling you truly “went somewhere else”, not that you spent the whole day in transit.
Nearby – Castello di Sestola
If you want one nearby detour that adds a stone-and-history note without breaking the mountain rhythm, consider the Castello di Sestola. It is a strong, readable landmark in the area and it hosts several museum rooms curated locally, so it works as a compact cultural pause: a short visit, a viewpoint moment, and then back to the snow. It is especially useful if part of the group is not skiing, or if you want a satisfying “closing scene” before heading back toward Villa Vianci.
