Moena is one of the prettiest towns in the Dolomites of northern Italy, tucked into the Val di Fassa, a valley high in the Trentino mountains. It's long been known as the fairy tale of the Dolomites, a nickname that stuck after a visiting painter described it that way over a century ago, and it's easy to see why, with pastel houses gathered below soaring pale-rock peaks. For all its charm, it's a proper working town rather than a purpose-built resort, with good restaurants, shops, a lively central piazza, and the nightly passeggiata, while still holding on to the Ladin language and mountain traditions that have shaped this valley for generations. The Alpe Lusia-Bellamonte ski area rises on the mountains just to the south.rentino Dolomites offer some of the most rewarding ski destinations in the Alps, and Moena is among the most complete.

The skiing itself has two contrasting sides. Above Bellamonte, the slopes are sunny, wide, and gentle, easy terrain for beginners to settle into, while the Moena side of the mountain faces north and skis steeper and more testing, with a run of reds and blacks for confident intermediates and strong skiers. In between there's plenty of long cruising, including a top-to-bottom descent of around 3km. Most of the area sits above the treeline, so you ski out in the open with huge Dolomite peaks on every side. It's a modern, gondola-served mountain, and a friendly size in its own right, though it also links over to the neighbouring San Pellegrino slopes and forms part of the vast Dolomiti Superski region. High altitude and plenty of snowmaking keep it well covered through a season that runs from early December into April.

There's a lot to enjoy here beyond the pistes. Moena is proud of its food, above all the Puzzone di Moena, a pungent, full-flavoured local cheese with Slow Food status that turns up all over the valley's Ladin cooking, alongside hearty mountain dishes and good Trentino wines. The valley is also one of Italy's great cross-country skiing centres, with kilometres of groomed trails through the woods and the famous Marcialonga, a 70km cross-country marathon that sets off from Moena each January. Away from the skiing you can head out snowshoeing, take the children sledging on the long Fraina run, or wander the old streets, visit the twelfth-century church, and settle in for an aperitivo in the piazza. Between the mountains, the food, and the town itself, Moena makes for a well-rounded Dolomites holiday.

Check out Moena - Alpe Lusia - Bellamonte ski deals to start planning your trip.