INDUSTRY. Italy, now one of the few major Western European nations not to have at least one indoor snow centre – although it does have around 400 regular ski areas – has announced plans to open just such a facility in the Lombardy region in the north of the country by 2015.

The proposal, for a site at Selvino, in the heart of Val Seriana, near Bergamo envisages the centre being built from 2014 to 2014 and opening the following year.

The proposed centre would probably be the world’s largest to date with two 30m wide pistes, 600m long over a 120m vertical. The main run would be served by a chairlift, the others by conveyor and drag lifts.

There would also be a nursery slope, a 180m long freestyle course and other sports facilities including an ice climbing wall and cross country ski tracks. There would also be the usual facilities such as bars, restaurants and ski shops.

Ski slope in Selvino, photo: comunediselvino.it

Selvino is an established centre of competitive wintersports in Italy and the centre would be used for team training and international competition. Annual attendance is expected to be around 180,000.

Contributed by Patrick Thorne, www.snow365.com

2015: Selvino (Bergamo) the project of the largest indoor ski dome in Europe

Snowing or not, from 2015 in Selvino (Lombardy) you can ski 365 days a year, because it will have on the world's longest indoor track. This is the most innovative ski resort pool, full basement, which will be built in Selvino, in the heart of Val Seriana, near Bergamo (Lombardy).

The end of the work is expected in 2014, then the first Expo. The document was signed by President Roberto Formigoni and regional council members Daniel Belotti (Land and Urban Planning) and Marcello Raimondi (Environment, Energy and Networks). For the province of Bergamo was the signatory to the Production and Tourism'assessore Bonassoli George and the City of Caramel Mayor Selvino Ghilardi, with Vice Mayor Angelo Giovanni Bertocchi and'assessore all''Urbanistica Azzali. The presentation c''era the president of the Mountain Community Pedretti and Eli Nevelandia the company president, who will make the'impianto, Walter Nardelli.

"Let the'avvio to achieve - said the president Formigoni - a unique structure in Italy and innovative both in terms of both tourist and sporting environment. The strength of our region is given by our ability to interact with the public and private sectors. The'opera will be important for the 'economy of the territory, for'indotto that will produce positive effects for employment, and since its construction. It will be important for'attrattività , thanks to the vocation to host 365 days' 'year will be lovers of skiing, both large international events. "

The choice of Selvino is not random. The town of Val Seriana, almost riding with Val Brembana resort has a great tradition. Over the past 30 years, the company has 23 ski selvinese athletes to the national team. Selvino is also well connected all''aeroporto Orio al Serio airport (30-40 minutes), Bergamo and Milan.

INDOOR PLANTS IN EUROPE
Nell''immagine you see the following facilities for winter sports in Europe.

The'IMPIANTO
The'intervento includes construction of two lanes wide from 30 meters over 600 meters long with an elevation gain of more than 120 meters, a track and freestyle snowboarding more than 180 meters long and 30 wide, a track for beginners, a wall Ice Climbing high 10 meters wide and 40, a climbing wall (all''esterno) high and 10 feet wide 30, a cross-country (also in summer for mountain biking), a chair for long track , a ski lift for snowboarders and a carpet lift for beginners.
The space will be configured to accommodate international competitions with the presence of the public (180,000 estimated attendance). There will also be dressing rooms, bathrooms, places for the training, storage for skis and waxing, halls for meetings and teaching of advanced skiing. Also planned a hotel to meet the needs of the busiest tourist facility for wellness and fitness of about 300 square meters, bars, pubs, restaurants and stores dedicated to sports. Also provided for the parking of relevance.
The structure will have a plant for the production of electricity and heat which will also serve for future district heating network Selvino.

TIMES
The beginning of the work is planned for 2012 and the deadline for 2014, so for the time'Expo 2015. The costs are borne entirely by the companies that will achieve the Nevelandia'impianto (info and pictures from the Lombardy region).

TRACKS
In the following the detailed design of the ski slopes of the dome with the plan and the various possible arrangements:

by Rino Galeno / snowalps.com
Tuesday, 28 June, 2011
photos by lombardia