Curious what the Alps look like all year round? See pictures of the Alps in all four seasons in our Italian Alps photo gallery from Bardonecchia, Italy.
Pictures of the Alps
May 8th Paolo and I will have lived in our home in the Italian Alps for two years! Hence, we’re celebrating with a look at our hometown.
Bardonecchia is a small town of about 3,000 people north of Torino (Italy’s fourth-largest city) in the Italian Alps. Here’s Bardonecchia along with some of our wild neighbors as seen from our many hikes in the Italian Alps.
Thinking about visiting? I hope so! Here’s a few resources to learn more about the Alps.
Pictures of Living in the Alps
Nearly every picture of the Alps (with the exception of Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta & the Dolomites) was taken in a location reached by foot just outside our front door.
Up here in the Alps, we mostly get where we’re going just like this. A smile on our faces, one foot in front of the other.
One of the best things about living in the Italian Alps is that there are four truly distinct seasons. Spring, summer, fall, and winter each get an equal share of the calendar. Yet temperatures are surprisingly mild year long. Here’s a look at Alps Life hiking through the seasons with our personal photographs.
Pictures of the Alps in Summer
Summer days are typically pleasant with average temperatures between 20 degrees Celsius (68°F) and 25 degrees Celsius (77°F). Let’s put it this way. A year ago we finished our home renovation and did not install air conditioning. You don’t need it up here!
Our favorite summer happy hours? Hiking up to Ristorante Pian Del Sole for a drink with a view. Pretty sure those 200m (656 ft) of elevation burn any calories we consume!
On the opposite end of the spectrum is winter.
Pictures of the Alps in Winter
January is the coolest month in Bardonecchia with an average temperature of 6.7° C (44.06° F). For the most part, the town itself is shielded from brisk winter winds by the Alps themselves. Snow in the Italian Alps can vary year to year, but on average Bardonecchia gets 22cm (8 in) a week in the winter months. As winter comes around, Bardonecchia swells to about 30,000 people between part-timers and ski tourists. The volume of visitors shines a light on just how much fun living in the Italian Alps can be in winter.
A quick video of how tranquil a winter hike can be!
Pictures of the Alps in Spring
Spring is when the Italian Alps are secretly at their best. Hiking is a pure delight with fields or wildflowers leading to mountain top hiking trails with views for miles. It’s like having a national park all to yourself. If you’ve ever dreamed of twirling around like the opening scene in the Sound of Music, come visit in Spring!
The Alps in Fall
My birthday being in early November, fall has long been my favorite season. Yet I’ve honestly never seen a more beautiful fall than one in the Italian Alps. First, tree leaves turn yellow, gold, orange, and finally red. Then, fall colors slowly creep up the mountainside day by day until they finally take the pines. Daily walks feel like stepping into a Van Gogh.
Although mountain peaks in Bardonecchia can surpass 3,500 m the town itself sits at around 1,312 m (4,304 ft) making for some of the most amazing hikes in the Italian Alps. Nature lovers, just imagine walking out your front door at 1,302 m, and anyway you turn there are countless trailheads inviting you up the mountain. Take for example Poggi Tre Croci (point of three crosses pictured below) a local favorite that elevates to 2,115 m. The views are truly from the top of the world.
What Living in the Italian Alps is Like
In a few words, Alps Life is about living a balanced, peaceful life surrounded by nature. It’s about having freedom of time to work out, work on projects, and play. Here’s a glimpse of a day in our lives this last winter in Bardonecchia. Enjoy! Better yet, come see for yourself.
References
- Bardonecchia, Italy Weather & Climate Report — Weather and Climate.com
- Average Snowfall in Bardonecchia, Italy — Snow Forecast.com
Mountain climates are where I’m most at home! They are absolutely gorgeous!