The Romans and Neopolitans love Roccaraso. At weekends and bank holidays, the alla moda set converge on this ski resort, located just two hours from Rome and Naples, in search of la dolce vita. Yet despite being Italy's fifth largest resort, the 100km of the Alto Sangro ski area remains practically unknown to Britons.

Most skiers know that Italy is less expensive than Feance, Switzerland and Austria, but few are aware of the Appenine mountains - a range that extends 750 miles alonmg the lenght of peninsular Italy - let alone that there is skiing there.