White Christmas at Abetone as snow falls and ski lifts operate

Christmas has brought a wintry atmosphere to the Abetone ski area, where snow has fallen on the slopes and surrounding mountains on Christmas Eve. In the Val di Luce, flakes were reported down to around 800–900 metres, creating seasonal conditions just as the main holiday period begins.

The Abetone is Tuscany’s main mountain resort and one of the closest ski destinations to Florence. It lies in the northern Apennines, on the border between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, about 80 kilometres north of Florence, in the province of Pistoia. The area is best known for alpine skiing and winter tourism, with slopes spread between Abetone and the nearby Val di Luce, at elevations ranging from around 1,200 to nearly 1,900 metres.

The snowfall has boosted confidence among ski operators and visitors alike, after weeks of uncertainty linked to mild temperatures. Ski lifts are operating, and resort staff are monitoring weather conditions closely to make the most of the cold spell expected over the coming hours.

According to Federfuni, everything is ready across the resort. If temperatures continue to drop, artificial snowmaking will be used to reinforce the natural base and allow further slopes to open in the coming days. Mountain huts are already welcoming guests, while accommodation bookings are rising compared with earlier in December.

Weather conditions across Tuscany

Snowfall has affected several parts of the Apennines in Tuscany, including the Abetone area on the Pistoia mountains.

At the same time, a yellow weather alert remains in place on Christmas Day for hydrogeological risk in parts of the region, along with a yellow alert for snow in northern Apennine areas and strong winds in central Tuscany.

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