Armentarola and the Soul of the Mountain: Italian Dolomites

Since I was young, I have spent around one week a year skiing with my family. When I lived in the United States, we would travel to the Catamount Mountains in upstate New York or Big Sky in Montana. Once we moved to Italy, the destinations became Ellmau in Austria and, later, Armentarola, Italy. We love to spend time as a family, but we also place a high value on connecting with pure nature, of reminding ourselves of our roots. At Armentarola, in the Italian Dolomites, the mountains loom large and the sky feels expansive. For a week, we lose ourselves in the outdoors and feel miniscule in the grand scheme of things. This sentiment was echoed beyond my wildest expectations when I met Riccardo, a man who works at the ski rental shop Scola de Schi Dolomites, at the resort where we ski. 

Riccardo spoke of the mountains in a way I’d ultimately associate with the concepts of biophilia and psychogeography, when I later learned them. Originally from Padova, a town in northern Italy, he began skiing with his brothers in the 90s, when he was eighteen years old. While today he skis during his free time—which he relayed is, unfortunately, not often—he practically lit up when I asked about why he chooses to work here in Armentarola in the ski industry. According to Riccardo, skiing is something sacred—it allows people to experience nature vividly with each of their five senses. He believes that being in Armentarola, in Alta Badia, on the slopes, is a way to “recharge your soul.” 

In alignment with the concepts of psychogeography and biophilia, individuals, possessed by the appreciation of the incredible views and atmosphere, have a natural affinity to connect with the environment. Riccardo thinks that, for some, the connection reaches a spiritual level—those who truly “open their minds” are even able to feel what the mountains offer—introspection and curiosity about one’s wider place in the world—and feel what he calls the “nature of the mountains.” Alta Badia, in particular, is special to the region. It fosters a sense of serenity that is refreshing in our age of ever-developing technology, offering an abode from real life and nestling you deep within both history and nature. While the other areas close by attempt to do the same, Alta Badia plainly is singular. For example, it’s commonly thought that the way the light hits the mountains and shines down throughout the valleys is uniquely incandescent and sublime, in a way that feels almost sacred. Riccardo’s insight into the effect one’s immersion into nature can have is necessary for understanding the importance of a connection with the natural world, even if it is only for a short period of time. It’s clear why Riccardo chooses to work where he does. A true love of nature and the feeling the mountain range instills in him shines through in his words. In the face of a mountain range that is 250 million years old, there’s truly nothing better than taking a moment to breathe a breath of fresh air and reflect on where you find yourself.

Riccardo also emphasized that, working in Armentarola, he watches as many families living urban lifestyles visit the town. Riccardo sees them ease into a slow-paced, relaxing lifestyle for a week, in which nature surrounds their thoughts. However, these cycles don’t last forever, and eventually, the families return home to their fast-paced lives. While I think many people would love to live that slow-paced relaxed life full-time, it’s not feasible for many. Ultimately, I believe it’s the novelty of the lifestyle in Armentarola that makes the experience so well-loved. I think that if we find a way to blend our lifestyles seamlessly, to incorporate both immersion in the natural world and on-the-move urban life, then biophilia and psychogeography can manifest themselves properly in our existence. 

I found it refreshing to listen to Riccardo’s words of pure adoration for the natural world he was raised in. Personally, I’ve always felt a certain excitement that comes with northern Italy and its grand mountains. The environment is rugged and bare, holding plants and animals that live deep within the forests and coves of the mountains. It’s also bright and gleaming, as sunlight shines off of the snow. The combination for me has always served as a perfect balance between the relatively daring act of skiing and the calm, gentle act of relaxation and meditation that comes with a vacation in the mountains.