A ski area in southern Italy is getting close to welcoming skiers back after nearly a decade without operating chairlifts.
Laceno Ski Resort, located near Bagnoli Irpino in Italy’s Campania region, has completed safety testing on its rebuilt lift system, moving the resort significantly closer to reopening after its old lifts shut down in 2017. Local officials said testing was completed on the new installations, although some civil and infrastructure work still remains.
The Old Lifts Shut Down in 2017
Laceno’s previous lift infrastructure reached the end of its operating life in 2017, leaving the mountain without functioning chairlifts.
That started a long redevelopment process aimed at rebuilding the ski area’s lift network and restoring Laceno as a winter destination.
The Campania regional government ultimately backed a project worth roughly $14.6 million at current exchange rates. The redevelopment plan called for replacing the Settevalli and Rajamagra chairlifts, rebuilding the Cuccioli and Serroncelli surface lifts, and adding new conveyor lifts for beginner terrain.
The project also includes supporting work around lift terminals and resort infrastructure.
This Is More Than a Single Lift Replacement
The scale of the work helps explain why Laceno’s comeback has taken so long.
Rather than replacing one aging chairlift, the project effectively required rebuilding the ski area’s lift system.
The new setup includes replacement chairlifts serving the main mountain, new surface lifts and conveyor lifts designed to improve beginner access.
The new chairlifts successfully completed technical inspections and testing, including work involving Doppelmayr Italia.
That makes the completed testing one of the most important milestones yet in the effort to reopen the mountain.
Laceno Was an Important Ski Destination in Southern Italy
Laceno sits on a high plateau in the Picentini Mountains east of Naples.
Before the lift shutdown, it served as one of southern Italy’s established lift-served ski destinations. The Campania regional government has highlighted the area’s position between Campania, Puglia and Basilicata as part of its tourism importance.
Regional officials have described the project as an effort to restore Laceno as a year-round mountain destination, not simply as a chairlift replacement.
“The new facilities, designed to live the mountain in all seasons, represent a new perspective for Laceno: a modern, lively, and leading mountain, capable of generating opportunities for tourism, for businesses, for work, and for young people.” -Laceno
That is what makes the nine-year interruption especially significant.
For nearly a decade, an entire region has gone without one of its established ski areas operating as intended.
Part of a Bigger Wave of Italian Lift Investment
Laceno’s redevelopment comes as ski areas across Italy continue investing heavily in lift infrastructure.
Unofficial Networks recently covered roughly $85 million in new lift investments across Italy’s Aosta Valley, including major replacement projects scheduled for the 2026-27 season.
The Laceno project is different.
Rather than increasing capacity at an already operating resort, the new infrastructure is intended to bring lift-served skiing back to a mountain that has gone without working chairlifts since 2017.
When Will Laceno Reopen?
A firm opening date has not yet been announced but current expectations point toward a return during the 2026-27 winter season.
If that happens, Laceno will welcome chairlift serviced skiers back for the first time in nine years. Viva!
