Which city within Italy would be the best to be in to go to the Italian Alps?

Question

Which city within Italy would be the best to be in to go to the Italian Alps?

Answer 1

Many choices, it depends what you're looking for: skiing, wherever, for biking Alto Adige is renowned; lakes: Arona, Stresa, Como; also, do you want to stay *on* the Alps or just close? And are you looking for a big city? There are a lot of smaller city or towns close to the mountains with all the comfort needed and more quietness: an example can be Varallo Sesia and close towns (countryside), from where you can reach Monte Rosa area, the second highest mount in Europe, in no more than 1/2 hour, and from there you can also reach Val D'Aosta by cableway.

Answer 2

Bologna is a great place to take off for the alps from.  The food is outstanding, people very nice, and it isn't terribly expensive.

Answer 3

My personal opinion would be Torino. I've spent a lot of time there and the alps are very close. That is also where they had the Olympics. Lots of history there and right on the north west edge of the alps.