Abstract
The exponential growth of winter tourism, focusing on Alpine mass skiing, in Italy since the 1930s has fundamentally reshaped leisure practices and the Alpine landscape, transitioning from a recreational pursuit to a multi-billion dollar industry. This evolution necessitated landscape modernisation efforts, with stakeholders including skiers, supply companies, regions and states collaborating to tailor the Alpine environment to skiing needs, fostering a predictable and profitable industry. However, this transformation has not been without consequences. While intended to facilitate growth and profitability, interventions and technologies have paradoxically diminished skiing's appeal to specific segments of society due to the intense exploitation of natural resources, including landscape. This paper explores the ongoing changes in Italy's Alpine and Apennine regions, tracing the transition from landscape modifications for infrastructure development to contemporary challenges driven by structural abandonment, exacerbated by climate change and inadequate management practices. Utilising a multi-practical approach, including visual aids such as maps and aerial photographs, this research aims to offer accessible insights into the phenomenon of mass skiing in Italy, shedding light on its historical trajectory, socio-economic impacts, and current complexities.