ITALIAN JOURNEY – PROGRAMME 2

MILAN – SANTA CATERINA DI VALFURLA

Santa Caterina di Valfurva is in north-east Lombardy, four hours from Milan. At 1,700 metres above sea level, it is a popular Alpine resort with skiers like Deborah Compagnoni.

The ski-ing champion, winner of three Olympic golds medals, was born and brought up in this little town.

She speaks to Gabriella Facondo, a journalist from Rome, about her relationship with the  region.

Gabriella: Deborah, you can tell how strong your feelings for these mountains are from the way you talk!

Deborah Compagnoni: Well, I was born and grew up here, and I am passionately attached to this place.  I lived here until last year.  Now I divide my time between here and Treviso, which is a beautiful city, but it is still a city and not a mountain village.  So I come back regularly to recharge my batteries, and I love being here with my family, in my hotel.

Gabriella: Thinking about the inevitable changes that take place everywhere, do you have anything that you care deeply about, that worries you at all?

Deborah Compagnoni: More than anything else, respect for the environment in a place where tourism is booming.  The buildings and the ski-lifts at Santa Caterina all need development.

Gabriella: There’s a project which has been talked about at length isn’t there? 

Deborah Compagnoni: Yes, there is, and I agree that these projects should be compatible with the environment, and respect the environment.  So without ruining the woods, the fields, this beautiful area around Santa Caterina.

Gabriella: So you are happy for new ski-lifts to be built, provided they are designed with care and the locations are carefully planned!

Deborah Compagnoni: Yes, yes.  There are places which I think are more suitable, and others which are less so.  This is probably the reason for the lack of agreement that is slowing down the renovation or development of these facilities, which must go ahead.

Gabriella: Deborah, you are about to have a baby girl. Which of the values that you have grown up with would you like to pass on to her?

Deborah Compagnoni: Well, more or less what I said earlier.  To be yourself and love nature, respect nature, because it is where you have to live, you can’t… and everyone should do this in the same way, because then the environment would always be the same, in fact better.

Gabriella: Your father told me you have already got skis for your baby girl.

Deborah Compagnoni: Yes, the whole family loves ski-ing, so obviously they all want her to ski, but it must be fun more than anything else, just as it was for me.  You don’t have to become a champion because, like work and other activities, sport teaches you that you have to work to achieve results.  And this is an important part of growing up, of life!

Gabriella: A lesson!

Deborah Compagnoni: Yes, a lesson. Shall we go for a walk?

Gabriella: Yes, let’s.