If I asked each and every one of you, chances are that mountains and snow are not something that you would normally associate with Tuscany. That is a bit weird, considering that a sizeable part of our region is occupied by the Appennines. While most Tuscans definitely prefer our lovely sea, those who go crazy about skiing have a domestic option rather than spending time and money to travel to the Alpine resorts. This remarkable town was born in the 18th century as a frontier post but it remained very poor and isolated until very recently. It took a great exploit by a local sportsman to put it firmly on the map and turn it into one of Italy's most renowned ski resorts. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you to the mountains above Pistoia to tell you the story of how Abetone became the most beloved choice for snow lovers thanks to the talent of a great sportsman.

Zeno Colò, born and bred in these remote mountains, was one of Italy's greatest skiers and was the one that put this remote village firmly on the map as a great ski resort. The destiny of Abetone changed in just a few minutes 71 years ago, when the Tuscan champion triumphed in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Norway, inflicting more than a second to his rivals. The "Hawk of Oslo" was for 20 years the fastest skier in the world before reinventing himself as a course designer and a ski instructor. In 1969 he was instrumental in a popular initiative that provided Abetone with some much needed infrastructures that doubled the tourist capacity of the town, making it the only one in Central Italy able to rival the Alpine resorts. No one in Abetone will ever forget Zeno Colò.

If you know someone that loves Italy just as much as we do, why don't you send him the link to this episode? I'm sure he'll thank you for it. If you're on Twitter, come and say hello: we'd love to get to know you better. If you have any question or comment on our episodes, drop us a note. We'll be very glad to answer any of your doubts.
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
http://www.storiedisport.it/?p=10203
https://www.abetonecutigliano2022.it/territorio/abetone/
https://www.sciaremag.it/professione-montagna/lovovia-dellabetone-tra-i-trionfi-di-zeno-colo/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
A Himitsu - Icy Vindur
AlmightyZero - Aetherial
Tavs = Control
Wayne John Bradley - Pick You Up
Aerocity - Love Lost
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/a-himitsu-icy-vindur
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/almightyzero-aetherial
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/tavs-control
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/pick-you-up-slow-poprock-style-instrumental-creative-commons
https://soundcloud.com/argofox/aerocity-love-lost
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/