Malanotte

Malanotte, above Prato Nevoso in Italy's Cuneo province, launches at 1,741 m right on the summit, reachable by car all the way to the chairlift parking area. The hang-glider ramp sits next to the parking, while paraglider pilots take off from the surrounding slopes or the ski slope to the right. Usable wind comes from a wide spread of directions — north, northeast, east, southeast, west and northwest — which makes the site flexible, and thermals plus cross-country flying are the main draw, alongside some good hike-friendly terrain nearby. The nearest airspace to keep in mind is the CTR around Cuneo Levaldigi airport, about 20 km to the north. Strong southern or western wind is treated as a clear no-fly signal — better to stay on the ground. The official landing zone sits between Villanova di Mondovì and Dho, but on non-thermic days it can be out of reach for paragliders, so a few alternative fields nearby serve as backup.

Launch & conditions

The summit launch is reachable by car, with paraglider pilots taking off from the surrounding slopes or the ski slope to the right of the parking area.

Getting there & local rules

Follow signs for Prato Nevoso from Mondovì, continue up the main street past a couple of overpasses with apartments built above them, and the road ends at the summit parking next to the chairlift station.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Malanotte, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Malanotte with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.