Complete Colorado

Denver stretches out at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, exactly one mile above sea level, hence its famous nickname of the "Mile High City". Capital of Colorado, it is a dynamic, open-air metropolis, the ideal gateway to the great wild expanses of the American West, where urban energy meets a passion for nature and mountain sports. Its historic core is LoDo (Lower Downtown), a district of nineteenth-century red-brick warehouses skilfully restored and now alive with craft breweries, galleries and venues. Here stands the splendid Union Station, an elegant railway terminal transformed into a lively gathering place of cafés, restaurants and shops. Nearby, the pedestrian 16th Street Mall cuts through the commercial and financial centre, while the Colorado State Capitol, with its gold-leafed dome, dominates the Civic Center. The city boasts a notable arts scene, with the boldly designed Denver Art Museum and the creative RiNo (River North) district, a realm of street art and breweries, for Denver is considered one of America's craft-beer capitals. Culture lovers will find nearby the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre set among towering red rock formations, among the most spectacular concert arenas in the world. Its privileged location makes Denver the perfect base from which to explore Rocky Mountain National Park, the ski resorts of Aspen and Vail, and Colorado's endless alpine landscapes. The local table reflects the frontier spirit, with grilled meats, Tex-Mex cuisine and local produce, to be paired with one of the city's countless beers. Between gleaming skyscrapers, mountain trails and more than three hundred days of sunshine a year, Denver invites you to fully embrace the adventure of the West, with one foot in the city and your gaze turned toward the peaks.

Cross the park along the Trail Ridge Road, the highest tarmac road in America. Peaks reaching heights of 4,000 m a.s.l and higher can be admired from the road's scenic viewpoint. Grand Lake overlooks Colorado's largest natural lake, the western gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. The picturesque wooden village keeps the atmosphere of the Old West, with its boardwalk, small shops and restaurants overlooking the water. Sailing, kayaking and hiking in summer give way to snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in winter.

Breckenridge is a famous ski resort in central Colorado, an old gold-mining town set at over 2,900 metres among the Rocky Mountains. Its picturesque historic Main Street, with colourful Victorian buildings housing shops, galleries and restaurants, is among the most charming of America's alpine towns. The vast ski area draws enthusiasts in winter, while in summer the area offers hiking, mountain biking and festivals. Between pioneer heritage, abundant snow and mountain charm, Breckenridge is a sparkling gem of the Rockies. Vail is one of the most prestigious ski resorts in North America, nestled among the peaks of Colorado's Rocky Mountains at over 2,400 metres of altitude. Its ski area, among the largest in the United States, is famous for the boundless Back Bowls, vast natural amphitheatres offering legendary runs through fresh powder. The heart of the resort, Vail Village, is a charming pedestrian town with an alpine atmosphere, Tyrolean-style architecture, refined boutiques, gourmet restaurants and lively après-ski. But Vail is not just about winter: with the warmer season the mountains open up to hiking, mountain biking, golf and open-air concerts amid landscapes of flowering meadows and pine forests. With world-class skiing, elegance and grand nature, Vail is the quintessential American mountain holiday, refined and unforgettable.

Framed by Colorado's Rocky Mountains, where the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers meet, Glenwood Springs is a historic spa town set amid spectacular mountain scenery. Its hot waters, flowing from natural springs, feed one of the world's largest thermal pools, drawing those in search of relaxation and wellbeing for generations. Above the town, a gondola climbs to the Iron Mountain Adventure Park, while the nearby Glenwood Canyon offers scenic trails up to the striking Hanging Lake, an emerald pool suspended among the rocks. Volcanic caves, the ski slopes of renowned Aspen not far away and rafting-friendly waters round out an offering that blends adventure and rest. Grand Junction rises in the Colorado River valley at its confluence with the Gunnison, the main city of the state's western slope. Surrounded by spectacular scenery, it is an ideal base for visiting Colorado National Monument, with its red-rock canyons, and the orchards and vineyards of the Grand Valley. The lively pedestrian downtown and thriving food-and-wine scene round out the appeal. Grand Junction is the perfect destination for those seeking desert nature, mountain wines and outdoor adventure in western Colorado.

Telluride gathers in a spectacular box canyon, surrounded by the imposing peaks of the San Juan Mountains in south-western Colorado. An old mining town turned refined ski resort, it preserves a pedestrian Victorian centre, linked to the upper alpine village by a scenic free gondola. Waterfalls, festivals and high-altitude skiing make it a gem. Telluride is the ideal destination for those seeking majestic mountains, exclusive skiing and the historic charm of Colorado.

Mesa Verde National Park preserves, in southwestern Colorado, the extraordinary cliff dwellings of the ancient Ancestral Puebloan people. A World Heritage Site, it holds hundreds of homes carved into the rock of the cliffs, including the famous Cliff Palace. Visiting its thousand-year-old villages is a journey through time, among wooded mesas and deep canyons. An archaeological site unique in the world, witness to a vanished civilisation. As the name suggests, Four Corners is the geographical point where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah converge, but it is also the center of a region that is still heavily influenced by Native American culture. Cortez rises in the southwestern corner of Colorado, in the heart of the region inhabited by the ancient Ancestral Puebloans, a convenient base for visiting the famous Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here one admires the extraordinary cliff dwellings built over 700 years ago in the canyon walls, including the Cliff Palace. Nearby, the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument preserves thousands of archaeological sites. A crossroads of the Four Corners, where four states meet, Cortez blends archaeology, Native culture and the red-desert landscapes of the Southwest.

Durango lies in southwestern Colorado, at the foot of the San Juan Mountains, a lively frontier town that has kept the charm of the old West intact. Its beating heart is historic Main Avenue, lined with Victorian buildings, saloons and shops, and the departure point of the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a steam train that climbs through gorges and forests up to the mining town of Silverton. All around unfold spectacular landscapes: the trails of the San Juan, the waters of the Animas River for rafting and, not far away, the Mesa Verde site with the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans. Silverton nestles at over 9,300 feet in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, an old mining town ringed by spectacular peaks. Reached by a historic steam train from Durango, it preserves dirt streets, period buildings and an authentic frontier soul. All around lie trails, alpine passes and breathtaking mountain scenery. A jewel of the West, suspended in time among the peaks of the Rockies.

Pueblo spreads along the Arkansas River at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in southern Colorado, a city with a steel-making past and a strongly multicultural character. The revitalised Riverwalk, the Union Avenue district and the lively riverside murals tell of urban renewal. Local cuisine revolves around the famous Pueblo chile, a bold pepper celebrated each autumn. Nearby open Lake Pueblo State Park and trails toward the mountains. Pueblo is an authentic destination for those seeking culture, Southwestern flavours and Colorado nature.

A short distance from Colorado Springs, at the Garden of the Gods Park, you can admire extraordinary sandstone formations standing out against the breathtaking backdrop of Pikes Peak. Colorado Springs rises at over 1,800 metres of altitude among the Rocky Mountains, at the foot of Pikes Peak, the famous summit that inspired the anthem "America the Beautiful." Its emblem is the Garden of the Gods, a park of towering red sandstone formations silhouetted against the sky, a paradise for hikers and climbers. A historic cog railway climbs to the summit of Pikes Peak, while the district of Manitou Springs enchants with its mineral waters and bohemian atmosphere. Among museums, ranches and mountain trails, Colorado Springs offers the authentic face of the American West, poised between wild nature and the spirit of adventure.