OVEST CLASSICO E 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.

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.

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.

Surrounded by red sandstone spires and wind-carved plateaus, Moab is the outdoor-adventure capital of Utah. Set along the Colorado River, this lively town is the gateway to two spectacular national parks: Arches, with its more than two thousand natural arches including the famous Delicate Arch, and Canyonlands, where the gorges stretch as far as the eye can see. Mountain biking on the legendary Slickrock Trail, rafting the Colorado rapids, hiking and off-road tours draw travellers from around the world. At sunset the rock glows with orange and crimson hues, while at night the pristine skies reveal a brilliant Milky Way. Don't miss Dead Horse Point, with its breathtaking view over the river's bends. Moab is the perfect starting point for those seeking the American desert in its wildest form.

You cross Capitol Reef National Park, between red rock cliffs and multicolored spires. Bryce Canyon National Park reveals one of the most astonishing landscapes on Earth, a vast natural amphitheatre dotted with hoodoos, amber and pink rock spires sculpted by erosion on the Utah plateau. Viewpoints such as Sunrise and Sunset Point offer breathtaking views at dawn and dusk, while trails descend among the formations into the heart of the canyon. The high elevation ensures some of America's starriest night skies.

On the way to Zion National Park, less than two hours drive from Bryce, stop for some photos at Red Canyon. If you love minerals, take a look at the Orderville Mine Rock Shop in Orderville, which has a great selection of local stones. You can also make a stop at Mount Carmel Junction for a slice of homemade pie at the Thunderbird Restaurant; try the strawberry and rhubarb one. Zion National Park astonishes with its imposing walls of red and white sandstone, carved by the Virgin River in the heart of south-western Utah. The main canyon is explored on foot along legendary trails such as Angels Landing and The Narrows, where one walks through water between narrow gorges. Hanging waterfalls, sculpted monoliths and lush vegetation create an extraordinary contrast. Zion is the ideal destination for those seeking spectacular canyons, unforgettable hikes and the red majesty of the American Southwest.

From the magnificent scenery of rocks, streams, and forests of Zion, one descends into the Nevada desert and arrives in the expanse of lights and golden skyscrapers of Las Vegas. Las Vegas rises like a luminous mirage in the Mojave Desert, the world capital of entertainment, where excess becomes spectacle and the night never ends. Its pulsing artery is the Strip, the famous Las Vegas Boulevard lined with themed resorts that recreate the planet's great icons in miniature: at the Bellagio, fountains dance in choreographies of water and music before an artificial lake; the Paris Las Vegas is crowned by a replica of the Eiffel Tower; at the Venetian, gondoliers glide along Venetian-style canals beneath painted skies; at the Luxor, a black glass pyramid and a great sphinx evoke ancient Egypt, while the Mirage and the other gaming giants animate the scene with dazzling casinos. By night the city becomes a continuous stage: Cirque du Soleil shows, concerts, magic acts and residencies by major stars fill the theatres, while celebrated restaurants and gaming tables keep the metropolis awake until dawn. A short distance away, historic Downtown preserves the city's original face around the Fremont Street Experience, a pedestrian arcade canopied by a barrel vault of LED lights that brings the old Las Vegas back to life amid vintage neon signs and a more intimate atmosphere. Yet Las Vegas is also the gateway to magnificent natural landscapes: nearby, the Hoover Dam blocks the Colorado River to create Lake Mead, an ideal basin for boating and outdoor activities; Red Rock Canyon offers red sandstone formations crossed by trails and climbing walls; the Valley of Fire sets the desert ablaze with scarlet rock; and to the east opens the immensity of the Grand Canyon, one of the most beloved day trips. The city's most theatrical tradition is here too, that of the wedding chapels where couples marry in minutes, now an integral part of its legend. Between lights, desert and desire, Las Vegas remains a place where anything seems possible.

The road crosses the Mojave Desert and follows part of the historic Route 66, passing through the towns of Kingman and Seligman, before entering the Kaibab National Forest and the canyon region. The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is the most visited side of one of the planet's most famous natural wonders, in Arizona. From here open dizzying vistas over the immense gorge carved by the Colorado River, over 1,600 metres deep and up to 29 kilometres wide. Grand Canyon Village, the historic El Tovar Hotel and overlooks such as Mather Point and Yavapai Point offer unforgettable views. Trails like the Bright Angel Trail descend toward the river. A geological spectacle and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the South Rim leaves visitors breathless.

The road from Grand Canyon National Park to Canyon de Chelly takes about 4-4.5 hours of driving (360-380 km), through a variety of natural environments, from ponderosa pine forests to the desert. Leave the park following Desert View Drive (Route 64), which runs along the edge of the canyon for about 40 km until the eastern entrance of the park (East Entrance) with several scenic viewpoints: we recommend Grand View, Moran, Lipan, Navajo Point, and Desert View. Don't miss the viewpoint of the deep and narrow Little Colorado River canyon, about 35 km from Desert View Point. Leave Route 64 by turning left onto Route 89 towards Cameron, where one of the authentic Southwest post stations is located. You have just entered the largest Indian reservation in the USA, the Navajo Indian Reservation, which extends beyond the Arizona border into New Mexico and Utah with a population of about 200,000 Navajo. Just under 25 km from Cameron, turn right onto Route 160 towards Tuba City. After about 7 km, pay attention to a hand-drawn sign on your left: a dirt road leads to a series of remarkable dinosaur footprints, guarded by some Navajo (they will guide you to the footprints for a tip). From Tuba City, continue for another 250 km to Canyon de Chelly.

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.

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.

Alamosa rises in the vast San Luis Valley of southern Colorado, at high altitude among the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the main gateway to the extraordinary Great Sand Dunes National Park. Here the tallest sand dunes in North America, shaped by the wind, stand against the snow-capped mountains creating a surreal landscape, where in summer the Medano Creek stream flows. The town, home to a university, is a base for hiking, sandboarding and stargazing in the very clear skies. Between golden dunes and imposing peaks, Alamosa offers a unique natural contrast.

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.