Our Pandemic Year

Skiing Amid COVID: A Photographer’s Journey on the Slopes of Switzerland and Italy

Photographer Davide Bertuccio traveled to the Matterhorn, a mountain bordering Italy and Switzerland, and compared how the two sides fared this winter season.
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The Matterhorn seen from the Swiss side. Unlike that of Breuil-Cervinia, the slopes of the Zermatt area are open to tourists.Davide Bertuccio

In March 2020, northern Italy became one of the first epicenters of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and its response foreshadowed the waves of lockdowns that would roil the world for more than a year. In the Italian Alps, that has meant an end to skiing. But across the border in Switzerland, the lifts are open. Photographer Davide Bertuccio traveled to the Matterhorn, a mountain situated between Breuil-Cervinia, Italy, and Zermatt, Switzerland, and compared how the two sides fared this winter season.

This article is part of a series, Our Pandemic Year, that marks the anniversary of the first quarantine orders in the U.S. Read them all here.Arrow

“It was a surreal experience to see the mountain so empty in Italy. Endless expanses of white, where every now and then you could spot a snowcat. Lifts that, in the midst of the fog and in total silence, looked like alien spaceships,” recalls Bertuccio. “The directives of the Italian government prohibit skiing, but allow the opening of [hotels] and restaurants to passersby. In Switzerland it is possible to ski, but you can only eat takeaway.” The photographs showcase breathtaking views and empty slopes on the Italian side, while Switzerland hums with skiers. You can practically hear the howling wind and lone sounds of the ski lifts, waiting for people to return.

“The desolate slopes of the Italian side, seen from Plateau Rosa, one of the highest points of view of the Italian–Swiss area of the Matterhorn.”

Davide Bertuccio

“Some tourists while checking the open slopes in the area. The Italian ones are all marked closed.”

Davide Bertuccio

Zermatt, Switzerland.

Davide Bertuccio

“One of the ski lifts turned off. In this period, the Italian slopes seem abandoned.”

Davide Bertuccio

Breuil-Cervinia, Italy.

Davide Bertuccio

“Some skiers on the Swiss side. Switzerland [hasn’t] closed its slopes, unlike Italy.”

Davide Bertuccio

“One of the mountains in the Alps, with a flock of crows. Animals during the pandemic took back the mountain. The absence of man has caused a great return of the local fauna.”

Davide Bertuccio

“Swiss tourists [on] a break at an Italian restaurant at the border. This is one of the greatest absurdities due to the difference of laws. In Italy the restaurants can remain open and accept tourists inside (even if there are no Italian tourists in the mountains). In Switzerland, [restaurants] are open, but only for takeaway.”

Davide Bertuccio

Zermatt, Switzerland.

Davide Bertuccio

“One of the workers [at] the Breuil-Cervinia ski resort, while checking on the radio that all the cable cars are closed.”

Davide Bertuccio

“The shuttered lifts in Breuil-Cervinia.”

Davide Bertuccio

“Two snowcats [doing maintenance on] the slopes for the next day.”

Davide Bertuccio

Zermatt, Switzerland.

Davide Bertuccio

“A snowcat doing maintenance on a slope, waiting for the reopening of the ski resorts in Italy.”

Davide Bertuccio
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