
Mensa Italy
Mensa Italy was formally established as a national Mensa organisation in 1983, and currently has around 2600 active members.
Image: The winner of the Mensa LUDO 2024 award is Pyramido , published in Italy by Pendragon Game Studio
Benvenuti
As a Mensa member, you can attend as many events & gatherings as you want. You can either go by yourself or bring along your family & friends.
January 31st – February 2nd 2025

MENSA ON THE SNOW 2025
Dates: January 31st – February 2nd
Location: Ponte di Legno
Only for members and their guests!
Like last year, Mensa Italia is organizing a weekend on the snow: an opportunity to get away from the routine, enjoy the mountains and spend time in good company.
📣📣📣📣 ATTENTION: Reservations for accommodations for Mensa In Quota 2025 are open.
We are waiting for you in the dedicated topic to coordinate for the rooms occupation.
And hurry: those who arrive late get a bad place to stay!
Silvia, Sabina, Gaia, Andrea. 🙂
Now, more about the event itself:
📢 At the northern end of Valcamonica, in the province of Brescia, lies the small and cosy village of Ponte di Legno. Located at an altitude of 1260 metres, it is connected via the Tonale Pass to the municipality of Vermiglio in the province of Trento. Built at the confluence of two streams that meet here to form the River Oglio, the village is crossed by numerous small wooden bridges, but its name derives from the medieval name “Dalania” that later became “Dalegno”.
💡 A 20-minute cable car ride from the village takes you to the Presena glacier (2,700-3,000 metres), 4 kilometres from the Tonale Pass, a destination for both winter and summer skiing. From June to September, a rather demanding hike leads to Lake Aviolo in the Adamello Brenta Nature Park.
Shonan & Yokohama promise not just intellectual discourse and the facilitation of social connections, but a deeper appreciation of the world around you. Indeed, cultural, ecological, and environmental issues will all feature in the event program.
ACCOMMODATION
🇯🇵 🥋 🗻 🍣 🍱 🥢 ⛩️ 🎎 🌸 🍥 ☯ 🍜 🍵 👘 🍡
For skiers⛷️🏂 and non-skiers!🛷
Meals in the refuge, aperitifs with vin brulè and bombardini, nights of board games for insomniacs.
There are two options: apartment (cheaper) or hotel.
Both the hotel and the apartments are close to each other, close to the center of Ponte di Legno and the ski lifts.
The apartments will be available from Friday to Sunday.
For longer stays in the apartment, contact the staff.
Pictures from Pohorje and Bohinj
Winter Ski Weekend at the luxurious Hotel Bohinj
Hotels

📢 The Bellavista and Cristallo hotels have various types of rooms. Breakfast is included.
🛌 For those who want to stay for more days, the Bellavista hotel allows reservations with a minimum of 3 nights stay in a double or quadruple room.
CANCELLATION POLICY: The cancellation policy is specified on the hotel’s website.
📅 HOW TO BOOK: fill this form to let us know you’ll be in the hotel, then finalize the reservation and payment by yourself directly on the hotel’s website.
LINK: Cristallo and Bellavista.
Pictures from Hotel Cristallo
Pictures from Hotel BellaVista
Apartments
📢 All apartments accommodations are with a kitchen area. The staff has previously booked some of them. For a better allocation and less dispersion, as these first accommodations are filled, others will be made available, slightly more expensive. So those who book earlier, pay less.
PRICES: we’ve chosen the cheaper places in the area, without getting too far from the city center. You can find all the prices in this document.
CANCELLATION POLICY: once payment has been made, it is NOT possible to request a refund of the amount paid. In this case, members are invited to find replacements for the booked accommodations or to agree with the other flatmates on the division of their share in case of impossibility of participating in the event.
📅 HOW TO BOOK:
- check the availability of the apartments, as we proceed with the reservations, from the last columns of this document.
- find your flatmates on the event chat and/or write your name in the last column of this document and use it to identify your potential roommates.
- fill in this form only when you have filled all the beds in the apartment.
- contact the staff to proceed with the payment.
- payments will be accepted and completed only after the desired accommodation has been completely occupied.
Filling out the form alone does NOT guarantee the booking of the apartment, which is considered completed only upon payment of the balance.
Check out this amazing video about Ponte di Legno from DiscoverVision
💎Nestled in the heart of Slovenia’s pristine alpine paradise, Bohinj offers breathtaking winter landscapes, crystal-clear lake views, and serene snowy forests.
🏞️The stunning Hotel Bohinj, one of the most luxurious hotels in the country, is the perfect retreat for a magical winter getaway.


From exploring ancient temples and shrines to experiencing the harmonious blend of tradition and modernity in Japanese life, the incredible experiences will just keep on coming.
Join us for an unforgettable journey in one of the world’s most captivating locations!
Further details about AMG 2025 Shonan & Yokohama will be published soon. 💙
🤩 When AMG 2025 draws to a close (or maybe before it even begins), many of you will want to explore other regions of Japan while you’re here, and you certainly won’t be disappointed!
From exploring ancient Mayan ruins to experiencing the colourful rhythms of Méxican life, the incredible experiences will just keep on coming.
Join us for an unforgettable journey in one of the world’s most captivating locations!
Further details about GLAM 2025 Cancún will be published soon. 💙
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⛩️ Experience the perfect blend of relaxation and culture
in Shonan and Yokohama, known for their scenic beauty, and for their rich and ancient history (and not so ancient history, too, as Shonan is the iconic setting of the world famous anime known as Slam Dunk).
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👘 Enjoy your stay
at the Shonan Kokusai-mura Center, which offers exclusive accommodation and facilities designed to foster deeper friendships among Mensans.
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🚌 Take advantage of Japan Mensa’s transport assistance
by hopping on the chartered buses from nearby stations and Haneda Airport, ensuring smooth, hassle-free travel for all the AMG attendees.
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🗻 Enjoy a variety of exciting activities,
including a grand Gala Dinner, optional events, and immersive post-tours exploring the vibrant surroundings.
Read some
of the “postcards”
sent back by members

Postcard from Pohorje Village
In January, I had the pleasure of joining the Mensa Ski Weekend in Pohorje Village, Slovenia. The weather was not very promising on Thursday evening when it was raining and the ground was still snowless, but apparently the organising team did some magic overnight and on Friday morning, like ordered, there was a perfect 20cm layer of powder snow covering the Pohorje hills for Mensans to enjoy skiing in the sunny and crisp weather.
The event is not only for skiing enthusiasts, but activities are organised for non-skiing people, like me, as well. I had the pleasure to join the survival workshops for fire making, orienteering, and adaptation to cold environments. There were walking trails and art activities, and reiki for early birds. The venue had a pool and sauna for relaxing.
Saturday the Pležuh Competition took place, which is a downhill race with one-ski sledges. It was great fun and I had the luck of winning the fastest run for women 🙂. The local journalists visited the competition and wrote a short article about the Ski Weekend to the local newspaper.
In the evenings, Ice Breaker and Casino Royale theme nights kept Mensa members entertained, and on Sunday the last members on the venue had a late farewell lunch at a local restaurant, where the food was fabulous and it was plenty.
The event was very well organised and it reached the record number of attendees with 89 members from 19 countries from all over the world. Thank you to the organisers for making this event such an enjoyable experience for us!

The 21st Mensa Slovenia Ski Weekend Pohorje 2024
Since the foundation of Slovenian Mensa in 2002 a tradition emerged for members to meet in a wintery environment. It’s no surprise the event gained traction as most Slovenians are keen skiers or at least love to spend time in the country and outdoors. Usually set in the third weekend of January, since 2010 this small getaway holiday also hosts and unites fellow Mensans from all over the world.
Pohorje ski resort
For this year, an ambitious organisational team decided to take the whole event even further. The Mariborsko Pohorje ski resort was chosen to be the best for the challenge of how to offer as many interesting experiences as possible, both indoor and outdoor, regardless of weather and climate conditions, with a lot of activities for non-skiers as well, so as many people as possible could participate. Workshops included fractal drawing, wellness therapies, reiki, hiking, survival courses, and many more.
Grand gala in a winter paradise
In less than four days, a visitor could see it all: too warm, typical climate change impacted weather on Thursday afternoon, followed by a surprise snowstorm early Friday morning, to finally have fresh snow and bright sun Saturday and Sunday, with clear star-filled nights in between. Skiers really had their schedules full if they wanted to take advantage of everything that was offered. There was very little time to rest and regenerate, but everybody wanted to look their best at the Saturday’s gala Casino Royale event with a James Bond dress code.
Maribor is special
This weekend was anything but just an alpine weekend on the ski slopes. Maribor is the second largest city of Slovenia and has a lot more to offer besides skiing and casinos. It’s a rare setting – all the smaller south-faced hills opposite the ski slopes are full of vineyards. This special region has its own different charm, as anyone visiting different parts of Slovenia will happily confirm. Even the sports competition was special this time. Mensans raced down the snowy slope on “Pležuh”, a small single-ski sled that requires balancing (some did better than others) on a tiny seat while making turns through gates, trying to clock the best time. Not only was the Mensa crowd up to that challenge; after all the skiing, walking over sometimes icy and slippery paths, driving in winter conditions etc. there were no accidents, and everybody returned home safely.
One for the record books
Between the 18th and 21st of January, a total of 89 participants from 19 countries all over the world met above Maribor, to socialize and enjoy what the region has to offer. This year’s team is even more proud of the number and variety of experiences offered. The organisers combined resourceful Maribor local volunteers and veteran Slovenian Mensans that both have the experience of organising home events as well as travelling around the world and participating at Mensa gatherings such as Silvensas, EMAGs etc. Therefore, a lot of effort was invested into following the good practices seen elsewhere, with a desire not only to further expand and improve their own traditional event, but to build further on a growing community, enabling Mensa Slovenia to host even bigger and better events in the future.
(originally published in the April 2024 issue of the Mensa World Journal)

Mensa Slovenia Ski Weekend
I attended the Annual Mensa Slovenia Ski Weekend together with my family from the 19th to the 21st of January 2024. It is the first time anyone from Australian Mensa has attended this event. It was an impeccably organised weekend with lots of activities and everything SNOW!
Organised almost continuously since 2003, this year’s gathering was the 21st in a row. Mensa Slovenia, which today has over 370 members, was founded in 2002, and became a full member of Mensa International 13 years later.
Two thirds of the participants this year were from countries other than Slovenia. More than 90 Mensa members from 19 countries came together for this weekend at Pohorje in Maribor including representatives from Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Matjaž Podmiljšak and Alja Gričar were the main organisers of the weekend. According to Matjaž, “This year, we also adapted the program for those who do not ski. We organised survival workshops, workshops of various therapeutic techniques, art workshops and so on”. A highlight of the weekend was the “Pležuh” (a traditional single-ski sled) race.
Here is a link to an article in the local Maribor news site.
(originally published in the March-April 2024 issue of Australian Mensa’s TableAus magazine)

Postcard from Pohorje Village
In January, I had the pleasure of joining the Mensa Ski Weekend in Pohorje Village, Slovenia. The weather was not very promising on Thursday evening when it was raining and the ground was still snowless, but apparently the organising team did some magic overnight and on Friday morning, like ordered, there was a perfect 20cm layer of powder snow covering the Pohorje hills for Mensans to enjoy skiing in the sunny and crisp weather.
The event is not only for skiing enthusiasts, but activities are organised for non-skiing people, like me, as well. I had the pleasure to join the survival workshops for fire making, orienteering, and adaptation to cold environments. There were walking trails and art activities, and reiki for early birds. The venue had a pool and sauna for relaxing.
Saturday the Pležuh Competition took place, which is a downhill race with one-ski sledges. It was great fun and I had the luck of winning the fastest run for women 🙂. The local journalists visited the competition and wrote a short article about the Ski Weekend to the local newspaper.
In the evenings, Ice Breaker and Casino Royale theme nights kept Mensa members entertained, and on Sunday the last members on the venue had a late farewell lunch at a local restaurant, where the food was fabulous and it was plenty.
The event was very well organised and it reached the record number of attendees with 89 members from 19 countries from all over the world. Thank you to the organisers for making this event such an enjoyable experience for us!

Postcard from The Dolomites
The first "Mensa In Quota" (at altitude) was held in Italy at the beginning of February: a weekend in the central Alps, between the regions of Trentino and Lombardy, in one of the snowiest areas of Italy.
The initiative was organized by the secretary of Emilia-Romagna, Silvia Giordano, and the secretary of Lombardy, Gaia Satta. Ponte di Legno, a town about 1300 meters above sea level and at the foot of the Presena glacier, which reaches an altitude of 3000 meters, is the place we chose for this special event.
The proposed activities were designed both for those who love snow sports and for those who simply love the beauty of the landscapes and their good food in the mountains. And obviously we haven't forgotten about our unfailing common passion: board games!
The participants of the "In Quota" weekend arrived on Friday evening and settled in the shared apartments in the village. The first evening passed between gastronomic specialties typical of the areas of origin of each participant, Italian wines, and board games.
On the beautiful sunny day of Saturday, there were those who skied, those who snowboarded on the 100 km of slopes of the area, and those who walked along the nearby trekking routes. There were some who simply sat in the hut to admire the glacier and enjoy the sun's rays.
In the afternoon, we attended a concert at high altitude inside an ice dome; it was a very cold, but truly exciting hour, in which the musicians played electronic instruments built with ice and played the best songs of Nirvana, in unplugged version. Once the concert was over, after so much effort, the moment finally arrived for delicious Italian food. In a restaurant also at high altitude, with a magnificent view of the Presena glacier, we participated in a Michelin-starred dinner that truly left us in bliss, with its beautiful dishes with locally grown ingredients.
Sunday flew by in the blink of an eye: time to climb back up to altitude and let ourselves be won over by some more sun, more "bombardino" (Zabov-based alcoholic drink, typical of mountain areas), and typical mountain dishes, all always accompanied by the spectacular landscapes of the Alps.
We plan to repeat this event again in the future, in order to bring together more and more people from Mensa who are passionate about snow, the mountains, their foods, wines and landscapes.
Floreat Mensa (even at high altitude)!

Postcard from Hong Kong
I was incredibly fortunate to be part of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hong Kong Mensa in 2023, and what a weekend it was! Packed with intellectual stimulation, laughter, and genuine connections, it left me feeling truly uplifted.
Throughout the AGM, we had an absolute blast. From engaging in games that tested our minds to sharing delicious meals, the atmosphere was vibrant with energy and friendship. We exchanged nuanced jokes and laughter, creating an environment where everyone felt connected.
The camaraderie among members was palpable, and from the moment we arrived, the venue was buzzing with friendly faces eager to engage in deep conversations and activities. It wasn't just about the intellectual discussions, though those were fantastic; it was the bonds formed with fellow members that truly made the experience unforgettable.
As we shared meals together, effortlessly discussing topics from philosophy to science, it became clear that these connections were what made the AGM so special. It reminded us all of the profound impact of human connection and the joy of surrounding ourselves with inspiring individuals.
Attending the AGM was a transformative experience, and it left us eagerly anticipating the next gathering. It's moments like these that remind us of the importance of community and the growth that comes from being part of such an extraordinary group of people.

Postcard from Venice
Venice, Italy, stands out as a quintessential travel destination, celebrated for its unparalleled beauty, historical depth, and architectural magnificence. The cultural vibrancy of Venice is palpable, with its numerous museums, galleries, and historic theaters enriching the city's artistic landscape.
Events like the Venice Carnival add even more color and festivity to its streets. The Venice Carnival stands out as a highlight in the city's bustling calendar of events, transforming Venice into a vibrant tableau of masks, costumes, and revelry. This historic festival, known for its elaborate masks and costumes, encapsulates the spirit of Venice, blending art, history, and celebration into an unforgettable spectacle that draws visitors from around the world. The Carnival is not just a display of ornate craftsmanship but also a profound expression of Venice's cultural identity, inviting participants to step back in time and experience the city's storied past amidst its present-day beauty.
Mensa Italy recently hosted an event: "Experience the Magic of the Venice Carnival: A Journey Through Mystery, History, and Fun" held the week of February 9–13. They organized special events such as a Welcome Dinner of culinary delights at Forte Marghera and a guided tour through Venice's famous bacari to explore cicchetti and local wine. They coordinated hotel booking options and created a Telegram group to help Mensans stay updated and connect with fellow adventurers.
The experience of Venice was significantly enhanced as we were accompanied by a local like Gabriele, whose deep knowledge of the city's lore and history brings an additional layer of intrigue to the visit. The insights shared by such a guide can transform a simple tour into an unforgettable journey, revealing hidden gems, authentic dining spots, and the finest coffee houses that might otherwise remain unknown to the casual visitor. This personalized exploration adds a layer of authenticity and pleasure, making the Venetian experience genuinely invaluable.
Witnessing the city transform into a living stage where tradition and festivity intertwine was an unforgettable experience.

Postcard from Baltimore
The American Mensa Annual Gathering was held July 5–9 in Baltimore, Maryland. More than 1,600 members and guests attended from all over the world.
The week of Mensan camaraderie began on Tuesday with a colloquium sponsored by the Mensa Foundation on the topic of The Talent and Potential of Neurodiversity.
The actual AG officially started on Wednesday and boredom was not an option. In addition to the usual formal meetings and receptions, there were Regional and SIG Meet and Greets, game tournaments, escape rooms, a Murder Mystery dinner, a pub crawl, a competitive afternoon of puzzles and teamwork, and Leadership Development programming (including a brand-new track of presentations called Level Up! that invites industry experts to help Mensans with their personal career development).
The speaker track topics included Space, Intelligence Gathering, Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet, How the Musical Hamilton Remixes American History, a demonstration of the Enigma Machine, Scandals and Fraud of the Early Stock Market, the life of an NBA Mascot, a History of Money, Anti-Racism, Game Design, Kidney-trafficking, Poe's Gothic Fairy Tales, Local History, Higher Education in the US, Tales of a TV Newsman, and many, many others. We benefited from a wealth of local talent from the Baltimore/DC area, including esteemed speakers from NASA, the US Public Health Service, ex-CIA/FBI, the Smithsonian, and top universities.
Hospitality is a mainstay at American Mensa events, and the AG included a conveniently located, bustling ballroom serving as a rallying point, a spot to grab some quick snack between speaker sessions, and a convenient catch-up place. Hospitality was open 24 hours and featured four breakfasts, three lunches, snacks during all non-mealtimes, and a selection of beer and wine.
The annual “Misster Mensa” competition was a huge hit, as always. The panel of judges assigned scores to each contestant in several categories, including Sexy Legs, Talent Showcase, and Personal Interview. As a clever twist, judges have been known to accept comical bribes from contestants in exchange for favorable adjudication. All in all, the event raised over $50,000 for the Mensa Foundation in the form of an endowment honoring a beloved Mensan, the late Neil Caesar.
The Gala Dinner on Friday featured the hilarious and engaging John Waters (famously known for Pink Flamingos and Hairspray) as the keynote speaker. Everyone enjoyed his irreverence and humor, and no questions were off-limits!

Postcard from somewhere in the Baltic Sea
Each year, the Floating Mensans event gathers people from the Nordic countries and other parts of the world to meet each other and introduce Nordic culture to members. Mensans have floated since 2017 and the hosting responsibilities rotate between Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The 2023 Floating Mensans was hosted by Finland in July.
This year's cruise started on Friday from Helsinki with 17 participants from all over Finland and a member from Denmark. We had a nice dinner together on board to get to know each other and then headed to do some tax-free shopping and enjoy a cabin party. We played some party games and ended the evening with a bit of karaoke and dancing!
On Saturday, we had the pleasure of spending the day in Stockholm. The local Mensans were fantastic hosts and took good care of the floaters. During the day, the participants could participate in a walking tour and get to know the history of the city, play an escape room game, do some shopping, and end the day with a lunch with local members. The participants returned to the ship and we picked up some members to travel with us to Helsinki.
Once we were back on board, we had a special bingo organized that included tasks that the participants had to do in order to win. The first one to finish won a special price! As Mensans often are, some members were very quick on their feet and finished it in record time. The filled bingo card needed to be handed to the host in person. The winner ran to the spa area, fully clothed, to hand in the form while the host was relaxing in the hot tub. Great dedication to the game as always! The night ended with a Grand Buffet, a nice house band show, and some more karaoke. Nordic Mensans love to sing when given the chance!
On Sunday, we arrived back in Helsinki. Members had the option of exploring the city and a nice outside pool area and saunas. The weather was sunny and the relaxing time was well needed. After some lunch in the city, the members returning to Stockholm left back to the ship. The evening included a nice dinner, house band, and a fun evening on board. The cruise ended the following Monday morning.
If you would like to get to know the Nordic members, countries, and cultures in the future, you are very welcome aboard to the next Floating Mensans 2024 sailing between Norway and Denmark. Stay tuned for more information!

Postcard from Benin & Togo
Far and Bright, the latest in the family of fun recurring events for Mensans, hosted a trip to Benin and Togo in January, 2024. Benin and Togo are former French colonies and also the land where voodoo originated, centuries before being spread to the Americas.
Fourteen participants (12 Mensans and 2 partners) came together in shorts and T-shirts (while it snowed in Europe) and had a one-of-a-kind blast hanging out for 10 days, exploring a number of novel attractions, and of course a lot of eating, drinking and swimming with friends. Highlights included: Ganvié, the Venice of West Africa, an integrated organic farm, playing with pythons in Ouidah, voodoo dances, watching thousands of bats migrate, palm wine distillery in the forest, sun, beaches, and coconuts.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable and worldview-expanding experience in a setting very different from what most Mensans experience in their day to day lives. Participants said “Most interesting trip of my life," "Well worth the effort," and "Well-coordinated and so much fun!"