Valle d'Aosta. Photo: Ferruccio Zanone / flickr.com
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Valle d'Aosta- the smallest autonomous region in Italy. Despite its small size, the region has hundreds of cultural monuments, natural resources and developed infrastructure. In Valle d'Aosta, everyone will find entertainment to their liking, whether it be climbing the slopes, shopping, spa vacations or a trip to Italy's past.
Geography of the region
The region is located in the northwestern part of Italy in an alpine valley. It is surrounded by the Mont Blanc and Matterhorn mountain peaks, and in general, the Valle d'Aosta is quite mountainous. The region borders on France, which is reflected in its culture - French is used as a second language, and Italianization began only under Mussolini.
Valle d'Aosta has no major airports. But getting to the region will not be difficult. The easiest way to get there is from the airports of Turin (100 km) or Milan (185 km). These cities are connected with the autonomy by the well-established bus service and motorways.
Valle d'Aosta Map
Big cities
There are almost no big cities in the region. On average, the population of each does not exceed 3000 people. The only exception is Aosta, which serves as the administrative center. The local capital of the autonomy is a source of pride. Aosta is surrounded by ski areas and amazing scenery. It is a city of art galleries, Roman ruins and spas, and medieval monuments.
At the same time, Aosta is a modern city with dozens of hotels. It is often chosen as the starting point for travel throughout the Valle d'Aosta. Italians and some tourists themselves choose Aosta for travel in January, when the festival of artisans is held here on a grand scale.
Valle d'Aosta climate
The region is surrounded by inaccessible mountains from all sides, therefore it has a typical alpine climate. In the highlands of the Valle d'Aosta, summers and severe snowy winters can drop as low as -15 ° C. On the plains, the climate is continental - in summer the air warms up to + 30 ° C, and in winter the temperature reaches -1 ° C. The dry summer season is sometimes interrupted by thunderstorms.
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Attractions of the region
Much of the attractions are concentrated in the city of Aosta and around it. On the outskirts, there is an archaeological zone, where many ancient artifacts have been discovered: from stone slabs with drawings to ceramics. All of them are kept in the Regional Museum. The fortress walls of Aosta are well preserved. They defended the city back in the Roman era, and now they have almost merged with modern buildings. Tourists can walk along the city walls and see the surviving towers and gates.
Among the places of interest in Aosta is the Duomo square with the cathedral. Its facade is close to the Romanesque style, while the interior of the cathedral is decorated in the Gothic tradition. Ancient stained glass windows can be seen in the Duomo. And in the cathedral museum - get acquainted with the works of church art.
Valle d'Aosta became famous for its medieval castles. There are more than a hundred of them throughout the region, but only a few are well preserved. Not far from Aosta, on a picturesque hill, stands the Kli Castle. From the point of view of architectural solutions, this 12th century monument is rather primitive. But its location and the remains of an old Romanesque church nearby make the castle interesting for tourists.
Much more remarkable is the architecture of the castle of St. Peter. Built in the XII century, it passed from one dynasty to another. And each owner brought something new to the structure of the building. In the 19th century, the castle acquired a fabulous appearance due to the addition of decorative towers.
No less interesting is the well-preserved Renaissance castle of Issogne. It became famous for its fountain in the shape of a pomegranate tree and unique frescoes in the style of rare alpine paintings from the Middle Ages. It is curious that the inscriptions left by its inhabitants, servants and visitors have survived on the walls of the castle. Once inside, you can go up to the chic chambers of the former owners of the castle, decorated with family coats of arms.
Holidays in Valle d'Aosta
Outside Italy, the region is widely known as a winter destination. All ski resorts of the autonomy are located nearby, and the owners of a single ski pass can even visit the slopes of neighboring France. Courmayeur stands out among the resorts of Aosta. Since ancient times, it has been popular among Europeans as a destination with a healing climate. Today there are luxury hotels and more than 100 km of pistes are available for skiing. Pyla is another resort with a free ski area and a snowboard park. In terms of infrastructure, it is not inferior to its neighbors: there are clubs, swimming pools, a casino and more than 20 restaurants.
But the opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts do not end there. The region has a well-developed network of high-mountain bike routes, mountaineering and trekking are available. And those who wish to relax in the Valle d'Aosta have access to all the benefits of spa tourism. There is a large thermal complex not far from Courmayeur. These baths have been known since antiquity - the procedures have a positive effect on the entire body, especially in combination with the effects of the mountain air.
Shopping in Valle d'Aosta
At the end of January, large fairs are held in Aosta. Here you can buy lace, wooden products and ceramics as a souvenir. In summer, in September and December, there is another popular fair in the village of Verres. Here tourists have the opportunity to buy inexpensive, but original decor items and antiques.
The city of Aosta attracts with many boutiques. The center houses both Italian brands and international brands. But the widest selection of accessories and clothing is in the outlet. It brings together dozens of stores, including Calvin Klein, Woolrich and local boutiques. Shopping enthusiasts do not ignore Courmayeur's shops. They are located on the old main street. In Courmayeur, you can buy quality sportswear and clothes from Italian designers.
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Aosta in Italy is the administrative center of the northernmost region of Val d'Aosta. The city is located near the tunnel leading under Mont Blanc to French Chamonix, at the confluence of the Boutier and Dora Baltea rivers. Today it is a flourishing and calm alpine town, where French speech is often heard, because in Aosta, French, along with Italian, is the official language. Many tourists come to Aosta every year. They are attracted by the picturesque nature - the city is surrounded on all sides by the most famous and highest peaks of the Alps: Cervino, Monte Bianco, Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc. Here you can enjoy truly fantastic views. In summer, mountain lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will find a huge number of mountain hiking trails, mountaineering and rafting, in winter - great skiing. In addition, tourists are interested in the centuries-old history of Aosta and its architectural monuments from the times of the Roman Empire. And that's not all that Aosta has to offer.
Business card
What to see, where to visit
Aosta in Italy is a treasure trove of architectural monuments from different eras. According to the existing legend, the city was founded by Cordelo - a descendant of the god Saturn - in 1158 BC. and named Cordelia. Celtic-Ligurian tribes - Salassi lived here. Later the city was captured by the Romans. In honor of the victory of Octavian Augustus Caesar in 25 BC. was erected Triumphal Arch, and today tourists can see it almost in its original form. A fortress wall with 20 towers stretches along the perimeter of the city, the southern and eastern gates of which are also perfectly preserved.
One of the most interesting places in Aosta is the ruins Roman theater, which was one of the few indoor theaters in ancient Rome. One of its walls with three tiers of arches, some openings and parts of the stage have survived to this day. The theater was 45 meters long and could seat 4,000 spectators.
The most significant religious landmark is Cathedral, originally built in the 4th century and converted in the 11th century. The frescoes in the central nave have been preserved here since those times. Among the monuments of the Middle Ages in Aosta is the Complex of churches of St. Orso. He was the patron saint of the city, a wanderer with a bird on his shoulder, canonized for his kindness to people. Saint Orso still enjoys love in Valle D "Aosta, and fairs are organized in his honor on New Year's Eve.
Aosta is famous in Italy for its famous craft fairs of local artisans, the tradition of which dates back to 1000 AD! In the historical center, local craftsmen proudly present their creations - sculptures made of wood, works of stone, wrought iron and leather. The city plays music, dances, songs, shows, wine tastings and a gastronomic feast. A visit to the Sant'Orso Fair will leave you an unforgettable experience, many people come here not only to buy some necessary thing or souvenir in everyday life, but mainly in order to "breathe" the unique holiday atmosphere that prevails here.
Trails, slopes, lifts
Aosta is located in the Pila ski region. Directly from the city, a gondola lift will take you to the slopes in 20 minutes. From here you can admire incredible views of the highest mountain ranges of the Alps - Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Monte Rosa! The ski area is located quite high, so there is always enough snow. 70 km of excellent pistes, some of which are long, wide, and quite steep, will satisfy the needs of both beginners and pros.
If desired, from Aosta you can easily reach the neighboring ski resorts -
Aosta - the capital of the autonomous region - a city of Romanesque, medieval, neoclassical and at the same time modern, which is a center of culture and tourism. It is a city with a population of about 35 thousand people, framed on one side by green forest, and on the other - by alpine snow, it is the fourth highest regional center. The mountains seem to embrace the city, trying to preserve its natural beauty.
This unique location creates a special climate in Aosta: here there are early summer and early winter, and the off-season - spring and autumn is much shorter than in other areas of northern Italy. The heat can come as early as May, and frosts in November. Dry summers are accompanied by short but frequent thunderstorms, the hottest month of July is around 21 ° C. Winters are fairly cold and snowy, with an average January temperature of 1 ° C.
Aosta is often chosen as a "starting point" from where you can see the beauty of all the surrounding landscapes, as this area contains the most famous peaks of the Alpine arc, including Monte Bianco, Cervino - inexhaustible sources of fascinating excursions. At any time of the year, these regions are interesting: in summer, nature lovers enjoy exploring mountain trails, in winter, modern ski routes are waiting for lovers of active recreation. However, natural beauty is not all that Aosta has to offer. The city itself is interesting both for its ancient center and for numerous historical, artistic and cultural testimonies.
Already in prehistoric times, this region was inhabited by the people of the megalithic culture, then the Celtic-Ligurian tribe of the Salassi settled here. According to the legend, in 1158 BC. the ancestor of the Salassi, Cordelo - a descendant of the god Saturn (Kronos) and a friend of the mythical Hercules, founded the city of Cordelia here.
Archaeological site Saint-Martin-de-Corléans
The necropolis, several ancient tombs, and Saint-Martin-de-Corléans, an archaeological zone of the Megalithic period, which is located on the outskirts of Aosta and allows you to learn a lot about the prehistoric period of Europe, are proof of the presence of the Salassi here. The archaeological zone covers an area of \u200b\u200b9.821 sq. meters and is located at a depth of 4-5 meters. According to some hypotheses, this is what remains of the mythical city of Cordelia. During the excavations, numerous artifacts (glass and ceramics, stone slabs with drawings) were found, which are now in the Regional Archaeological Museum, and in the future will become exhibits of a museum that will be built on the site of today's excavations, its opening is scheduled for 2013.
Archaeological zone Saint-Martin-de-Corléans.Photoregione. vda. it
Fortress walls and towers
The city walls of Aosta, which defended the city back in the Roman era, have remained practically unchanged, despite the fact that they partially merged with other, more modern buildings. The walls are a rectangle 724 by 572 meters, and the main gate is Porta Pretoria, oriented to the side.
City gate of Porta Pretoria. Photomedioevo. org
At the four corners of the fortress walls, as well as every 20 meters, there were quadrangular towers with windows in two rows - some of them have survived to this day. Tourists can take a walk along the walls about 3 km long and look at the preserved towers Torre del Lebbroso, Tour Fromage, Torre del Pailleron.
Arch of Augustus (Arco d'Augusto)
Behind the old city walls, you can see the Arch of Augustus, built in 25 BC. on the occasion of the victory of the Romans over the Salassi. The arch stands near the eastern gate (Porta Praetoria), it consists of a single vault 11.40 meters high. In the XII century, the arch served as the dwelling of a noble local family, and in 1318 a small fortification was built in it, intended for crossbowmen.
Arch of Augustus. Photoitineritaly. it
The current look of the arch is the result of its restoration and strengthening in 1912. A wooden crucifix located under the arch is a copy of what was installed on this site in 1449 as a gift made by vow - so that the nearby Buthier tributary does not overflow the banks. The old original of the crucifix is \u200b\u200bkept in the Aosta Cathedral Treasures Museum.
Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Ursa (Collegiata dei Santi Pietro e Orso)
This church is the largest medieval building in the city, it was built in 994-1025, and the Romanesque bell tower was erected already in 1131. Its interior features include 15th-century frescoes, 17th-century wooden choirs, stained glass windows and a Romanesque courtyard.
The inner courtyard of the Church of Saints Peter and Ursa. Photoisolafelice.forumcommunity.net
Duomo Aosta (Cattedrale di Aosta)
One of the most interesting places in Aosta is Cathedral Square (partly located on the site of the Roman forum), on which, as the name suggests, the Duomo is located, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. The original appearance of the cathedral of the 11th-12th centuries in the Romanesque style has been preserved, the facade was decorated later, in 1526. The inside of the cathedral is made in the Gothic style, here you can see several valuable stained glass windows, wooden choir stalls from 1469 and the tombstone of Count Thomas II of Savoy.
Duomo Aosta. Photoaostasera. it
From the Duomo, you can directly access the Cathedral Treasures Museum, which houses some of the art that was previously found in the Duomo and other churches in the region.
Local Holidays
The Saint Ursa Fair (Fiera di Sant'Orso) is held at the end of January in the center of Aosta. It is also called "thousand years", since it is generally believed that the first such fair took place in 1000. And today more than a thousand artisans take part in it. More than 150,000 visitors from Valle d'Aosta and the surrounding regions come to the fair annually.
Handicrafts at the St. Ursa fair. Photopseudo-myblog.blogspot.it
Every two years, on the last Sunday of September, Désarpa (in the local dialect - descent from alpine pastures) is organized in Aosta, the main participants of which are cows descending from high-altitude pastures at the end of summer.
Holiday momentDé sarpa... Photodiscoveryalps. it
The chain of Alpine mountains, which has been irresistible for a long time, has predetermined the peculiarities of the local cuisine, which is almost entirely based on local products. Among the local products are fontina (a kind of soft cheese), lard, calf "sanato", chestnuts, polenta, which is cooked here with butter and cheese.
Sanato. Photodonnamoderna.com
Valle D'Aosta is a small autonomous region of Italy, located at the junction of the borders of Italy, France and Switzerland.
It is the smallest province in Italy, north of Turin.
Historically, Italian and French are spoken in Valle D'Aosta, and the restaurants serve traditional Swiss fondue.
How to get to Aosta
The nearest international airport from the Aosta Valley is located in.
But while there are no direct flights there from Russia, you can use Milan Malpensa Airport as a starting point.
I booked a car at Milan airport and received it, an hour later I crossed the border of the Piedmont province and Valle D'Aosta.
I have no idea how you can travel to these places by public transport, so I can recommend.
On the way from Malpensa to Aosta, the navigation took us along free narrow roads.
I will not recommend this route.
Better not to regret 10-15 euros and take the A4 Milano - Turin motorway, and then keep to Aosta.
Since this territory was a passing banner and at different times it was owned by different rulers and states.
And also due to the fact that the valley connects northern Italy with Alpine France and Geneva - a lot of fortresses were built here.
We can say that while driving along the road from Bard towards (Courmayeur) - the border with France - castles and fortresses will follow you.
Therefore, one of the entertainment here: inspection and photographing of the fortresses.
The second tourist attraction of the Aosta Valley is the surrounding mountains and the accompanying landscape.
In winter - alpine skiing - there is a large French ski resort Chamonix and Mont Blanc nearby.
In summer, hiking and cycling trails through the valley branches into forests and mountain lakes.
The main city of the valley - Aosta - is famous for its Roman ruins, overlooking which we stopped.
We had a very short trip to Italy this time - for one night.
The hotel in Aosta that I can recommend is called Ad Podium.
Aosta ski resort
We were in Aosta before the start of the ski season.
But after looking at the level of the ski infrastructure of Aosta, it would not occur to me to go here to ski.
Aosta is a decent-sized city with suburbs and only one lift per small ski area.
Rather, it is a place to hang out and shop.
Nearby villages in Aosta
In general, the landscapes here are pretty, but when compared with the landscapes (of the southern island), Aosta fades and falls silent.
A couple of photos and that's it.
That is, Aosta can be one of the points in the route along
Valle d'Aosta is an autonomous region of Italy and its smallest province. It is located in the northwestern part of the country and borders Switzerland in the north and France in the west. Due to the fact that the territory of the region is surrounded by the highest of the mountain peaks in Europe - Mont Blanc, and the Matterhorn, there are many excellent, international competitions in alpine skiing are often held.
The province has two official languages \u200b\u200b- Italian and French. In some parts of it, residents use one of the German dialects - Mountain Alemannic. In total, a little more than 125 thousand people live in Valle d'Aosta, of which a third is in the administrative center of the province, the city of Aosta.
In addition to tourism, energy is well developed in the region - there are many rivers in the mountains - and ferrous metallurgy. The area is also famous for its wines.
Climate and weather
The Aosta Valley has a peculiar climate. The boundaries of the seasons seem to be shifted: summer comes earlier than usual, already in May; winter also usually comes in November... Spring and autumn fly by instantly, summer is usually long, dry and warm, but there is no particular heat here: the average temperature in July is + 21º C. The local summer is characterized by short-term but heavy rains with thunderstorms. In winter there is a lot of snow, frosts are not uncommon, but even in the coldest month, January, the average temperature is still above zero, 1-2 ° C.
How to get there
There are many mountain passes in the region; despite this, the transport network is very well developed, there are many roads and railways in the province. Buses run between settlements; they run on numerous routes at intervals of half an hour, so getting from one town to another is not difficult. The nearest large city is. Before it can be 2 hours.
It is at the airport of Turin that those who are going to rest in the Valle d'Aostu usually arrive. The distance between the cities is 100 km. You can fly to Milan (), but it is twice as far, 190 km. If you have a Schengen visa, you can consider another option - Geneva, which is 150 km from Aosta. There is also an airport in Aosta itself, you can fly here by local flights from Rome, but the planes carrying them are very small, so such a trip needs to be planned in advance. Easier to use the train or bus. The bus timetables are available here: www.savda.it. The site is in Italian, but easy to use. Train tickets: www.trenitalia.com
Aosta
The main city of the Autonomous Region is Aosta. It was founded before our era; Since then, several architectural monuments have survived: a triumphal arch, fortress walls with gates, an amphitheater. The arch (Arco di Augusto) has been standing in the city since 25 BC. It has a somewhat strange appearance for such structures - a typical attic superstructure is absent, instead of it the arch is crowned with a roof, built at the beginning of the 18th century.
Not far from the arch is the Porta Praetoria gate, through which the city could be entered from the east. The gates are double, each row consists of a central arch 7 m high for carts, and two smaller side arches for the passage of people. The whole structure looks very impressive.
The fortress walls are also well preserved. They form a rectangle with sides 727 m and 574 m long.
Another monument of the times of the ancient Romans is the Villa (Villa Romana), or rather, its ruins, by which you can get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe size of the wealthy houses of that period, the location of rooms and utility rooms.
The old Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Ursus (Collegiata dei Santi Pietro e Orso) is a building that cannot be passed by. It was built at the turn of the X-XI centuries; the architectural style is Romanesque. The builders used the remains of older buildings as a foundation. The inner courtyard of the church, like the walls surrounding the city, is made of dark gray stone blocks and gives the impression of being very ancient, although it was built at the beginning of the 12th century.
Locks
In the vicinity of Aosta, there are many medieval castles and fortresses - about seven dozen. Not all of them are in perfect condition, some of them are only ruins, but there are also well-preserved ones. One of them - fenis castle (Castello di Fenis), built at the beginning of the XIII century.
Issogne Castle (Castello di Issogne) is located at a distance from Aosta, 40 km. There are suggestions that it was built long before the middle of the XII century, when it was first mentioned in official documents: it is possible that the castle was rebuilt from an ancient Roman villa.
Finally, castle of Verre (Castello di Verrès) - another monumental building that has come down to us from the Middle Ages... Its appearance is purely utilitarian - a huge stone cube with rare small windows, and a complete lack of decor.
Ski resorts
The unique location of Valle d'Aosta attracts tourists and skiers from all over the world. Having arrived here, they can ride on the slopes of three countries at once in a few days: Italy, France and Switzerland.
Cervinia
https://youtu.be/qMDrcQqFWTg
One of the oldest ski resorts in Italy - (Cervinia). Cervinia's ski slopes run along the slopes of the Matterhorn; its height is 4478 m. Especially desperate skiers can climb to the highest point and make a dizzying descent from three and a half thousand meters. There are no resorts located higher than Cervinia in Italy.
The peak season in Cervinia is in December, January is relatively calm, and in February and March, the slopes in the vicinity of the resort are again full of bright ski suits.
However, the higher in the mountains, the longer the season - in the highlands there is snow all year round. There are both very difficult routes and less extreme long-distance routes that allow you to enjoy not the adrenaline rush, but admiring the surrounding nature. Nonetheless, most routes, such as the Bontadidni trail, are designed for trained skiers... For beginners, it is better to pay attention to the "blue" tracks Plan Maison (Plan Maison).
The great advantage of the resort over others is the carefully thought out location of the slopes and their variety. So, for example, there are “blue” tracks for beginners on almost all slopes. This means that even those who have just started skiing have the opportunity to inspect everything around, and not ski in the same place for two weeks.
There are buses from Turin and Milan to Cervinia, you can look for a hotel with a transfer. In terms of accommodation, there are options for all tastes, from expensive hotels (Saint Hubertus Resort) to small economy chalets (L'Ancien Paquier Chambre D'Hotes). The main thing is to book rooms in advance.
Courmayeur
One of the most expensive Italian ski resorts is (Courmayeur)... The peculiarity of the resort is that it is surrounded on all sides by almost a dozen mountain peaks over 4000 meters high. At the same time, the tracks here are mostly of medium difficulty, with the exception of some really extreme ones. The total length of the tracks is over 100 km.
Everything here is done so that tourists can get full satisfaction from their stay at the resort: there are plenty of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues around, and many tracks allow you to ride around the clock.
The resort is very conveniently located - it is easy to reach it from Aosta, buses from Milan and Turin run here (travel time is about 3.5-4 hours). Therefore, it can get especially crowded here on weekends - Italians like to come to Courmayeur for one or two days. For the same reason, when planning a vacation in Courmayeur, it is better to take care of not only the hotel, but also where you will have dinner every day. Otherwise, you run the risk of spending a lot of time trying to find a free table; and some restaurants cannot be entered at all without an appointment.
Black runs are concentrated in the Val Veny area. For beginners, Chetif or Prato are more suitable. Well, the main ski area is Checrouit. There are also routes in Courmayeur that run outside the equipped trails - they are primarily intended for lovers of freeriding, both skiing and on the boards. Most of them are on Mount Cresta D'Arp.
For accommodation, you can recommend the four-star Auberge De La Maison or the more modest Hotel Crampon.
La Thuile
Small La Thuile is located at the foot of Mont Blanc. Let's remind - this is the highest mountain in Europe (excluding the Caucasian peaks); its height is 4810 m. La Thuile is good because there are not so many tourists as in other resorts in the province.so you don't have to queue for the lift. There are no noisy entertainments here; life at the resort is more like a rustic, measured and unhurried one. There is always a lot of snow in La Thuile, and the tracks are designed for well-trained athletes.
La Thuile is part of the San Bernardo unified ski area. You can get here by bus from Courmayeur or from the city of Pré-Saint-Didier, and to Pré-Saint-Didier, in turn, by train from Turin or Milan.
- Recommended hotels: fashionable Niro Montana and economical Hotel Du Glacier.
Saw
Ski resort for beginners - Pila. From here you can see all three highest peaks of the Alps at the same time: the aforementioned Matterhorn and Mont Blanc, as well as Monte Rosa. This resort is not as famous as the rest, which makes it even more attractive in terms of quietness and less expensive services provided. The Pyla slopes are worth paying attention to those who have just started to master alpine skiing - there are many gentle wide slopes, for example, in the Grimod area, and you can ski from the beginning of December to April.
There are not many hotels in Pyla itself, most of them are three-star. But this resort is located not far from Aosta, so you can stay in the center of the province, and it will take no more than 20 minutes to get to Pila by lift. If you still want to live close to the mountain slopes, book a room at the Bellevue Pila or.
Monte Rosa
Unlike Cervinia, the resort (Monte Rosa) has begun to host skiers relatively recently. There are about 130 km of slopes and most of them are suitable for intermediate skiers or beginners.
It won't be boring in Monte Rosa, the resort is quite actively developing, and already boasts a large number of bars and restaurants, but still it is worth remembering that life here is not in full swing, as in the older resorts of the valley, and is more suitable for those who prefer calm rest.
Here you can rent a room in a hotel located directly at the foot of a mountain slope, for example, in, or a little further, overlooking the mountains (Residence Lo Peyo).
Things to do
The ski resorts of Valle d'Aosta have all the conditions for a comfortable stay. Even if you have never skied or snowboard, experienced instructors will teach you the basics of skiing in a few days. Many of them have special training skills for people with disabilities; there are many schools for children in the province, where your child will learn the basics of skiing, under the constant supervision of experienced teachers. If you come with a family, in which not everyone is delighted with the prospect of skiing all day long, do not hesitate - anyone will find something to their liking.
Resort towns come to life not only in the evenings, when crowds fill the bars and restaurants. During the day, you can visit the pools or spa complexes, do yoga or fitness, and play bowling. Cervinia has an ice karting track with two tracks. Dog-sledding is organized in quiet Monte Rosa; you can take riding lessons. In the large sports complex, located near the Courmayeur resort, you can play tennis, golf, ice skate or rock climbing. Many people travel to the city of Pré-Saint-Didier in order to use the services of the thermal complex.
Those who prefer the thrill, but for one reason or another cannot experience it during downhill descents from the surrounding peaks, can discover paragliding or hot air ballooning. Well, the proximity to the three highest peaks of the Alps at once opens up almost unlimited opportunities for climbers.
Winemaking
Valle d'Aosta is one of the largest centers of winemaking in Italy. The region is famous primarily for white wines, the material for which matures in the country's highest vineyards - up to 1.2 km above sea level, although they account for only 10% of the wines produced.
Since 1971, the province's wine-growing area has been called DOC Valle d'Aosta. About 2.5 million bottles of wine are produced here annually.
The total area of \u200b\u200bvineyards is small, but it is striking in the number of cultivated varieties: there are more than twenty of them. The most common varieties are petit rouge, which occupies 16% of all vineyards, and nebbiolo (almost 10%). The most popular white variety is Priye Blanc: over 6% of all plantings.
- Surprising fact: finding local wines in other provinces of Italy is quite difficult; the number of foreign tourists and Italians who come to the resorts of the region is so great that almost all wine produced is drunk here, without leaving the province.
