The Aosta Valley (3,263 km², Italy's smallest autonomous region) is nestled between the ridges of Mont Blanc (4,808m, Europe's highest), Monte Rosa (4,634m), Gran Paradiso (4,061m) and the Matterhorn (4,478m). The valley floor is crossed by motorway A5 and SS26 — one of Europe's best-equipped Alpine valleys, with 13 side valleys rising towards the peaks. The Aosta Valley has Italy's highest concentration of medieval castles per km² (72 castles, towers and fortresses) and produces DOP Fontina — one of Europe's most celebrated Alpine cheeses. Italian-French bilingualism is official: road signs, menus and public documents are in both languages. A car is necessary for the side valleys — on the valley floor the rail shuttle (Aosta-Pré-Saint-Didier, 1h, €3.60) is an alternative.
Aosta and the Medieval Castles
Aosta (regional capital, 35,000 inhabitants) is the 'Rome of the Alps' — the Roman centre is among the Alps' best preserved: the Arch of Augustus (25 BC, the triumphal entrance to the Roman city), the Porta Praetoria (the double entrance arch to the decumanus, 1st century BC), the Roman Theatre (free, still with arches 22m tall) and the Roman Forum (below the medieval square, €3 visit). Castello di Fenis (15km from Aosta, €6) is the most spectacular and most visited in the Valley — the 14th-century double crenellated perimeter, the frescoes of St George and the Sibyl in the inner courtyard, the external wooden staircases. Castello di Issogne (40km from Aosta, €6) is the most refined — the pomegranate fountain in the central courtyard and the frescoes of medieval Aosta Valley daily life (merchants, craftsmen, gamblers) are unique in Italy. Castello di Sarre (5km from Aosta, €5) is the Savoy royal hunting residence.
Courmayeur, Gran Paradiso and Cervinia
Courmayeur (37km from Aosta, 1,224m) is Italy's most exclusive Alpine resort — the historic centre with boutiques and restaurants, the Mont Blanc Tunnel (€53 return by car to Chamonix, 11km) and the Skyway Monte Bianco (€42 return, cable car on the Italian side of the Blanc to 3,466m in 25 min — one of Europe's most dramatic Alpine panoramas). Gran Paradiso (from Cogne, 27km from Aosta) is Italy's first national park (1922) — the easiest place in Europe to see Alpine ibex in the wild. Valnontey Valley (5km from Cogne) is the base for park excursions. The Matterhorn (Breuil-Cervinia, 2,006m, 30km from Aosta) is the Italian face of the Matterhorn — the Klein Matterhorn by cable car (€65 return, 3,883m, in summer glacier skiing). Champorcher, Gressoney and Cogne are the most beautiful side valleys for hiking.
Fontina, Local Products and Aosta Valley Cuisine
DOP Fontina (produced only in the Aosta Valley, from fresh milk of twice-daily milked Valdostana cows, aged minimum 80 days in caves at 1,200-2,000m altitude) is the base of Aosta Valley cuisine: fonduta (Fontina melted with milk, egg yolk and black truffle — winter's main dish), polenta concia (cornmeal polenta with Fontina and mountain butter), soupe valdôtaine (stale bread, cabbage and Fontina soup gratinéed in the oven). DOP Arnad lard (lard aged in wooden tubs with Alpine aromatic herbs — rosemary, sage, garlic, juniper, cinnamon) and DOP jambon de Bosses (the raw ham of Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, high-altitude aged with Alpine herbs) are the most prized cured meats. The Cooperative Producteurs Fontina (the cooperative collecting milk from 500 Alpine pastures) has direct shops in Aosta — the best place to buy authentic Fontina.
Practical tips
Skyway Monte Bianco (€42 return) is Italy's most spectacular Alpine panorama — book online in high season
Gran Paradiso is the easiest place in Europe to see ibex in the wild — go to Valnontey (from Cogne)
DOP Fontina is bought at the Cooperative Producteurs Fontina in Aosta — avoid supermarkets for the authentic product
Castello di Fenis (15km) is the Valley's most spectacular — visit it early morning before school groups
Aosta Valley in winter: skiing in Courmayeur and Cervinia; in summer: trekking, Gran Paradiso and ibex
Plan your Aosta Valley week
Mont Blanc, medieval castles and Fontina — itinerary in 5 minutes.
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