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Aosta Valley, Italy
Territory:
It ins
the most mountainous region of Italy, entirely
surrounded by the best known, splendid peaks of the
Alps: the Monte Bianco, the Matterhorn, the Monte
Rosa and the Gran Paradiso. The latter is at the
center of a magnificent National Park, populated by
beautiful specimens of ibex, chamois and eagle.
Numerous glaciers feed a rich web of streams, which
at the bottom of the respective valleys flow in the
basin of the Dora Baltea. The distinctly Alpine
character of this region can be seen in the pine
forests, up to rather high altitudes, where they
give place to large pasturelands. The small Alpine
lakes, little jewels set in majestic mountain
landscapes, are numerous. Thanks to the Monte
Bianco’s and the Gran San Bernardo’s tunnels, the
great historic passes are today important lines of
communication.
Cities:
Aosta is
the capital of the region, which is ruled by a
special statute, where the Italian and the French
languages are officially recognized.
Art:
Important
traces of the Roman Age can be found in Aosta: the
city walls, the theater, Augustus’s Arch, the
Pretorian Gate. Visitors can admire the Romanesque
Cathedral, which dates back to the eleventh century.
The Sant'Orso Church is a good example of medieval
architecture. Many are the fortified castles in the
Aosta Valley; moist of them are in perfect
conditions and open to visitors; many have become
museums of local history. The most famous are the
castles of Fénis, of Aymavilles, of Issogne and
Verrés.
To be
visited:
The
Matterhorn, the Monte Rosa, the Monte Bianco, which
can be reached by the loftiest cableway in Europe;
the beautiful National Park of Gran Paradiso; in
winter, the numerous ski resorts. There are the
typical villages with the quaint local houses (rascards).
St. Vincent and its Casino offer a wide range of
entertainment.
Regional web site:
www.regione.vda.it/turismo |
