A tiny portrait among Alps

 
AOSTA VALLEY
 
Aosta Valley is the smallest region in Italy and it is situated at the very top of the peninsula.  
The highest, best known splendid mountains of the Alps group surround this region: the Monte Bianco (Mont-Blanc) with its 4810 meters is the highest peak of Europe, the  Matterhorn, the Monte Rosa and the Gran Paradiso.
The Gran Paradiso is situated at the center of the magnificent homonymous National park created in 1922 to protect some of the most beautiful species of plants and animals such as ibex, chamois, marmots and eagles. The numerous glaciers have created during the centuries hundreds of small or large streams which flow in the basin of the Dora Baltea and hundreds of small Alpine lakes that are the precious stones of this little region
Thanks to the Mont-Blanc and the San Bernardo's tunnels which are considered to be the most important lines of communication with the rest of Europe Italy is easy to be reached through Aosta Valley.
 
 
CITIES

Aosta is the capital of the region and it is the only province.
 
 
ART and CULTURE

The whole region is marked by important traces of the Roman Age like the Pont-St-Martin, the Donnas and the Augustus' arches, the praetorian gate and the Aosta walls. Many are the fortified castles in the Aosta valley built in the medieval ages and having a strategic position. Here we can mention the Castle of Fénis, the Castle of Issogne and the Castle of Verrès.

The numerous sanctuaries spread in the valley give evidence of the Aosta Valley people faith passed on for centuries:

-    the Sanctuary of Machaby in Arnad;
-    the Sanctuary of Vourry in Gaby;
-    the Sanctuary of Miserin in Champorcher
-    the Notre-Dame de la Guérison in Courmayeur
-    the Sanctuary of Cuney in the Vallone of Saint-Barthélemy
-    the Sanctuary of Verdona in Valpelline
-    the Sanctuary of san Grato inValgrisenche
-    the Sanctuary of Fonteinte in Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses.

The French influence is alive and it's easy to hear people speak French and dialects rather that Italian.
As it usually happens in mountain villages Aosta Valley inhabitants used to be either farmers, animal breeders and artisans. The long and snowy winters used to leave them often isolated from the rest of the world and the smallest communities had to learn to be as much independent as possible. Throughout the centuries these traditional skills have not been lost and today Aosta Valley boasts beautiful artistic crafts unique in style, conception and theme.
 
 
THINGS TO DO

The Matterhorn, the Monte Rosa, the Mont-Blanc offer beautiful landscapes and numerous ski resorts in winter;  the National Park of Gran Paradiso in which you can enjoy the life in open air stopping here and there to the mountain chalets were you can taste the best dishes from the Aosta tradition.  Do not miss the typical villages with its picturesque local houses while if you are looking for some entertainment you may be interested in the Casino de la Valee in St. Vincent.