In the north-western corner of Italy you can find a small region called Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta), which is also a separate autonomous region with an area of ​​3,263 square kilometres. The region has about 120,000 inhabitants, is home to 74 municipalities and its capital is Aosta. The official language is Italian and French.

Aosta Valley has in the past been excavated by movement of glaciers, which once covered the entire region. To the north it borders with Switzerland and to the west with France while its neighbour to the south and east is another Italian region of Piedmont (Piemonte). The valley is situated between mountain massifs of Graian Alps and Pennine Alps. Find accommodation and hotels in Aosta Valley: 

Aosta Valley, Italy by Ondablv

It is a place of the highest European mountains, such as the Mont Blanc (4,810 m), Monte Rosa (4,634 m), the Matterhorn (4,478 m) and Gran Paradiso (4,061 m). There is a river Dora Baltea flowing through the valley, around which were built villages.

The valley also includes several large sport centers like La Thuile, La Rosiere, Pila, Alagna Valsesia, Monte Rosa and Courmayer.

Matterhorn, Aosta Valley, Italy by Gustavo Naharro

The southern part of this mountainous region is protected by the Gran Paradiso National Park, which was founded in 1922 and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Aosta Valley. Its main objective is to protect rare trees and certain species of animals that are on the brink of extinction.

These include, for example, the chamois, marmots or stoat, who are among the original inhabitants of this region. The highest peak of the Gran Paradiso National Park is the massif of the same name, reaching an altitude of 4,061 meters.

Mount Taou Blanc and the lakes, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy by Stefano Girolimetto

The area offers varied activities throughout the year, so Aosta Valley is a popular destination for summer and also winter holidays. You can try rock climbing, rafting, paragliding, horseback riding or play golf on five beautiful 9-hole golf courses such as Courmayeur, Gignod, Pila, Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Cervinia.

The entire area is criss-crossed with an extensive network of marked hiking and biking trails providing unforgettable trips into the paradise of forests and lakes.

Courmayeur, Aosta valley by raffaele sergi

The skiers will discover several high quality ski resorts with a wide choice of ski slopes. On their own, however, come also snowboarders or cross-country skiers.

Additionally, the lovers of winter sports have the opportunity to take advantage of the summer skiing on the Plateau Rosa glacier (Switzerland) at the foot of Monte Cervino, which is available from July to October.

View to Italy from the Plateau Rosa by João Máximo

Who is interested in history should not miss a tour of the archaeological museum hiding a unique collection of coins dating back to ancient Greece. Furthermore you will find there a Roman theater or the church of Sant’Orso.

Ski mountaineering, Aosta Valley, Italy by Stefano Berti

In Aosta Valley you can find some of the most beautiful places in the Alps. It is popular thanks to its location in a high altitude and is also attractive for the diversity of the ski slopes that offers to winter lovers. The high altitude may sometimes cause instability of the weather.

The most important ski resorts are Valle d’Ayas, Val di Gressoney below the peak of Monte Rosa, or Valtournenche and Cervinia at the peak of Cervino (Matterhorn) and Courmayeur below Mont Blanc.

Valle d’Ayas, Aosta valley by Madaki

Then you also should not miss La Thuile resort, which is connected with the area of ​​La Rosiere in France or the Pila resort near the city of Aosta.

All these centres together offer more than 700 km of ski slopes and have become a paradise of all types of winter sports. However the territory of Aosta Valley includes a total of 30 ski areas.

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