VALLE D'AOSTA

The Aosta Valley, like the Dolomites, has something magical — maybe for the symmetry and linearity of its valley, maybe for the vertical gap from the 530 meters of Aosta to the 4810 meters of Mont Blanc, maybe for its centenary culture or its cuisine. It is a calm and contemplative charm that takes you when you walk in front of the rocky bastions of Mont Blanc among flowering meadows, or when you venture into more remote valleys in the southern part of the Aosta Valley.

The jewel in the crown of the Aosta Valley are the two symmetrical and rectilinear valleys that embrace Mont Blanc - the highest mountain group in Europe. Val Veny and Val Ferret are so symmetrical and aesthetically perfect that it seems almost impossible that they are the result of an unconscious hand. For both, the most beautiful excursions climb on the opposite side to the Mont Blanc group, offering incredible views - the excursions to Monte Fortin, Rifugio Bertone and Testa de la Tronche, and Rifugio Bonatti are unmissable. Courmayeur and the nearby villages are perfect for a multi-day stay to explore the valleys.

The second most famous part of the Aosta Valley is Valtournanche and Cervinia, a historic hiking and skiing resort at 2000 meters above sea level, at the foot of the Matterhorn pyramid. The south face of the Matterhorn, a pinnacle of brittle rock attached to a fault of hard rock, is less well-known aesthetically than the north face, but just as spectacular.

If you are looking for quieter and more remote valleys, you will find many in the Aosta Valley. Arranged like a comb to the north and south of the main section of the Aosta Valley, they offer many other excursions, dominated by little tourist development and incredible fauna (especially in the Gran Paradiso National Park, where meeting ibex or chamois is almost the norm). Be prepared for considerable differences in altitude, because these valleys are long and deep.

The Aosta Valley is crossed by 2 treks - the Alta Via 1 and the Alta Via 2 of the Aosta Valley - and by the famous and spectacular Tour of Mont Blanc, a complete circular tour of the entire Mont Blanc group. Some do it in a rush in one day, some in 15 days — your choice!