Italy

Brimming with Roman ruins and only a short bus ride from some very big mountains - think Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn - the capital of the beautiful Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) is on the doorstep of some stunning winter skiing, summer hiking and mountain biking.

Before the 20th century

Neolithic and early Bronze Age remains have been unearthed in the Valle d'Aosta and many early Roman sites are scattered around the valley, some of the most important in Aosta itself. Originally settled by Celtic Salassi tribes, in 25 BC Aosta was captured by the Romans and became a military colony of Augusta Pretoria - under the control of Emperor Augustus. The strategic location allowed the Roman troops to secure important mountain passes into Gaul (France) and it was at this time that the Arch of Augustus was constructed, along with the city walls and gates which still stand in varying states of ruin today.

After the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, Aosta was ruled by a succession of invaders from the Burgundians to the Ostrogoths, Franks and Byzantines. In the mid-11th century, the region became a duchy under the House of Savoy and was granted special autonomous status.

Modern history

Valle d'Aosta, Italy's smallest and wealthiest region, was incorporated into the new Kingdom of Italy in 1861, with Aosta as its capital. Mussolini attempted to squash Aosta's separate identity by encouraging massive immigration from other parts of Italy but it was a move resisted by the headstrong Valdostans, who even considered ceding from Italy altogether to join France. In the end, Valle d'Aosta was allowed to retain its self-governing autonomous status when the Italian Republic was established in 1948.

The opening of the Mont Blanc Tunnel in 1965 and improved infrastructure helped transform Aosta and the valley from a poor rural area to a major skiing and mountaineering destination.

Recent history

Valdostans retain a strong local culture with colourful traditional festivals and exhibitions, many of which hark back to medieval feudal days. In October, the 'cow fights' - known as the 'Battle of the Queens' pits the best of the valley's bovines, with the winner being crowned champion cow. In January, an annual wood fair, Fiera di Sant'Orso, honours the town's patron saint and draws craftspeople from around the valley.

In the winter months you'll find many of Aosta's sports-mad locals out on the ski slopes.

Top Accommodation

Top Restaurants

At 565m, Aosta is not as chilly as the higher Alps to the north but the winters are long, with snow likely from December through to March. The ski season (peak season) for Valle d'Aosta region runs from November to as late as May, while the short summer from June to August can be warm and sunny with temperatures up to 25ºC (77ºF). Rainfall tends to be highest in spring and autumn.

Average weather

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Transport

Getting around

Aosta's historic walled centre is traffic-free, so it's ideal for walking or cycling. A shuttle bus runs through town from the train station on Piazza Manzetti. Taxis and hire cars are available, and mountain bikes can be hired from sports shops around town. From mid-December to mid-April, a cable car runs from just south of town to the small ski resort of Pila.

Getting there and away

As the main town and hub of the region, Aosta has good bus and rail connections within Valle d'Aosta and further afield. The bus and train stations are close together on Via Giorgio Carrel, south of the main town. From Aosta bus station frequent buses run to Milan (2-3hr), Turin (2hr) and Courmayeur (1hr). To get to the ski resort of Breuil-Cervinia, take a Turin-bound bus to Châtillon (30min) and a local bus (1hr) from there. Trains from most parts of Italy run via Turin to Aosta's train station, on Piazza Manzetti. Aosta is on the A5 motorway, connecting Turin with the Mont Blanc Tunnel into France. The nearest international airports are in Turin and Milan, though Air Valleé (www.airvallee.it) has charter flights between Aosta and Rome.