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Town: Aosta
(northwest)
Situated
583 m. above sea level on hollow ground near the confluence of
the Buthier and the Dora Baltea at the foot of Mount Emilius
(3,559 m.), Aosta is a crossroads for highways from France (Mont
Blanc tunnel) and Switzerland (Gran San Bernardo tunnel).
Founded by the Romans in 25 BC. on a previous Salasso tribal
settlement, it passed later
into the hands of the Goths, Lombards and Franks. From the 11th
century on it remained almost constantly under the Savoy family,
sharing its destiny.
The
Valle d'Aosta is the smallest region in the Italian Republic and
is also the most thinly populated, with the lowest population
density. It is the only region without the territorial and
administrative body known as the Province.
Affiliated
hotels: 
Classhotel
Aosta*
The
hotel offers 105
comfortable rooms. No smoking rooms and disability accommodations
are available. All the rooms are perfectly sound proofed and
fully air-conditioned, with private bathroom, hair-dryer, TV
satellite, pay-per-view, minibar and direct-dial telephone.
*other
affiliated hotels available in this area.
Places
to visit and things to do:
Important
roman and middle age monuments and castles all over the
lovely valley. Remarkable monuments
remain from the Roman period: the rectangular town walls, the
Porta Praetoria, the amphitheatre, theatre and Arco di Augusto.
Medieval remains are the Lebbroso and Bramafam towers, as well
as the Collegiate church of Sant'Orso with cloister and
treasures. The cathedral (11th and 15th century) has a
neoclassical façade, as has the Palazzo del Municipio (Town
Hall) which overlooks Piazza Chanoux. Close to the highest mountains in Europe, makes
Aosta ideal
for winter sport or summer excursions. Saint Vincent
largest Italian casino is at easy reach.
Regional
food:
Richness
and heartiness characterize the food of northwest Italy.
Specialities are:
Mixed
tagliere with chestnuts and honey, Gnocchi with radicchio
cicory and stew meat, Pork jowl and Mix of grilled vegetables with wood
tomino cheese and mustard.
Local
wines:
Grapes
are grown throughout the northwest, from the cliffs of
Liguria to the steep mountainsides of Valle d'Aosta. Popular
wines from the Aosta area are Le Rouge Morgex, Muller Turgau, Chambase
Muscat.
Location:
Motorway
from Milan or Turin. Also from France
or Switzerland. Distance:
Torino 110 km, Genéve 140 km
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