Aosta may be Italy’s smallest region, but it’s a very, very big deal when it come to winter sports. Home to the “giants of the Alps” with large and small resorts serving Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and other major peaks, Aosta is a must-stop for once-in-a-lifetime or extra-special ski experiences. Besides all the great schussing, Aosta offers plenty to do away from the slopes, new luxury hotels, a rich and diverse mountain cuisine along with an intriguing wine scene. Here are seven reasons to go now.
1. All the mighty mountains. Aosta is where you’ll find the two highest peaks in the Alps: Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco) at 4810 meters and Monte Rosa at 4634 meters. Aosta is also the site of other famous summits like Monte Cervino/the Matterhorn (4478 meters) and Gran Paradiso (4061) meters.
2. The phenomenal skiing. With some 20 resorts and 800 kilometers of runs, skiers, regardless of ability level, never lack for choice. You can cross-border ski between Italy and France in La Thuile and Courmayeur; and between Italy and Switzerland at Cervinia. The spectacular Skyway Monte Bianco lift whisks you into what seems like the heavens; it departs from Courmayeur and arrives at Punta Helbronner (3466 meters), where you can take in the “roof of Europe” with views of Mont Blanc and other mega mountains like Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. One of the Alps' best-known ski descents—the Vallée Blanche—can be accessed here and finishes in Chamonix (this is an off-piste route for advanced skiers and you need a guide). Another trophy run is the 11.5- kilometer Ventina (marked red) from Plateau Rosa on the Italian/Swiss border going down to Cervinia.
3. You can choose between well-known resorts and small ski towns and villages with rich mountain histories. For Mont Blanc, there’s Courmayeur, Italy’s highest town with a sophisticated vibe, designer boutiques lining the Via Roma, buzzy restaurants, including those on the mountains, for example, at Plan Chécrouit (people watch on the sun decks), and a good apres-ski scene (Caffè Della Posta is a classic). With Monte Cervino, Breuil-Cervinia has long been a destination for international skiers. For smaller Aosta resorts, look into Gressoney-La-Trinité and Gressoney-Saint-Jean in the Monterosa ski area; both are steeped in ancient Walser mountain culture.
4. Cool new luxury hotels. There are two new five-star properties in Aosta, the newest, Le Massif, debuted in Courmayeur in December. Close to the shopping area of Via Roma, the hotel, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, features 74 rooms and 4 suites, all designed with a sleek Alpine style. The hotel also operates La Loge du Massif on the slopes at Plan Checrouit, where you can stop for lunch, snacks, or drinks, and take in the incredible views; ski services (there’s a ski concierge and ski butler at the hotel) are also available here. CampZero in Champoluc (Monterosa ski area) is described as an “Active Luxury Resort,” ideal for fans of the great outddors who aren’t immune to swishy amenities, like access to a nearby helipad where you can be whisked off for a day of heli-skiing, for example, to the Colle del Lys (4250 meters) with a seasoned guide. The resort will also tailor ice climbing and backcountry ski experiences. In the hotel library you can wow friends by screening videos and images of your day’s adventures on the snow.
5. The cooking: Aosta cuisine is a hearty blending of centuries-old mountain-cooking styles; Italian favorites adapted with local ingredients; and French and Swiss traditions. So you'll find such items as vegetable vellutatas (creamy soups); barley and onion soups; polentas; potato or chestnut gnocchi; veal scallopini alla valdostana (generally any dish prepared alla valdostana will contain the well-known regional cheese, Fontina); carbonadas; game and venison main courses; substantial salads with nuts and cheeses; rye breads; and for dessert, of course, Monte Bianco (usually served at Christmas) with whipped cream, chestnuts and meringues; and apple and berry cakes.
6. The cheeses and wine. With an abundance of mountain pastures where cows graze in summer, Aosta is a rich source of dairy products. The best-known cheese is Fontina DOP, produced here since the early Middle Ages. It is the basis for Valdostana fondues; you’ll also find it in local dishes like the regional cabbage soup, and in many pastas and risottos. Other Aosta products to try include the goat cheeses; Fromadzo, a cow’s milk cheese with DOP status that is delicious with berry jams; and the sought-after Gressoney Toma made in limited quantities (1000-1500 wheels are produced annually), which pairs nicely with honey.
Vineyards have been cultivated in Aosta, Europe’s highest-level winemaking region (vines grow to 1200 meters), since Roman times. Reds are mostly produced here, although one of the area’s best-known wines is the white Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle, popular for sipping apres-ski. Take time from the slopes to follow one of the routes des vins—Mont Blanc, Monte Cervino, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and Mount Emilius have them--where you can visit with local vintners who defy the odds with their hearty Alpine vineyards.
7. There’s lots to see. Because of its proximity to various Alpine passes, Aosta has been a strategically important region since the days of the Roman Empire. For defense against invaders and to keep a watchful eye out for them, fortifications and castles were built throughout the area from the Middle Ages until the early 20th century. There are many castles to see, among them the multi-towered Fénis Castle in Fenis, built for the aristocratic Challant family in the 14th century. Of more recent construction is the Savoy Castle near Gressoney-Saint-Jean, completed in the early 1900s for Queen Margherita of Italy, who used it as a summer retreat. Gamba Castle in Cret de Breil, also dating from the early 20th century, is now the site of the region’s modern and contemporary art collections.
You can also explore ancient Roman ruins in Aosta, like the Arch of Augustus; the Teatro Romano, still used for theater productions; and a home (Consolata Roman Villa). To learn more about the mountains take in the Alps Museum in Bard and the Duca deli Abruzzi Alpine Museum in Courmayeur, which focuses on the mountaineering accomplishments and traditions in the Aosta region and other destinations.
