From snowy slopes and mountain peaks to ancient ruins and traditional cheese, here’s why a visit to Valle D’Aosta should be on your agenda:
1. Mountain adventures all year round
The sloping mountains of the Aosta Valley make for good skiing conditions in the winter, but the same tracks are just as popular for mountain bike routes and hiking trails in the summer. The wooden chalets that line the mountains are multi-purpose and adaptable for both seasons.
Pila is known for its various downhill tracks, a dozen of which make up the Bike Stadium courses, including the well-known free-ride pistes Les Fleurs Aosta and Desarpa Bike.
2. Speciality dining
In the centre of Aosta city, there are plenty of pasticcerie and bars with local specialities for you to enjoy. Meanwhile, you can dine casually among the locals at trattorie or enjoy higher-end eateries like Gina, which features in the Michelin Guide.
3. Stunning international views
Located in the far northwest of Italy, this area shares its borders with France and Switzerland. So, a visit to Valle D’Aosta allows you to bask in the views of several famous mountain peaks. From a quieter vantage point like Pila, the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso can all be spotted on a clear day.
4. Ancient architecture
Despite being Italy’s smallest and least populated region, Valle D’Aosta is home to many ancient Roman ruins and is famous for its architecture and monuments. Today, Aosta showcases ancient roads, theatres, churches, bridges and city walls, including the Porta Praetoria.
5. Local cheese traditions
One must-try food in Valle D’Aosta, and probably the best-known, is Fontina cheese. Produced here for hundreds of years, it is made with whole milk sourced from a local cow breed. The cheese’s ability to melt well is why it is used so often for fonduta.
Explore more of Valle D’Aosta in the Gran Paradiso National Park
Written by Bethan Croft for Italia! #216 (June/July 2025)