| Valle d'Aosta |
The town of Aosta, situated in the plain through which the Dora Baltea flows, is certainly worth a visit. It is surrounded by high peaks: Becca di Nona, Monte Emilius, Punta Chaligne and Becca di Viou. The Buthier River, a tributary of the Dora Baltea, flows through Aosta. Monuments from the Roman age can be admired in the town, such as the Arch of Augustus, the forensic Cryptoporticus, the remains of the city walls and the theater. The Collegiate Church of Sant’ Orso, with a beautiful Romanesque cloister, is one of the finest examples of sacred art, together with the Cathedral of Aosta, which was built starting from the twelfth century.
Among the gastronomic attractions of the region, cheeses are at the top of the list and above all Fontina and the Vallée d’Aoste Fromadzo, which are recognized and protected by the European Dop quality mark or “Denomination of Protected Origin“. They are made from the milk obtained from the Valle d’Aosta breeds, such as the“nèye” ( black and white cattle) or the“rodze” (red and white cattle). A gastronomic itinerary is dedicated to the Valle d’Aosta cheeses and, following it, the wine tourists can enter the heart of the rural world. The itinerary includes thirty dairy farms, where it is possible to taste the best products, from the Reblec to the Toma di Gressoney, from soft goat’s-milk cheese to pressed sheep’s-milk cheese (info 0165.275260 www.itinerairesdesfromages.com).The Wine Route or Route des Vins of the Val d’Aosta is an itinerary, through which wine tourists get to know the best wines of the region. The route covers private wineries and cooperative wineries (caves cooperatives) with their prized mountain wines. The visits to the vineyards and to the estates can be booked by contacting individual producers. The complete list is found on the website: www.routedesvinsvda.it. The Vineyards’ Trail or Cammino dei vigneti is the result of an Italian – Swiss project, winding between Valais and the Aosta Valley. The trail is marked by directional signs and illustrative panels, providing information about the most interesting places along the way (info 0165.33352 www.chemindesvignobles.it).
Good to know Chambave, at an altitude of 500 meters, is the place where a particular Muscat of ancient origins is produced in limited quantities. It is said, that as early as the end of the fourteenth century, a consignment of Moscato di Chambave or Chambave Muscat was sent to Bona di Borbone, the mother of Amedeo VII of Savoy, who greatly appreciated it for its particular characteristics. It is straw-yellow in color, with the typical intense scent of the Muscat grapes. It leaves a dry, fine, aromatic taste in the mouth. As well as for its wine, the village of Chambave is worth a visit for its parish Church of San Lorenzo, with a Romanesque belfry and a milestone of the ancient Via delle Gallie, just opposite the church entrance.
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