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Aosta | Italy Italy’s Aosta Valley – in the heart of the Alps Soaring peaks, superb skiing, ancient castles, delicious food and local wine, as well cuisine, spectacular scenery and prices Courmayeur of north-west Italy’s celebrated region Perched on the ‘sunny side of Mont Blanc’, in the heart of the Alps, with almost this picturesque old climbing town is famous 550 miles of runs spread among 28 ski for its narrow, cobbled streets, scores of villages. Prices are up to 25% lower attractive shops, bars and more than 50 than in the more famous resorts nearby. restaurants. Mountain restaurants aplenty too But Aosta’s cheaper prices certainly - there are around two dozen on the slopes. don’t mean any compromises in quality After skiing, visitors stroll along the quaint in the region’s big ski areas, with their and bustling Via Roma for their traditional modern lift systems and quality hotels. 'passeggiata’, or stroll. You can try other Snow reliability is excellent too. How sports, such as indoor tennis, squash, ice could it be otherwise when the region is skating, or even test yourself on a climbing surrounded by the highest peaks? With wall. And for ‘wellness’ enthusiasts, there’s the slopes extending well above 3000m in Pre-Saint-Didier spa, just four kilometres out Cervinia and the Monte Rosa ski area, of town, where there’s a spectacular outside Aosta is as snowsure as anywhere else pool with stunning views of the Mont Blanc in the Alps. mountain chain, with naturally heated thermal The iconic Matterhorn is known as water at a constant temperature of 37˚. as genuinely friendly locals – you’ve found Cervino on the Italian side. Mont Blanc the ultimate winter destination! Resorts like becomes Monte Bianco, overlooking the Breuil-Cervinia/Valtournenche Zermatt, Chamonix and Verbier don’t have delightful skiing and climbing villages of Breuil-Cervinia is less than 20 miles from the a monopoly on the highest mountains in the Courmayeur and neighbouring Entrèves. Turin-Aosta motorway, and about two hours Alps. The Aosta Valley also claims a major Pila’s slopes are high above the from Turin airport. Here, at this high-altitude share of Europe’s most iconic peaks: the fascinating and picturesque old Roman town and snow-sure resort, you can ski high, wide Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and of Aosta. The regional capital has the second and handsomely in the shadow of the mighty Gran Paradiso - all over 4000 metres. So biggest array of Roman ruins in Italy outside Matterhorn (Cervino). With the lower cable car you just can’t escape bewitching scenery Rome. And with its excellent selection of departing from 2050 metres (6,725ft), the resort anywhere in this vast region – from the modestly priced restaurants, it’s the ideal enjoys seemingly endless skiing on extensive, stunning view across to Gran Paradiso location to base yourself to take in any or all wide-open and beautifully groomed pistes, from the top of the slopes at Pila, to the of the Aosta resorts. with good skiing from November till late into astonishing pinnacles, jagged peaks and You can ski from Cervinia across the glaciers you’ll witness if you ski the Italian Swiss border into Zermatt, then cross back the Plateau Rosa – ideal for a long lunch with route down the Vallée Blanche. into Valtournenche (one of the longest runs stunning scenery. With neighbouring Zermatt, in the Alps). Next day, you could explore the there’s more than 200 miles of runs – one of the quaint villages and exciting slopes of the biggest ski areas in the Alps. Breuil-Cervinia’s Monterosa ski area: Champoluc, Gressoney ‘signature’ run is from the Piccolo Cervino (aka and the cult resort of Alagna. And your last Klein Matterhorn), through the Plateau Rosa Few, if any, ski regions can match the variety, charm, day could be spent in La Thuile and neighbouring La Rosière. April and beyond. There’s year-round skiing on to Breuil-Cervinia or Valtournenche, along the Ventina run. The vertical drop down to Cervinia is 1835m. All the way down to Valtournenche, it’s an exhilarating 7,740 vertical feet (2359m). There’s a high standard of accommodation, with six four-star hotels, and nine mountain restaurants to choose from. For more information: aosta-valley.co.uk To see videos, blogs and snow reports see: iloveaosta.co.uk 50 | skiclub.co.uk Advertorial Gressoney and Champoluc Gressoney, in the Val del Lys, and neighbouring Champoluc, in the Ayas Valley, have cheap and easy connections with Turin and Milan airports, and share more than 112 miles of runs in the Monterosa ski for area. Here, the latest spectacular lift is due to all go into service this winter: the new Stafal- levels, Gabiet gondola from Gressoney-La-Trinité. The the north- structure will be a “technological triumph”, with facing slopes 67 gondolas heading up to the Monte Rosa mean snow-sure peaks. There are two Gressoney villages: La skiing right through to the end Trinité (1600m) and Saint-Jean (1400m). Each of April. But just in case, the area has has excellent cross-country skiing, with more hundreds of snowguns. Mountain restaurants than 20 miles of tracks. And for the ultimate are plentiful, and there’s a wide variety of treat, there’s the opportunity to embark on cuisine at the resort’s two dozen restaurants one of the most exciting adventures in the in the village. Plenty of bars too, along with an Alps – a heli-drop high on Monte Rosa - with excellent selection of 15 or more hotels. a guide to bring you down one of the most Ski Club Freshtracks is running a number of trips to the Aosta Valley this winter, including an Italian Interlude in Courmayeur from Feb 2-6, a Technique Turnaround (also in Courmayeur) on various dates in Dec, Feb and March, and an Italian Powder and Piste week in La Thuile from March 3-10. For more information about these holidays, or any others, call 020 8410 2022 or visit skiclubfreshtracks.co.uk There'll be a Ski Club Leader in Cervinia from January 7 to April 7. exhilarating and long runs you’ll ever ski. You Pila its name suggests - for lovers of the great can either return to Gressoney, or ski down This ski area high above the romantic old outdoors seeking authentic wilderness. into Switzerland, following the course of two town of Aosta – a scenic 18-minute ride in Dominated by the highest mountain entirely major glaciers, and eventually returning via the the cable car - deserves more widespread in Italy – the Gran Paradiso itself at 4061m upper slopes of Zermatt and back across the recognition. Just across the heights of Pila’s (13,357ft) – it truly is a magnificent area Italian border into Cervinia. ski area is a to explore, with superb cross-country and stunning 360˚ snowshoe trails. But you can also take to view across the skies with your skis (and snowboards) Linked with the French some of for some outstanding heliskiing. It’s an area resort of La Rosière, this is the highest not only famous for its wide-open spaces a large ski area covering 74 peaks in Italy, and excellent snow – it has a majestic array runs totalling some 75 miles including of historic castles too, along with some of marked runs on both the Gran important Roman remains. And since the sides of the border. There’s Paradiso Romans were here, this means there are some excellent off-piste too, National some wonderful local wines. The region is with exhilarating heliskiing Park – a also famous for its apples and cheeses. But opportunities. Along with an veritable really, of course, it’s all about the mountains, extensive choice of slopes paradise, as the snow and the world-class skiing. La Thuile Ski+board | 51