Download Italy`s Aosta Valley – in the heart of the Alps

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