Introduction to the region: Valle d’ Aosta

Attribution: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32769

Valle d’Aosta holds the titles of smallest and least populated region in Italy. This should in no way be a deterrent from visiting. I had the most delightful sojourn in the city of Aosta; what’s more, I spent most of my time in this pleasant (literally) little region all by myself. To arrive in Aosta, I took the Italo train from Rome to Torino, and then transferred onto an Italo bus that went straight into the center of the city of Aosta. It might sound entailed, but it was quite simple, as the bus station is located just across the street from the central train station in Torino. Still, you could easily combine a visit to Torino and the region of Piemonte, with a jaunt up to Valle d’Aosta if you want to spend more time in the Northwestern regions. I had spent a good amount of time in Torino on a different trip (read about that in the link above), so I only transferred there on this trip.

     Valle means valley, and while I have mentioned the town of Aosta, I encourage you to explore the surroundings. This region excels in natural beauty, and it is enough to stay in Aosta and explore the surroundings without multiple stops (again, the region is not that big!) I would recommend the hotel where I stayed in Aosta; it was perfectly charming, centrally located, even if a bit of a splurge for a solo vacay. The Hotel Duca D’Aosta has 4 stars, and although, at times, stars seem rather generously awarded in smaller Italian cities, I believe this hotel merits them.

Update 2023: From Google it looks like the hotel has been revamped since I stayed in 2018, moving towards a more modern aesthetic. Reviews are not all glowing, but prices still look reasonable for 4 stars, 129 euro for a classic room, the last I checked.

The hotel is on the right hand side

If you are looking to ski or engage in winter activities, Valle D’Aosta will be a great region for you. This hotel, however, might not be the best choice. You can find accommodations with much closer access to the mountains. It depends on your preference. I visited in February, and although I did not ski, I enjoyed going up to the mountains for the views and visiting during ski season. I know the area is equally beautiful during the summer and provides relief from hotter regions. Other travelers and reviewers have written about hiking and taking mountain bike tours during the summer months, which I would love to return and experience. Read more in the Regional Features post.