Covering a mere 3262sq Km and with a population of only 117.000, the Valle d' Aosta is the smallest of the Italian regions, but also one of the wealthiest. The Valdestans, as they are called, still speak tthe Franco-Provencal patois, and French is afforded equal rights with Italian. To the east of the region, villagers cling to the German dialect, Tich.
The valley has always been an important passageway through tha Alps and is lined with castles. The opening of the Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) tunnel in 1965, which connects Courmayeur in the west to the French resort of Chamonix, turned what had been a quiet valley into a major road freight thoroughfare and one of Europe's premier skiing areas. Valle d'Aosta enjoys self- governing status, stemming from its binational origins, which means 90% of local taxes are spent in the province.
There is of good hiking in areas such as the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso. More adventurous (and expert) mountaineers might want to tackle Monte Bianco. It is possible to reach 3462m by cable car, from where trekkers can set off across the ice to the peak ( 4807m), although this is for expert climbers only - tourists should stay very close to the rifugio. Human settlement in the Valle d'Aosta dates to 3000 BC and Neolithic and early Bronze Age remain have been discovered. Early Roman sites dot the valley, and Aosta is known as the Roma of the Alps. The cuisine of Valle d'Aosta makes liberal use of the local chees, Fontina, a curios cross between Gouda and Brie.

Surface (Kmq): 3264
City: Aosta (AO)