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Italy — COUNTRY GUIDE

COUNTRY GUIDE

ITALY

From the Alps and the Dolomite valleys to Rome, Naples and the islands — 20 regions of art cities, coastlines, vineyards and ancient ruins.

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ABOUT THE COUNTRY

The country at a glance

Italy is the cultural bridge between the Alps and the Mediterranean — a country whose 20 regions span Alpine peaks, the Po valley, the great art cities of the north and centre, the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts, and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Our Italian atlas is organised into all 20 official regions, from Aosta Valley and Piedmont in the northwest to Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia in the deep south. The geographic foundation is in place — a first set of major destinations is live, with fuller guides being written as we travel.

Actively expanding

This country is actively expanding

Regional expansion underway: Friuli-Venezia Giulia (seven destinations including the tri-border Tarvisio) and the Aosta Valley (Aosta, Courmayeur and Breuil-Cervinia) are complete with detailed coverage — with more regions in progress.

QUICK INFORMATION

REGIONS
20
DESTINATIONS
61
STATUS
Live guides
CODE
IT

EXPLORE THE COUNTRY

On the map

REGIONS

Explore by region

ATTRACTIONS

Sights worth the detour

Roman Aosta — the theatre, the walls and the forum — Aosta
ATTRACTIONS

Roman Aosta — the theatre, the walls and the forum

Augusta Praetoria’s Roman theatre still stands 22 metres high at its southern facade, and a single €10 ticket covers the theatre, the cryptoporticus, the San Lorenzo basilica and the archaeological museum.

Porta Praetoria & the Arch of Augustus — Aosta
ATTRACTIONS

Porta Praetoria & the Arch of Augustus

The monumental eastern gate of 25 BC — three arches still bearing the grooves of its lowered portcullis — and the honorific Arch of Augustus that anchored the road to Gaul.

The Collegiate Church of Sant’Orso & the Cathedral — Aosta
ATTRACTIONS

The Collegiate Church of Sant’Orso & the Cathedral

Twin Romanesque bell towers rise over the city: Sant’Orso’s carved cloister capitals and Ottonian frescoes, and the Cathedral’s mosaic choir above the Roman cryptoporticus.

Piazza Émile Chanoux & the old town — Aosta
ATTRACTIONS

Piazza Émile Chanoux & the old town

The arcaded main square — the city’s living room since the 18th century — plus the old town’s vaulted porticoes, the Tuesday market and the cafés under the arcades.

Via Roma & the old town — Courmayeur
ATTRACTIONS

Via Roma & the old town

The car-free heart of the oldest alpine resort in Italy: stone chalets, historic cafés, the 12th-century bell tower of Saints Pantaleone and Valentino, and the Casa delle Guide with its alpine museum.

Museo Alpino Duca degli Abruzzi — Courmayeur
ATTRACTIONS

Museo Alpino Duca degli Abruzzi

In the Casa delle Guide: two floors of the first mountain guides’ craft — journals of dead guides clients still sign, a 1:10,000 model of Mont Blanc, the K2 memorial to Mario Puchoz.

THINGS TO DO

Experiences across the country

Ride the gondola to Pila — skiing in winter, the Alta Balconata in summer — Aosta
THINGS TO DO

Ride the gondola to Pila — skiing in winter, the Alta Balconata in summer

Aosta

Day of the castles — Fénis, Issogne and the Fort of Bard — Aosta
THINGS TO DO

Day of the castles — Fénis, Issogne and the Fort of Bard

Aosta

Camp between the passes — camping and camper stops around Aosta — Aosta
THINGS TO DO

Camp between the passes — camping and camper stops around Aosta

Aosta

Skyway Monte Bianco — the rotating cable car to 3,466 m — Courmayeur
THINGS TO DO

Skyway Monte Bianco — the rotating cable car to 3,466 m

Courmayeur

Ski Courmayeur — 100 km on the sunny side, and the Vallée Blanche — Courmayeur
THINGS TO DO

Ski Courmayeur — 100 km on the sunny side, and the Vallée Blanche

Courmayeur

Val Ferret — the Tour du Mont Blanc’s quiet side, by boot and bike — Courmayeur
THINGS TO DO

Val Ferret — the Tour du Mont Blanc’s quiet side, by boot and bike

Courmayeur

FOOD & DRINK

Where and what to eat

01

Da Nando — sixty-year family trattoria by Sant’Orso: Valdostana fondue, friendship coffee in the grolla

02

L’Osteria dell’Oca — three floors of Valdostan classics, snails and carbonada with polenta

03

Le Bar à Vin — fontina fondue in a cocotte and mountain charcuterie near Porta Pretoria

04

Trattoria Praetoria — the centenarian classic: venison ragu, gluten-free Valdostan dishes

05

Pila mountain huts (Yeti, Gran Baita) — polenta concia at 1,800 m with the 4,000ers on the skyline

06

Ristorante Chiecco — Plan Chécrouit’s institution: venison ragu and the terrace over the valley

07

Maison Vieille — the classic hut above Chécrouit lake, fondue and the warmest welcome on skis

08

Chez Ollier — Chécrouit mountain dining, Valdostan classics with a modern hand

PLACES TO STAY

Where to sleep

01

The pedestrian-centre hotels around Piazza Chanoux — Roman ruins at the doorstep

02

Camping International Touring (Sarre) and Lazy Bee (Quart) — riverside pitches minutes from the centre

03

Mountain hotels and huts at Pila — ski-in, hike-out above the city

04

Agriturismi and B&Bs in the side valleys — Cogne, Valgrisenche, the Great St Bernard road

05

Grand Hotel Royal e Golf — the 1947 landmark above the basin, with the spa and the view

06

Boutique chalet-hotels around Via Roma — the historic core at your doorstep

07

Camping Aiguille Noire (Val Veny) — 100 pitches under the Peuterey, May–September

08

Rifugio Bonatti (Val Ferret) and the Chécrouit huts — the mountain nights

ITINERARIES

Day-by-day routes

Rome of the Alps and the Great St Bernard — Aosta to the pass — Aosta1 day

Rome of the Alps and the Great St Bernard — Aosta to the pass

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Four-thousanders by gondola — Aosta, Pila and the castle corridor — Aosta2 days

Four-thousanders by gondola — Aosta, Pila and the castle corridor

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Both sides of the mountain — Courmayeur, Skyway and the two valleys — Courmayeur2 days

Both sides of the mountain — Courmayeur, Skyway and the two valleys

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NEARBY COUNTRIES

Continue across borders

INTERESTS

Explore by what you love

HikingCampingCampervanMountaineeringCyclingKayakingClimbingBeachesWildlifePhotographyFishingHistoryFood & WineFamilyWinterSkiing

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