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1Day 1 Milano / Forte di Bard / Castello di Issogne / Aosta
Meals included: dinner
Meet in Milan with the tour leader and start the tour on a coach towards Turin and the Aosta Valley. Enjoy lunch on your own along the route. In the afternoon, visit the Fort of Bard, an impregnable fortress perched on a deep gorge carved by the Dora Baltea River, which guards the valley. Throughout history, the Fort has hosted notable guests such as Napoleon and Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour. Continue to Issogne Castle, a 15th-century pride of the Challant family, featuring refined noble interiors with frescoed walls and original furniture. The inner courtyard boasts the Fountain of the Pomegranate, symbolizing prosperity. Arrive at a hotel near Aosta for check-in. Dinner and overnight stay.
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2Day 2 Aosta / Castello di Fenis / Castello di Sarre
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, embark on a guided tour of Aosta, the capital of the region with ancient origins. Founded by the Romans in 25 B.C. as Augusta Praetoria Salassorum, the city still showcases significant Roman landmarks such as the Arch of Augustus, the main gateway to the city and a key point along the Via delle Gallie, the Porta Praetoria, and the Roman Theatre. Visit the Collegiate Church of Sant’Orso, where the Romanesque cloister’s carved capitals depict stories from the Bible and the life of Sant’Orso, the city’s patron saint. The attic contains exquisite medieval frescoes, which continue into the Cathedral. Enjoy lunch on your own. In the afternoon, visit Fénis Castle, once owned by the powerful Challant family. While the exterior retains a stern medieval look typical of 14th-century castles, the interiors are finely decorated and elegant. Continue to Sarre Castle, purchased by the Savoy family in 1869 as a summer residence and hunting lodge: King Victor Emmanuel II used the castle’s halls to display his hunting trophies. This visit offers fascinating insights into the Savoy family’s presence in the Aosta Valley. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
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3Day 3 Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso / Cogne / Castello di Aymavilles
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy’s oldest national park, established in 1922. The park’s history is deeply connected to the conservation of the ibex. In 1856, King Victor Emmanuel II declared these mountains a royal hunting reserve, saving the ibex from extinction. He also established a specialized guard corps. In 1920, Victor Emmanuel III donated the reserve to the Italian state to create a national park. Today, Gran Paradiso National Park spans 70,000 hectares of high mountain terrain, from 800 meters in the valley to 4,061 meters at the summit of Gran Paradiso, the only peak over four thousand meters entirely within Italy. Take a two-hour guided tour of the park with a naturalist (easy route, but comfortable shoes recommended). Afterwards, stop in Cogne, the heart of the park, overlooking the expansive Sant’Orso meadow, one of the largest alpine meadows in Europe. Free time for lunch. Continue with a visit to the recently restored Aymavilles Castle. Its imposing square structure with four cylindrical towers marks the entrance to the Cogne Valley. Originally owned by the Challant family, the castle has been transformed over the centuries into an elegant residence surrounded by greenery. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
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4Day 4 Gressoney / Castel Savoia / Milano
Meals included: breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for the Gressoney Valley, located at the foot of Monte Rosa. The charming villages along the route are all worth visiting, featuring medieval frescoed churches and well-maintained hamlets. In the medieval period, Walser communities from the Valais region of Switzerland settled here. Due to the isolation of these alpine valleys, the Walsers have managed to preserve their culture, religion, customs, and especially their ancient language over the centuries. Late in the morning, visit the Walser Ecomuseum in Gressoney-La-Trinité. Enjoy lunch on your own. Continue to Gressoney-Saint-Jean, a popular tourist destination at the base of Monte Rosa. Visit Castel Savoia, the summer residence of Queen Margherita of Savoy, Italy’s first queen after unification. Queen Margherita enjoyed spending her summers here, often going on mountain excursions. The castle, built in the early 20th century, is inspired by medieval architecture. The guided tour will allow you to admire its elegant yet modest interiors, adorned with frescoes and decorations. In the afternoon, begin the return journey towards Milan.
VALLE D’AOSTA, AN ALPINE PARADISE OF MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS AND ENCHANTING CASTLES
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TOUR ON REQUEST
4 days (3 nights)
Italy
quote on request
