Italy > Aosta Valley

Posted on 07/07/2010

Famous for its mountains are home to thousands of hikers every year in summer and skiers in winter, the Autonomous Region of Valle d'Aosta offers visitors the opportunity to visit many castles scattered throughout its territory. Some very well preserved, others being restructured, will offer the opportunity to spend a few days in this enchanting region. Ideal for a weekend as a couple, or for a few days with his family, you will experience both fascinating and rich variety of culture and history. You'll also be able to take leave from the natural landscape in which plunged made of rocky slopes and precipitous cliffs.

Perched on a small hill, about ten kilometers downstream of the city of Aosta, is the castle of Fenis. And 'certainly the most imposing and impressive than those you meet, constructed residential purposes is still characterized by low windows and very large areas. It 's the most popular with visitors who come here from all over Europe to enjoy the fabulous atmosphere that you live by visiting the inside. When purchasing the ticket you can decide if a guided tour, usually held every hour and the number of participants is limited.

The castle of Verres is instead a former military fortress built on a rocky overhang, has a form of block and is built entirely of stone, to remember that each year hosts the carnival town. In those four days across the country participating in the event with typical medieval clothing and dancing is held in the main square in both the lounge on the ground floor of the castle. Arriving by motorway from Piedmont can not help but notice the imposing fortress of Bard for several centuries that dominates the entrance to the valley. Again you can explore the inside is less characteristic of other castles, as over the years it has been used as barracks and as a prison during the Second World War. The appearance may seem too modern, it retains little of historic interiors, and throughout the year are set up various exhibitions and cultural events. The Bard is very impressive and worth a stay of a few hours: there are many perfectly preserved monumental houses, walking through the small lanes seems to follow an open-air museum.

If you still have time and will also remind Issogne castle, well not so much for his outdoor structure but for the sumptuous rooms full of beautiful frescoes and the Savoy Castle, the most "fabulous" in the valley. Between a castle and the other not forget to taste what culinary delights the region are characterized by the ancient local products: fontina, bacon, chestnuts and polenta typical "fat" (made by adding butter and cheese). Period the best castles to visit is spring: the tourist influx is a bit 'lower and you can enjoy the spectacle of nature that flourish after the winter.