ITALY 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Geographical Position

Lying in the upper basin of the Dora Baltea river, it occupies the north-western extremity of Italian territory, bordering with Switzerland (north) and France (west). To the east and south it borders with Piedmont, of which it formed part until 1948, when it became an autonomous region with a special statute. The Valle d'Aosta is the smallest region in the Italian Republic and is also the most thinly populated, with the lowest population density. It is the only region without the territorial and administrative body known as the Province.

The Natural Environment

Entirely mountainous, Valle d'Aosta extends across the mountains and crests of the Graian and Pennine Alps. The head of the valley is closed to the west by the great Mont Blanc massif, with the highest peak (4,810 m.) in Europe and glaciers feeding the Dora di Veny and the Dora di Ferret, two sources of the DoraBaltea. To the south soars the Gran Paradiso massif (4,061 m.) while to the north, the Mount Rosa group (4,633 m. at the Dufourspitze) is the north-east boundary of Valle d'Aosta territory. The Dora Baltea runs along the main valley which has many smaller side valleys, such as: to the left, Valpelline, Valtournenche, Val d'Ayas, Valle del Lys; to the right, Valgrisenche, Val di Rhךmes, Valsavarenche and Valle di Cogne. Glaciers (220 in all) cover approximately 20,000 hectares of surface, due to the great height of the largest mountains and the wet Atlantic winds that bring snow. Only Mount Rosa, on the south Italian side, is less prone to glaciation, due to strong irradiation. The principal glaciers include Miage (1,100 hectares), Lys (1,070 hectares) and Brenva (750 hectares).

There are many small alpine lakes. The climate of this region is affected by the high average altitude; only the most southern part of the Dora valley floor has the temperatures of the adjacent Canavese (Piedmont). On the whole, the climate is temperate-cold with annual mean temperatures of 12 ÷C at Saint-Vincent (mid-low valley), 10 ÷C at Aosta (mid-valley), 8 ÷C at Courmayeur (below Mont Blanc). Precipitations are abundant in autumn and winter, providing good snow for the ski resorts.

The vegetation is typical of mountainous areas. The lower ground (up to c. 1,100 m.) has crops, vines, fruit trees mixed broadleaf woodland (sycamore, birch, hazel, elm and alder), the low mountain level (up to c. 2,200 m.) beechwoods, which give way to conifer woods (larch, fir, stone pine) towards the end of the tree line. Towards the summit, there is sparse growth of hardier trees (larch) and shrubs such as rhododendron, juniper and alpine alder. The alpine flora consists of gentians, buttercups, alpine bellflower, mountain vanilla, anemones and edelweiss.

The fauna is also typical of mountain areas. At high altitudes it is not unusual to see marmot, chamois, squirrel, ibex, fox and rock partridge; rarer are the ermine, ptarmigan, golden eagle and raven. Approximately one sixth of the regional territory is the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, the first Italian national park, established in 1922 with a personal donation by king Vittorio Emanuele III, who gave his own hunting reserve to the State. There are numerous protected species of wildlife (ibex, chamois and marmot) and of plants (c. 1,000 alone in the Giardino Botanico Paradisia - the Paradisia Botanical Garden - at Cogne).

Population and Economy

The shape of the territory strongly conditions the population distribution, with a concentration along the valley floor, facilitated by environmental conditions more favourable for productive activities. Last century, there was constant depopulation of the mountain areas, not just to the valley floor but also towards parts of nearby Piedmont. The internal migration recorded after the Second World War towards the major tourist centres of the lateral valleys, where tourism has now replace the poor mountain agriculture must not be underestimated. Besides the regional capital, the larger centres, with a few thousand inhabitants, are situated at the mouth of the lateral valleys: Pont-Saint-Martin, Verres, Chגtillon, though places such as Courmayeur, Cervinia, La Thuile, Champoluc, Gressoney, and others are very famous. The official languages of the region are Italian and French, considered equal in education and administrative documents. Most of the local population normally speaks `patois', a dialect of Franco-Provenחal origin. Walser, a German mountain dialect, is spoken in the Lys valley.

Of agricultural activities, now of secondary importance to the industrial and service sectors, the most important is vine growing with a valuable though limited wine production. From livestock (especially cattle) come butter and other dairy products, including Fontina, the typical regional cheese. Noteworthy incentives (mostly financial aid) have been planned by the Regional Administration in favour of the primary sector in avoiding depopulation and deterioration of the mountain pastures.

The iron (Aosta, Saint Marcel, Verres, Pont-Saint-Martin) and textile industries (Chגtillon), are particularly well developed, facilitated by the considerable availability of hydroelectric power. In the past, the coal seams (La Thuile) and iron deposits (Cogne) were of a certain importance, though no longer exploited.

Of the other economic activities (tourism is considered apart) importance must be given to the numerous craft firms (working with wood and marble, transformation of agricultural products); the Saint Vincent Casino, one of the four casinos in Italy, has a considerable role in regional finances.

Commerce and finance are concentrated in Aosta, the regional capital, lying on the important international highways opened through the Mont Blanc (1965) and Gran San Bernardo (1964) tunnels. Aosta is well linked by motorway to Turin and Milan; the railway (Turin to Prי-Saint-Didier) climbs the whole valley, ending at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Tourism

Tourism-related activities represent the main source of income for Valle d'Aosta. Apart from the town of Aosta, the largest tourist areas practically coincide with the famous side valleys, here listed in clockwise order for those coming from the Po Valley.

The Lys (or Gressoney) valley conserves a typically alpine appearance: the two main resorts, Gressoney-St-Jean and Gressoney-La-Trinitי are equipped for summer tourism (excursions into the Mount Rosa group) and winter (the Monterosaski, ski network with Alagna Valsesia and Champoluc). The Walser language and traditions are conserved in the upper valley and at Issime. The word Walser comes from the name of the people of German origin who descended here from Valais in the 13th century; the architecture of the stone houses is also characteristic. Again encircling Mount Rosa is the Ayas valley, with its castles (Vernes and Graines) and green meadows; main tourist attractions are Brusson, Champoluc, Antagnod and Saint Jacques.

Proceeding west lies Valtournenche valley with the Matterhorn by many considered the finest mountain in the world. Cervinia lies in the Breuil dip offering the skier 150 km. of piste, (also in summer on the Plateau Rosa glacier, reached by cable car), on territory linked to that of Zermatt. Another resort of note is Valtournenche with the fearsome `des Busserailles' in the vicinity. The Gran San Bernardo valley is reached directly from Aosta by the road leading to the St. Bernard Pass (hospice, St. Bernard dog breeding kennels), while branching out to the side is still intact Valpelline, with the small villages of Doves, Valpelline, Ollomont and Oyace. At the north-western end of the Val d'Aosta Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, rises above Courmayeur, where the atmosphere of an elegant resort and considerable tourist amenities combine with the panoramas of Val Veny and Val Ferret.

Courmayeur is linked to Chamonix in France by a road tunnel and a cable car travelling to over 3,800 m. The La Thuile Dora flows along the Piccolo San Bernardo valley; the chief resort here is La Thuile (winter sports), and at the Pass there are archeological remains and the Chanousia botanical gardens. To the right of the Dora Baltea lie Valgrisenche (`drap' craftsmanship), Val di Rhךmes, Valsavarenche (excursion to Parco del Gran Paradiso) and the Valle di Cogne (Cascate di Lillazwaterfall, abandoned Colonna mine, lace and wood crafts). Like these valleys, the Vallel di Champorcher too is a good place for a peaceful holiday and nature walks in a setting that is still almost unspoilt.

Special mention must be made of Saint Vincent at the bottom of the valley, the site of a famous casino and popular thermal springs. One of the most attractive features for tourists in the Val d'Aosta are its castles scattered all over the region. Many are well preserved and are open to visitors and some house great works of art.

Aosta (VALLE D'AOSTA)

Situated 583 m. above sea level on hollow ground near the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea at the foot of Mount Emilius (3,559 m.), Aosta is a crossroads for highways from France (Mont Blanc tunnel) and Switzerland (Gran San Bernardo tunnel). Founded by the Romans in 25 BC. on a previous Salasso tribal settlement, with the name of Augusta Praetoria, it passed later into the hands of the Goths, Lombards and Franks. From the 11th century on it remained almost constantly under the Savoy family, sharing its destiny.

Remarkable monuments remain from the Roman period: the rectangular town walls, the Porta Praetoria, the amphitheatre, theatre and Arco di Augusto. Medieval remains are the Lebbroso and Bramafam towers, as well as the Collegiate church of Sant'Orso with cloister and treasures. The cathedral (11th and 15th century) has a neoclassical faחade, as has the Palazzo del Municipio (Town Hall) which overlooks Piazza Chanoux.

The town's economy is based on tourism, commerce and administration and industry, which is present in the iron, food, chemical, textiles, publishing and wood working sectors.

Events: Fiera di Sant'Orso (end January), crafts exhibitoin (July to August), organ festival (in Summer), `Bataille des Reines' (in Autumn), the finals of the cow fights held throughout the year all along the valley.

Famous People: Federico Chabod (historian, 1901-1960), Emile Chanoux (politician, 1906-1944), St. Anselm (1033-1109), St. Gratus (5th century), St. Ursus (6th century).

Cultural Institutions: Alpine and Archeological Museum, Museo dell'Accademia di Sant'Anselmo, regional archives of the history of Valle d'Aosta.

In the Province: Chגtillon (Castello Challant), Saint-Vincent (spa, casino), Courmayeur (`Duca degli Abruzzi' Alpine Museum), Cogne (Paradisia, alpine botanical garden), Saint-Pierre (permanent archeological exhibition, regional natural science museum), Saint-Nicolas (Franco-Provencal studies centre).

Source:  http://www.mi.cnr.it/WOI/deagosti/regions/valaosta.html

JEWISH INFORMATION:

AOSTA VALLEY (Valle d'Aosta): Please email us to: updates@kosherdelight.com about any Jewish information in this region. We are not aware of any synagogue, cemetery or kosher / Jewish establishment in the region.