Aosta Valley, Autonomous region in northwestern Italy
The Aosta Valley is an autonomous region in northwestern Italy, stretching between France, Switzerland and Piedmont, shaped by high Alpine peaks and broad glaciers. The region includes 74 municipalities scattered along the central valley and its side valleys, with forests, meadows and rock formations dominating the landscape.
Romans founded Augusta Praetoria Salassorum in 25 BC to control Alpine passes leading to Gaul. The territory later became a duchy under the House of Savoy and gained autonomous status within the Italian Republic after World War II.
Daily life switches naturally between Italian and French, while villages still use the Franco-Provençal dialect called Valdôtain. Street signs, menus and public announcements appear in both languages, reflecting the valley's distinct linguistic character.
The city of Aosta serves as the central transport hub with connections to the side valleys and to the main passes into France and Switzerland. Many mountain villages sit off the main roads and require longer drives on narrow roads with hairpin bends.
The territory received the Gold Medal of Military Valour after World War II for its resistance activities. Some of the highest peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, stand at its borders.
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