I have a confession to make… study abroad was not about the classes or the grades. Shocking! I know! We cared more about the experiences, the travel, the culture, the people, and the food than what grades we would have at the end of the semester (though we still went to class and did all our work!). To make sure we all kept our priorities straight, our Parma mommies arranged for us all to take a weekend getaway together just a few days before finals would begin. Obviously, they didn’t think it was important or necessary for us to study for our finals! So where did they take us? Valle D’Aosta in the Italian Alps!
Valle D’Aosta is the region in red
Valle D’Aosta lies on the Italian borders with both France and Switzerland, giving it an unparalleled views of the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps. One can see Mont Blanc (the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe), Monte Rosa, and the Matterhorn. All provide breathtaking scenery for the smallest region of Italy.
the view of Aosta from the balcony of my hotel room
walking from the hotel to the center of Aosta
The beauty of Aosta comes from more than just the mountains. Aosta became a Roman city in 25 BC and many ruins, including large triumphal arches, city walls, and theater facades, can still be seen throughout the city.
Roman ruins are scattered throughout the city
beautiful views of the mountains from within the city
the Arch of Augustus, built in 25 BC to celebrate a Roman victory in the war to claim this territory from the natives
the nighttime view of Aosta from my balcony
- another view from my balcony
After our brief city walk on the first day, we took a trek through the mountains on the second day. Unfortunately, it had not snowed much yet in the mountains so it was not possible for us to ski or snowboard, but we were able to walk the trails where we could see more of the French and Swiss Alps, and a little church where we stopped for refreshments. And, of course, many many picture breaks were taken.
our first view from the mountains
a pretty little church on the mountainside
housemates! from L to R: Kevin, Tommy, Liana, Alison, Justin, Joe, Cailin, me, and Liz
breathtaking… I can’t believe I walked through the Alps!
Later that day we went back down into the valley where we went to Aosta’s Christmas market. While it was much smaller than Vienna’s Christmas markets, it was a much more homey and natural feel. There were wood carvings, benches, and stands of mulled wine lining the winding pathways through a small section of the pathway. There was even a fireplace on the pathway that we relaxed around for a while!
cool decorations and carvings at the Christmas fair
lots of cute little shops for Christmas knick-knacks
a giant, wooden Frosty the Snowman 🙂
drinking our mulled wine and ciders… yummy!
Despite all the fun we had walking through the Alps and soaking up some more Italian Christmas cheer, we did spend a great deal of time in the hotel studying for our finals (which we passed!). I guess some things just don’t change… 😉
a castle in the valley
On our way home to Parma, we stopped at two castles in Valle D’Aosta. While the first one was closed and we could only walk around the outside (I actually slid down a hill when I climbed up to take a picture next to the castle), the second castle was open for us to visit.
Forte di Bard, the second castle we visited, was built in the 1830s by Charles Albert of Savoy on a critical pass between Italy and France. Not only did it provide a pretty view of the Valle D’Aosta, it is a spot full of rich history because of its strategic location for rulers to maintain control and prevent attacks. The castle that currently stands on the top of the mountain replaced a series of castles that had stood in the same spot since the 5th century; one of which held a battle in 1800 that prevented Napoleon Bonaparte’s surprise attack on the Po Valley and Turin.
the view from Forte di Bard
Forte di Bard and the mountains
The most amazing part of the castle was the sheer size of it. It seemed like a miracle that a structure that large could balance on top of a mountain peak for centuries.
within the fort’s walls
Adventures with Alyssa 