TOUR VALLE D’AOSTA
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TOUR CODE: INC-01 - NATURE TOUR IN VALLE D’AOSTA OVERNIGHT STAY IN AOSTA - TOUR 4 NIGHTS / 5 DAYS

1° DAY Arrival in Aosta and accommodation in hotel. Dinner in a restaurant nearby and return to the hotel for the overnight stay.

2° DAY After breakfast, departure for the Cogne Valley, ideal base to make an excursion to the “Gran Paradiso National Park”. Visit of the Botanical Alpine Garden “Paradisia”, that preserves more than 1.000 European and extra-European alpine flora species. Lunch free. In the afternoon to Lillaz, admiring the renowned waterfalls, or to Aosta, visiting the city. The main city attractions are: the Roman Bridge, the Augustus Arc, the historical centre, perfectly preserved and surrounded by walls, the theatre and Roman Amphitheatre, and the “Collegiata di Sant’Orso”, that includes the Romanesque Cloister, the church and the Paleo-Christian basilica.
Dinner in a restaurant and return to the hotel for overnight stay.

3° DAY After breakfast, departure for Courmayeur, a small alpine town, under “Monte Bianco”. Visit to the San Pantaleone church, built in the XVII century, and the Notre Dame de la Guérison sanctuary, famous because during the advance of a glacier, the sanctuary was wiped out, but not the Virgin Mary’s statue. Then, cable railway excursion to Punta Helbronner (at 3.462 mt). Pause on the “Glacier Terrace” and visit to the “ Permanent Crystal Show”, a selected crystal collection of “Monte Bianco”.
Lunch free. In the afternoon, guided visit to Sarre Castle: situated on a hillock, probably dates from the XII century.
Dinner in a restaurant in Aosta and return to the hotel for overnight stay.

4° DAY After breakfast, departure for Fenis to visit the Castle. Lunch free. In the afternoon visit to Issogne Castle.
Dinner in a restaurant and return to the hotel for overnight stay.

5° DAY Departure after breakfast.

TOUR CODE: INC-02 - THE CASTLES OF VALLE D’AOSTA TOUR 3 NIGHTS / 4 DAYS

1° DAY Arrival in Aosta. Visit of the town centre. Accommodation in hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

2° DAY After breakfast, visit Castles of Issogne and Verrès. Issogne Castle, once property of Aosta’s bishop, in the XII century became property of the Challant family who made it an elegant home. After the death of the last Challant, the castle was half-abandoned; the progressive plundering of the furniture on the part of the successive owners reached its height in 1870. The castle was then bought by a painter from Turin, who personally directed its restoration, diligently keeping to the original design. In 1907 the painter donated the castle to the State.
After the visit packed lunch.
In the afternoon leave for a visit of Verrès Castle, built on a steep rock, which dominates Verrès down below. The castle has an innovative style compared to those built up until then in Valle d’Aosta, made up of a group of buildings surrounded by an enclosing wall: this represents the first example of a castle made up of only one block, following the Renaissance style.
In the evening, return to the hotel; dinner and overnight stay.

3° DAY After breakfast, departure for a visit of Fénis Castle, which underwent various architectural embellishments. In this case too the castle was subject to abandon but, after many restorations, was donated to the State.
After the visit, return to the hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon, leave for a visit of Saint-Pierre Castle. This castle, completely different from all the others in the area, has a fairy-tale look and forms, together with the church below, a very picturesque scene. The castle was probably built in the XI century and has undergone various transformations, until 1952 when it became the property of the town of Saint-Pierre.
In the evening, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

4° DAY After breakfast, departure for a visit of Sarre Castle. Its foundations probably go back to the XII century; it was bought in 1869 by Vittorio Emanuele II di Savoia, to be turned into a comfortable home in Valle d’Aosta. The castle remained a Savoia property until 1972: in 1989 the region of Valle d’Aosta bought it. After the visit, departure for re-entry.