10 towns to visit in the Italian Alps

Many villages in the Italian Alps. Not in vain, this mountain range is about 1200 kilometers long and around 30 kilometers in area. Likewise, on its eastern slope, it includes the famous Dolomites massif.

As you know, the Italian Alps extend in the area where the borders between Switzerland, France, Italy y Austria. But, also, in the port of Mouth of Altare This mountain range converges and that of the Apennines. Nor do we need to mention the magnificent ski resorts that exist there, nor do we need to remind you that some of its legendary peaks are the Matterhorn y Mont Blanc. But, as we told you, you also have beautiful towns in the Italian Alps. Let's get to know ten of them.

Pont Saint-Martin

This beautiful town of about three thousand five hundred inhabitants is located at the entrance of the spectacular Aosta Valley and is bathed by the Dora Baltea river. The Roman road that went to Gaul, which is still largely preserved, for example, in the bridge that crosses the aforementioned river.

But, perhaps, the greatest monumental attraction of this town is its castles and fortresses. You can see the remains of the so-called old and new, but also of the Rivoire fortress and the suzey castle. It has a different character that of Baraing, since it was not built in the Middle Ages, but at the end of the 19th century. It responds, therefore, to the neo-Gothic style of the time.

Issime, culture walser among the peoples of the Italian Alps

This municipality, whose capital is Duarf, is located east of Aosta Valley and has interesting religious monuments. Among them, stands out the Church of Santiago, whose exterior walls are adorned with frescoes and which houses a beautiful baroque main altar, a Romanesque baptismal font and a small museum of sacred art. You also have to see the chapel of Saint Margaret.

But, above all, you must pay attention to cultural samples walser that are preserved in the municipality. This was a Germanic people who, coming from the Swiss canton of Valais, settled in the Italian Alps during the Middle Ages. In several areas of the municipality you have stadels, which are its typical houses, and in the aforementioned Duarf, the herrenhaus or house of the Lord, where his nobles met.

Gaby

Precisely, this small town constitutes an islet of Franco-Provençal culture (or arpitana) in the midst of culture walser. dominated by Mont Nery, more than three thousand meters high, is a beautiful town of barely five hundred inhabitants.

But even more spectacular are the glacial complexes of the Monte Rosa massif. You can discover them by taking some of the magnificent hiking routes that the municipality has. Furthermore, we advise you to see the Vourry Shrine, dedicated to Our Lady of Grace.

Niello

We return to the world of culture walser to talk to you about Niello, since this small town also housed many of those who arrived from Switzerland during the Middle Ages. Good proof of this is the town's own urban center, which is full of stadels, its classic homes.

To get to Niel you will have to travel through winding roads. But the trip will be worth it both because numerous mountain routes start from the town and for its delicious cuisine, which you can enjoy in its restaurants.

Fontainemore

If we tell you that this villa belongs to the network of the most beautiful towns in Italy, you will get an idea of ​​its beauty. Like the previous ones, it is located in the privileged natural environment of the Aosta Valley and among its outstanding landscapes are the Mount Mars Natural Reserve y Leretta Point.

But, above all, the call is spectacular Guillemore Gouffre. It is an impressive gorge whose walls fall vertically over the Lys stream. Be part of the call «Ravines route» which also includes the Gouilles du Pourtset, the goye de Hône and the Ratus gorge.

As for the monuments you must see in Fontainemore, the parish church of San Antonio Abad and the chapels of San Sebastián and San Rocco. But also the medieval bridge and the examples of typical architecture of the area, especially in the village of Farettaz.

Gressoney-Saint-Jean

Also located at the foot of the Monte Rosa and with barely eight hundred inhabitants, Gressoney It is another of the towns in the Italian Alps that you should know for its beauty. In addition, it was another of the areas that welcomed the aforementioned culture walser, so it also has stadels.

However, the most spectacular monument in the town is the savoy castle. It is an eclectic construction completed in 1904 and built by order of the Italian king Humbert I of Savoy. However, he did not see it finished, since he died in an attack on July 29, 1900. In reality, it is a large three-story palace that stands out for its four neo-Gothic towers. In addition, it is surrounded by a beautiful Botanical Garden and offers wonderful views of Monte Rosa itself and the glacier Lyskamm.

Next to the castle, the town has other beautiful mansions which we also advise you to see. It is the case of villa Margherita, surrounded by a park of almost twenty thousand square meters and the current Town Hall. But also of Burgundy villa, with its medieval style, and villa Albertini, whose stone construction imitates mountain refuges.

As for the religious architecture of Gressoney, we recommend visiting the church of San Juan Bautista, which is located in the Obre Platz or central square of the town. It is a temple from the 16th century, although it has gone through several reconstructions. However, its grandiose interior stands out, with its cross-vaulted ceilings and elements such as the marble main altar and the carved desk benches. He even has an organ donated by the queen daisy, wife of the aforementioned Umberto I and a small museum of sacred art.

Stafal, refuge for hikers between villages in the Italian Alps

Located at the head of the Lys valley, about eight hundred meters high, Stafal It is, of the towns in the Italian Alps, one of the best for the accommodation of mountaineers. We tell you for the large number of mountain refuges it has, all of them at high altitude.

For example, that of Giovanni Gnifetti, which is at 3647 meters of altitude; Quintino Sella's Al Felik, at 3585, or that of City of Mantua, at 3498. It even has a beautiful area for make bivouac in summer: Mamo Comotti's, which is located at 3550 meters. Furthermore, this town is a starting point for several cable cars like the one that goes to Lake Gabiet and the Indren glacier.

Tache

This small village belongs to another Gressoney. In this case Gressoney the Trinity, which forms a unique cultural entity with the previous one. It is also a magnificent starting point for skiers and hikers and is also notable for its architecture. walser. Precisely, you can visit it an ecomuseum dedicated to this culture.

Also, you should visit the beautiful Trinity Church, dating back to the 400th century, although it was built on top of another one from the year XNUMX. As a curiosity, we will tell you that the old bell of the temple has been placed in one of the squares as a sculpture. In general, walking through its streets means discovering one of the most beautiful and traditional towns in the Italian Alps.

Bellagio

Belonging to the province of Como, is part of the Larián Triangle Mountain Community. This name is given to a peninsula with this geometric shape that emerges into the spectacular Lake Como. We don't need to tell you about the natural beauty of this place, with the Alps in the background.

Like other towns in the area, it stands out for its palatial villas. Some of the most impressive and beautiful are the Melzi, Serbelloni, Giulia and Trivulzio mansions. But you also have antiques in Bellagio medieval and renaissance towers for military purposes. For example, those of Sfondrati and Piazza San Giacomo.

Regarding the religious heritage of this town, we recommend that you visit the Basilica of San Giacomo, built in the 12th century, although renovated in the 17th century following the canons of the Baroque. Also, you should see the St. George's Church, from the same era as the previous one.

Like, much more than a town in the Italian Alps

We finish our tour of the towns in the Italian Alps by telling you about the city of Como, capital of the province of the same name. Therefore, it is much more than a small town, since it also has more than eighty thousand inhabitants.

It houses a large number of monuments and places of interest. But, in summary, we will advise you to see the surroundings of the Duomo Square, with the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. It was built between the 14th and 18th centuries, so it combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. Likewise, the basilicas of Sant Abbondio (one of the largest Romanesque buildings in Italy), of San Fedele y of San Giorgio. And, likewise, the churches of San Agustín, San Juan and San Eusebio.

Regarding military architecture, buildings such as the Baradello castle and the city walls themselves. And, regarding the civil, you have to see the Broletto, town hall in medieval times; the Volta temple, which houses a science museum; the war memorial and villa Olmo, a spectacular neoclassical construction.

In conclusion, we have presented to you 10 towns in the Italian Alps for you to visit them. All of them are as beautiful as they are impressive due to their natural environment. Go ahead and meet them, they will not disappoint you.