Christmas in Valle d'Aosta

For Christmas, this year we decided on a short break in our usual hotel in the Valle d’Aosta. No boring cooking to do and most of all no washing up afterwards on Christmas day.

As well as eating we visited a few places in search of some elusive Christmas snow. We had to go quite high to find some.

Saint Nicolas, Aosta

Saint Nicolas, Aosta

Saint Nicolas, Aosta

Saint Nicolas, Aosta

Val Ferret under Monte Bianco was spectacular as always on a nice clear day. The snow-covered road had been usefully compacted to form a footpath/Nordic ski track where snow shoes were unnecessary. The sublime Monte Bianco is always a powerful sight.

Monte Bianco, Aosta

Monte Bianco, Aosta

Monte Bianco, Aosta

Val Ferret, Aosta

Monte Bianco, Aosta

Brenval Glacier, Aosta

Val Ferret, Aosta

 

Val Ferret, Aosta

 

 

 

We stopped off at Courmayeur a trendy ski resort. The big thing here this year seems to be test drives in expensive cars. Gabry was let loose on a frozen test track in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Next year I might be tempted to try out that nice Jaguar F type that I saw.

Saint Nicolas has some wonderful views of the valley from the Belvedere.

Saint Nicolas, Aosta

Saint Nicolas, Aosta

Saint Nicolas, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame is perhaps my favourite valley in the Region. I drove the car as far as I could up the valley and then had a good walk up to the farmhouse where we usually park. There was plenty of snow and I even saw some Chamois in the distance. Here again they had formed a footpath/Ski track which made walking easier.

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Rhèmes Notre Dame, Aosta

Near Cogne we discovered a new place high above the valley. From Gimillan one has an almost aerial view of the Cogne Valley. A spectacular place with an old village which I will explore next time we are here.

Gimillan, Aosta

Gimillan, Aosta

Gimillan, Aosta

Gimillan, Aosta

 Down in the bottom of the valley we managed to catch the brief time when the valley is not is shadow in winter. The path that leads from Valontey up the valley towards the Gran Paradiso range is another of our favourite walks.

Cogne, Aosta

Cogne, Aosta

Cogne, Aosta

Cogne, Aosta

Cogne, Aosta

 

 

A dome with a View. An afternoon in Florence.

I was in Florence for business last Thursday morning and the temptation to skive off and have an afternoon off in Florence was just too strong to resist.

Firenze

An afternoon is too short to see very much in this city, but there were a couple of things I wanted to do.

 

Fiume Arno, Firenze

Fiume Arno, Firenze

Uffizi, Firenze

Palazzo Vecchio, Firenze

 The highlight of the day was to climb up to the top of Brunelleschi’s dome that dominates the city.

 One climbs what seem like an endless number of steps before exiting out onto a balcony above the altar. The view down to the floor of the church makes one feel quite giddy. One is only half way up!

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze



Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

The stone stairs then curve around between the inner and outer skin of the dome before the final flight of stairs that climbs strait up and over the dome.

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze



Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

As on climbs it is possible to glimpse the fishbone brickwork that is part of the secret of how the structure manages to stand up. The dome was also built with two skins to save weight.  

The dome still holds the record as the largest brickwork dome in the world. It was also built without formwork between 1420 and 1436.

I also paid a return visit to the Baptistery with its fantastic golden roof that dates from the 13^th century.

Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze



Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze

For our family, this building has a special significance. My late Father in law who came from a very ordinary Florentine family, was baptised here some 90 years ago, A picture of another Italy where these incredible buildings were still being used for their intended use and not as part of a Renaissance Disneyland that Florence and some other Tuscan cities have become.

Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze



Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze



Battistero, Firenze

Battistero, Firenze

I still had some time after visiting the splendidly sober Basilica di san Lorenzo to climb the Cathedral bell tower.

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

Basilico San Lorenzo, Firenze

 Almost as high as the dome this is a much easier climb. The view of Brunelleschi’s dome from the top makes the climb worthwhile.

Firenze



Firenze



Firenze

All that remained to do was to buy some unsalted “Pane Toscana” and a typical Tuscan Salami called “finocchiona” with its particular Fennel flavour.

Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

Antiquario, Firenze



Antiquario, Firenze

 

This is a good time of year to visit Florence. The unbearable hot humid summer heat and the clogging crowds are absent. One is able to actually enjoy ones visit to this city.