With its beautiful mountains and sunny valleys, Valle d’Aosta is one of Italy’s most dream-like places, at least for those who would rather spend time surrounded by the majesty of the Alps, rather than on a beach  — yes, that’d be me. The region, located in the Italian Northwest, is also known for being bilingual, the richness of its cuisine, its connections with the ancient Roman Empire, and for its identity-defining wood carving tradition. 

Historically, the inhabitants of Valle d’Aosta relied heavily on their natural surroundings for survival, and the region’s dense forests provided an abundant supply of wood, which became the primary material for making essential items.