The Aosta Valley (Italian: Valle d'Aosta (official) or Val d'Aosta (usual), French: Vallée d'Aoste (official) or Val d'Aoste (usual), Arpitan: Val d'Outa, German: Aostatal, Piemontese: Val d'Osta) is a mountainous semi-autonomous region in north-western Italy. It is bordered by Rhône-Alpes, France to the west, Valais, Switzerland to the north and the region of Piedmont to the south and east.
With an area of 3,263 km2 (1,260 sq mi) and a population of about 130,000, it is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy. It is the only Italian region which has no provinces (the province of Aosta was dissolved in 1945). Provincial administrative functions are provided by the regional government. The region is divided into 74 comuni (communes).
The native population speaks Italian, but some speak Valdôtain, a form of Franco-Provençal (Arpitan), as their first language, while in the Lys Valley there is a Walser German speaking minority. 70% of Aosta Valley's residents state they speak French. The regional capital is Aosta.
The Aosta Valley (Italian: Valle d'Aosta (official) or Val d'Aosta (usual), French: Vallée d'Aoste (official) or Val d'Aoste (usual), Arpitan: Val d'Outa, German: Aostatal, Piemontese: Val d'Osta) is a mountainous semi-autonomous region in north-western Italy. It is bordered by Rhône-Alpes, France to the west, Valais, Switzerland to the north and the region of Piedmont to the south and east.
With an area of 3,263 km2 (1,260 sq mi) and a population of about 130,000, it is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy. It is the only Italian region which has no provinces (the province of Aosta was dissolved in 1945). Provincial administrative functions are provided by the regional government. The region is divided into 74 comuni (communes).
The native population speaks Italian, but some speak Valdôtain, a form of Franco-Provençal (Arpitan), as their first language, while in the Lys Valley there is a Walser German speaking minority. 70% of Aosta Valley's residents state they speak French. The regional capital is Aosta.