Valle d'Aosta

Small, autonomous, bilingual (French and Italian) region in the highest Alps, especially renowned for its cheeses (Fontina, fondute), cured meats, and flaming coffee and booze shared in a grolla. The locals also speak Valdôtaina, a form of Occitan, resulting in some of the trickier food names.

The name means the 'Valleys of Augustus', by way of the Roman colony, Augusta Prætoria Salassorum (the modern city of Aosta).