Avise

Avise is a small municipality in the Valle d’Aosta located near the Pierre Taillée gorge, a must-stop stretch on the ancient road of Gaul, built by the Romans to reach France. Being in a position to control commercial traffic on the transalpine road helped foster the development and wealth of the feud of the Signori di Avise (Lords of Avise), one of the oldest noble families in the Valle d’Aosta. Emblematic of the family’s importance is the castle at the entrance of the evocative village, built at the end of the 15th century, flanked by a quadrangular tower decorated with small carinated arches in the upper portion. The ceiling of the second floor hall hall deserves a special mention; it is set on seven main beams supported by fourteen shelves engraved with human and animal figures.