Noasca, quiet, beautiful, and friendly (Gran Paradiso National Park)

Member Name: hp98ttb

Product:	Gran Paradiso National Park
Date:	01/04/01 (195 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quiet, away from the crowds, and beautiful

Disadvantages: limited communication to the outside wrld

My friend and I got to Noasca by taking a Bus from Turin, however, it is necessary to chance buses at Pont Canavese. The second part of the journey is an eventful experience especially when some of the roads up to this delightful "One Road Town" are nearly as narrow as the bus itself.

Noasca is situated in the South of the Gran Paradiso National Park and has 2 restaurants, 2 shops a tourist information centre and a Youth hostel. The Youth Hostel was completly empty whilst we were there, the week before August. Very pleasant, en suite rooms and balconies. It is also open all day, and the hostel owner- although he doesnt speak all that much English, is a good laugh. (oh, and try the local red wine- its gorgeous, and we helped to bottle it).
However, I belive that the place is a lot busier during the winter.

There are plenty of walks around the area and the fact that the village is in a valley means that it is pretty much all up hill to begin with. However, the rewarding sights once in the mountains are amazing.
The Refuge system is good as well, you can stay in the refuges for a small fee, we did not do this, but I have heard good reports of them.

We spent a week in this pleasent village, neither of us speak a word of Italian, however, with a phrase book, a few gesticulations and some wine, we got along just fine.

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