Cruising the Alps:
The Resort
Breuil - Cervinia
Gourmand points
Cervinia has an ample choice of restaurants, but chosing
one is difficult. Il Capriccio (Via A.Gorret,1 Ph: 0166-949060),
a new creation of the Neyroz family, is a delightful restaurant with
only seven tables covered in lace tablecloths, silver plate-holders
and a creative and refined menu.
Les Neiges d'Antan (Cielo Alto, Loc. Perrerés, ph: 0166-948775)
is a rustic and informal restaurant where one can taste the typical
dishes of the Valle d'Aosta and mountain specialties: "fonduta
al formaggio" (cheese fondue), "polenta pasticciata"
(polenta baked with cheese or stew), "carbonada" (stew).
La Maison de Saussure (ph: 0166-948259), tucked away behind the
town's little church, is a little restaurant built on the remains of
the 18th century home of the Swiss scientist from Geneva, de Saussure
who first measured the Matterhorn. The menu is wholesome and typical
of the Valle d'Aosta area: plenty of charcuterie, polenta, cheeses and
"zuppa valpellinentze" (a thick soup made of cabbage, fontina
cheese bread and meat broth).
Hotels
The Hotel Hermitage is the most romantic address in
Cervina (ph: 0166-948998, Fax: 0166-949032, e-mail: ermitage@relaischateau.fr).
It is a Relais et Château managed by the Neyroz family. The interior
is panelled in blonde wood retrieved from a XVII century Alpine hut,
the sofas and armchairs are upholstered with British, floral print fabrics
and there is a large fireplace in the main lounge. Of the 40 rooms,
four are suites which have a view of the Materhorn and the hotel's private
garden.
In the town's center there is the Hotel Punta Maquignaz (ph:
0166-949145, Fax: 0166-948055) which is characterized by a library with
a fireplace, hand-painted wood furniture and elegant sofas upholstered
with floral prints. The hotel's strong point is the Ymeletrob
pub.
Also the Hotel Cristallo (via del Piolet, ph: 0166-943411) is
a charming resort with 100 rooms.
Leisure time
The Ymeletrob pub is a place where
one has to stand in line to get in. Open until two in the morning it offers
a wide choice of cocktails, beers and aperitifs, herbal teas and digestive
liqueurs, among which the local Genepy. The Yeti
is always a trendy place to go, while at the Capanna Alpina
the younger set drink thick, hot chocolate with whipped cream while listening
to 50's music. Besides its cosy lounge, La Maison des Guides offers its patrons
a room in which to play Bridge.
Shopping
The best shopping is to be found along the Via Carrel and the Piazzale Jemeaux.
La Botecca offers a wide
assortment of local crafts such as the "grolla" (a typical large
wooden goblet with a lid), embroidered fabrics and dried flowers.
  
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