Hannibal crossing historical site with commemorative wine

Through the Mont Blanc tunnel, Courmayeur offers Italian Alpine wines from Valle d'Aosta - the smallest and most mountainous Italian wine region. Toast Hannibal's legendary crossing (whichever route he actually took) with wines from both sides of the Alps.

What to do there

3 things to do

1. 1 Stand Where 37 Elephants Crossed History · Price: moderate

   Drive the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy (€50 round trip) or take the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard pass in summer. In 218 BC, Hannibal crossed the Alps somewhere near here with 37 war elephants, 38,000 infantry, and 8,000 cavalry. Historians still argue about the exact route - the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard and Col du Mont Cenis are the leading candidates. Pull over at the pass viewpoint. The elevation is 2,188 meters. Hannibal's army lost half their men and most of their elephants in this crossing. You drove through a heated tunnel eating croissants. War has changed.

   Log Memory
2. 2 Taste Rome's Revenge Wine · Price: moderate

   Once in Valle d'Aosta (Italy), stop at Cave des Onze Communes in Aymavilles. Order a flight of Petit Rouge (€12-18) - the indigenous grape Romans planted after they finally conquered the region Hannibal crossed. The locals will tell you the Romans planted vines as a 'civilization marker' - claiming the territory that Carthage had humiliated them in. Every glass of Valle d'Aosta wine is Rome's 2,200-year-old revenge against Hannibal. Ask which vineyards are on ancient Roman sites. The answer is: most of them.

   Log Memory
3. 3 Find the Elephant Memorial Nobody Visits Adventure · Free · Optional

   In Aosta town, walk to the Arch of Augustus - built in 25 BC to celebrate Rome's conquest of the Salassi tribe (the same people who may have guided Hannibal through). Behind the tourist photos, there's a quiet museum area with a small display about Hannibal's crossing. Ask the attendant about 'gli elefanti' - the elephants. Most tourists skip this room. Only one elephant, a Syrian named Surus, survived the campaign. He became Hannibal's personal mount for 15 more years of war. Somewhere under these mountains, the bones of 36 elephants are still frozen.

   Log Memory

Insider tips

• Cave des Onze Communes cooperative offers comprehensive Valle d'Aosta tastings

• Petit Rouge and Fumin grapes are unique to this region

• The Morgex vineyards (1,200m) are Europe's highest commercial vines