Description of the attraction
Konye is a town located at an altitude of 1534 meters above sea level in the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park and is considered its “capital”. In ancient times, it was the center of the lands of the Salassi tribe, then - an important center for the extraction of iron ore, and today it is a popular tourist center boasting a rich history, cultural and architectural monuments and colorful festivals and holidays.
Climbing the road from the center of Val d'Aosta, tourists are usually amazed by the incredible size of the Sant Orso meadow - a green flowering carpet in summer and covered with the purest snow in winter. Between it and the coniferous forest lies Konye - one of the largest ski resorts in the valley. It is here, on the slopes of the alpine peaks of Grivola and Gran Paradiso, that some of the most important international cross-country skiing competitions are held, such as the 45 km Gran Paradiso March.
However, even without skis, these places deserve a visit - here you can go hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking or rafting. Nature lovers will love a trip to one of the 130 waterfalls of Lillaza or Valnonti or a visit to the Paradisia Botanical Garden, which is home to over 1000 species of mountain plants from all over the world.
Konya itself also has a lot to see. For example, the parish church of Sant Orso - according to legend, the place for its construction was indicated from above. Prior to this, the inhabitants of the town had to travel a long way to the Cret chapel to celebrate Sunday Mass. In winter, this path was very difficult due to the abundance of snow and ice, so the tired townspeople decided to build a church in their own town in Konya. For this, a place was chosen on the right bank of a small river. However, then a strange thing happened - when the promised gifts were brought to this place, they disappeared and appeared on the other side of the river. Despite numerous attempts to return them to their chosen place, after some time they always found themselves on the opposite bank. And then the inhabitants of Konya decided that the Lord God himself was showing them where to build the church, and so they did.
For a long time, the landmark of Konye was the Ponte di Quevril bridge, which stretches across the Gran Avia. It was a true architectural masterpiece, designed in Turin in 1865 to connect Konye with Aosta. Unfortunately, in 2011 it collapsed and was never rebuilt.
Other attractions in Konya and the surrounding area are Villa Dessa, Casa Grapaine, Castello Reale castle near the parish church, Villette and Tarambel fortress, Mason Gerard-Dine ethnographic museum and the Mineral Museum.
