Visit Monte Rosa
Monte Rosa is Italys second highest mountain and is located about 10 kilometres south-east of the Matterhorn.
It is a great mass of a mountain at the head of the Valsesia, Gressoney and Ayas valleys, and its size provides a stark contrast to the elegant simplicity of its taller neighbour.
The villages in the valleys below Monte Rosa are more Germanic than Italian, and occupied by the Walsers - these people have a fascinating history within the valley, that you can learn about at the museum in Pedemonte, a short walk from Alagna.
In any case, wherever you travel in the region around the mountain you will see the unusual wooden houses that the Walsers occupy, much unchanged since their arrival in the 13th century.
Alagna is also a most popular place to stay among hikers and outdoor enthusiasts who visit the region. Of course many of the walks are challenging and need proper equipment and experience. A couple of cable cars in the vicinity allow the less enthusiastic to access the high mountains.
Other popular resorts in the Monte Rosa region include those at Champoluc, Brusson and Gressoney-St-Jean (which also has a small museum about the wildlife you might encounter)