Aosta is best in class

An Alpine town in Italy has topped an index of Europe's best lesser-known Christmas markets.

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Aosta – just over an hour from Turin - was ranked number one after researchers compared the cost of mulled wine and sausages, the chance of snow, and the quality of entertainment.

With mulled wine from £2.55 and sausages around £4.25, its Marché Vert Noël came out on top for both value and atmosphere.

Innsbruck, Austria, also scored highly, taking second place thanks to its dramatic mountain backdrop and consistently high snow chances.