Aosta, Administrative center in Aosta Valley, Italy
Description
Aosta is a commune on the valley floor at 583 meters elevation, framed by Alpine peaks and located at the junction of two rivers. The city extends along a rectangular layout with streets intersecting at right angles and forming a grid of squares and low-rise buildings.
History
Founded in 25 BC as Augusta Praetoria Salassorum, the settlement served as a Roman military colony and strategic point on trade routes through the Alps. After Roman times, control shifted multiple times between Savoyard rulers and French influences until integration into unified Italy in the 19th century.
Culture
The city takes its name from the Latin Augusta and preserves a bilingual identity with Italian and French street signs throughout all neighborhoods. Locals often switch between both languages in daily life, reflecting the region's long history as a border area.
Practical
The central position offers direct access to the Mont Blanc Tunnel and the Great St Bernard Tunnel, connecting Italy with France and Switzerland. Most landmarks lie within walking distance in the compact city center, which can be explored comfortably in a single day.
Did you know?
The urban grid follows the structure of an ancient Roman military camp with preserved walls, towers and a theater from the imperial period. Visitors can walk through the original first-century arch that once marked the eastern city gate and now stands in the middle of the modern street network.
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Arch of Augustus
621 m
Aosta Cathedral
250 m
Roman Theatre of Aosta
189 m
Sant'Orso
419 m
Porta Praetoria
230 m
Saint-Martin-de-Corléans Megalithic Area
1.7 km
Cryptoporticus
262 m
Aosta-Pila gondola
602 m
Roman amphitheatre of Aoste
469 m
Pont de Pierre
782 m
Castello Jocteau
1.4 km
Ancient Roman walls in Aosta
97 m
Aosta Town Hall
48 m
Bridge of Grand-Arvou
2.4 km
Museo Archeologico Regionale
380 m
Bramafam Castle
388 m
Croce di Calvino
290 m
Torre del lebbroso
498 m
Chiesa di Santo Stefano
443 m
Castello Passerin d'Entreves
2.4 km
Aosta Regional Library
498 m
Area funeraria fuori Porta Decumana
696 m
Riserva naturale Tsatelet
1.7 km
Sainte-Croix
419 m
Castello di Montfleury
1.8 km
Cathedral Treasure Museum
220 m
Saint-Martin
1.9 kmArboretum d'Entrebin
2.3 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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