Aosta
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Overview
Jagged Alpine peaks rise like marble cathedrals above the regional capital Aosta, a once-important Roman settlement that retains a charming historic centre, while also sprawling rather untidily across the valley floor. Bounced around between Burgundy (France) and Savoy (Italy) in the Middle Ages, the modern town remains bilingual, with a Valdostan culture that can be heard in its musical local dialect and simple but hearty cuisine.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Aosta
This intriguing church is part of a still-operating monastery. The church dates back to the 10th century but was altered on several occasions, notably in…
-
Cattedrale Santa Maria Assunta
Aosta
The neoclassical facade of Aosta's cathedral belies the impressive Gothic interior. Inside, the carved 15th-century walnut-wood choir stalls are…
-
Basilica Paleocristiana di San Lorenzo
Aosta
Beneath the old parish church of the village, you can glimpse the dusty layers of early Christian history. Excavations have revealed a small cruciform…
-
Aosta
Aosta’s little city museum does an excellent job of detailing the city’s Roman history with a scale model of Aosta’s Roman layout plus various…
-
Aosta
Next to the Porta Praetoria, this imposing tower is named not for the love of French cheese (fromage) but rather after the last descendent of the medieval…
-
Aosta
What remains of the city's Augustan forum mostly lies beneath the 'modern' piazza, although you can visit its colonnaded underground walkway (known as a…
-
Aosta
This arched, cobbled Roman bridge, also know as the Pont de Pierre, crossed the River Buthier in the first century AD, but today it's high and dry (though…
-
Aosta
Part of the Roman theatre's 22m-high facade is still intact. In summer, performances are held in the better-preserved lower section.
Plan with a local
Build a memorable collection
Get to the heart of Aosta with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
-
Sicily $22.99
-
Pocket Rome $14.99
-
Southern Italy $22.99
in partnership with getyourguide