Aosta – 10 Things to do and visit
Aosta is also called the Rome of Alps, so there are many things to visit in Aosta, architecture, archeology and history. It also offer amazing views on snow covered mountains as the most famous Monte Bianco ( Mont Blanc ) and green pastures. Founded by Augusto Emperor, at the beginning Aosta was called: Augusta Praetoria Salassorum.
Most romans monuments are Ponte Romano ( Roman Bridge), Arco di Augusto ( Augusto’s Arc), Porta Praetoria, Anfiteatro and Criptoportico forense. You also must not to miss la Collegiata di Sant’Orso with the famous Romanesque cloister. The other most thing to do in Aosta is the Grand Paradiso National Park and many excursions that this area can offer.
10 THINGS TO DO AND VISIT IN AOSTA
1) Gran Paradiso National Park
This reserve offer many proposal, the late spring and summer are months of flowering and excurions; in autumn woodsare colorful, while for chamois is time of love! In winter the landscape is snow covered and ideal for walks with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing or mountain climbing while you can see animals. You also can enoy this amazing National Park in total relax. Remember that this is a protected area.
2) Roman Theatre
The only face that is now visible, is high 22 meters. The Roman Theatre could be contains up to 3000-4000 visitors. It has been founded in 25 A.C. , period of Emperor Claudio. The orchestra of theatre had a radius of 10 meters.
3) Criptoportico Forense
The function of the Criptoportico Forense is still not clear, maybe at the beginning it was used as ambulatory and than, from III century as military depot. It is composed by one gallery with two aisles on three sides embracing a perfect rectangle of 89 x 73 meters.
4) Porta Pretoria
Porta Pretoria is the door to enter on oriental side of the Roman city of Augusta Praetoria Salassorum, now called Aosta. Built in 25 A.C. is today in excellent conditions formed by two series of arches.
5) Mont Avic Natural Park
This is the first natural park of the Aosta Valley region after the Gran Paradiso National Park, founded in 1989. There are many trails, one of the most is the one that depart from the champorcher valley and that down to Vallone di Champdepraz where you can enjoy the landscape view of Cervino and Monte Rosa mountains.
6) Champoluc
Champoluc is a village and his area is famous for skiing, mountaineering and hiking in particular around the Monte Rosa. Is the largest commune of Ayas at an altitude of 1568 meters. Near to Champoluc you have the Plan du Crest, one of the largest ski area in Aosta Valley.
7) August’s Arc
Built in 25 A.C. after Romans wins versus Salassi it has only one fornix of 11,40 meters high Its arch is barrel-vaulted, consisting of an extension in the length of a round arch.
8) Archeologic Museum
In this museum you can find archaeological finds of all the Aosta Valley. Prehistoric finds as funeral ornaments, glass, clay pots and anthropomorphic steles carved; romans finds as funerary objects, glassware (dishes, glasses …), parts of statues, objects from the theater, cutlery and common games. In the museum there is also a plastic of the roman city Augusta Praetoria Salassorum.
9) Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral
Aosta Cathedral built in 4th century is a Romanic Catholic Cathedral. In the 11th century the structure was replaced by a new dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the architecture modified during 15 and 16th century. The facade is in neoclassical style built in mid 1800 and presents two clock towers and crypt and also the remaining part of an Ottonian fresco cycle on the church ceiling.
10) Rifugio Arbolle
This is a refuge situated in the common of Charvensod at 2507 meters, inaugurated on 1998, is a typical construction made by stone and wood. You can reach the Rifugio Arbolle departing from Pila. From Pila you reach Chamoié (2311 mt) by walk or with chair lift. From Chamoié continue walking to Col de Chamoié (2641 mt). At the end from this hill go down to Rifugio Arbolle.
