Valle d'Aosta : Aosta

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Aosta is truly a Roman town…you can tell by the remains of the monuments from the Roman times (the founders of Aosta). These remains include: The town walls, the Arch of Augustus/Arco di Augusto (25 B.C.), the Roman Amphitheatre and the Roman Forum. The Collegiata di Santi Pietro e Orso (10^th century) is a Romanesque church with cloisters — do take time to see these as well as the crypt. The frescoes on the interior are particularly interesting (some date as far back as the 11^th century). Aosta is the main town of the area, but it’s also a charmer. The architecture, the piazzas, the cafes — it’s a great place to enjoy what this unique region has to offer. The center of town is a pedestrian area which makes it easy to see the sights (from Arco di Augusto to Piazza della Repubblica). The Porta Pretoria is a gate worth seeing, the huge blocks are amazingly arranged in a decorative fashion. The Cattedrale is an 11^th century Romanesque church on the outside and a Gothic church on the inside. The town hall is also worth a look (Palazzo del Municipeo), as it is medieval in style. The Museo dell’Accademia di Sant’Anselmo and the Alpine and Archaeological Museum are worth a visit too. Market day in Aosta is Tuesday through Saturday.