Situation
Aosta (French Aoste), capital of the autonomous region of Valle d'Aosta, lies some 100km/62mi east of Turin, in a fertile valley at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, ringed by an imposing circle of
mountains, with Grand Combin to the north rising to 4,314m/14,158ft.
Importance
The town, which has been a place of importance from time immemorial as the gateway to the Great and Little St Bernard passes, was originally built as the Roman fort of Augusta Praetoria Salassorum soon after 25 B.C., and its plan still reflects the regular layout of the Roman station. It preserves numerous monuments dating from the Roman and medieval periods. It is still an important traffic junction at the meeting of the access roads to the Mont Blanc tunnel and the Great St Bernard pass.
Print this page
Add to Favorites
