History & Heritage
Roman Aosta — the theatre, the walls and the forum
Aosta · Aosta Valley
QUICK INFORMATION
- CATEGORY
- History & Heritage
- COUNTRY
- Italy
- REGION
- Aosta · Aosta Valley
- DURATION
- 1–2 days
ABOUT THIS ATTRACTION
Of all the Roman towns outside Rome, few preserve a centre as complete as Aosta. The theatre — built in the reign of Claudius — keeps a southern facade three storeys high, its arcades still carrying the profile of the cavea. Beside it rise the ruins of the amphitheatre, and beneath the cathedral square the Forensic Cryptoporticus, the gallery that framed the sacred space of the Roman forum, runs eerily intact. The Stadtmauer — the city walls — circle the centre in an 11-tower ring you can still trace on foot.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
The story behind it
WHAT TO SEE
What to see here
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
Aosta is the most complete Roman urban grid in the Alps — the reason the city is called the Rome of the Alps.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Before you go
MAP & LOCATION
Roman Aosta — the theatre, the walls and the forum
Roman Aosta — the theatre, the walls and the forum, Aosta, Aosta Valley, Italy
45.7384, 7.3191
MORE ATTRACTIONS
More to see in Aosta
FOOD & DRINK
Where to eat nearby
Da Nando — sixty-year family trattoria by Sant’Orso: Valdostana fondue, friendship coffee in the grolla
L’Osteria dell’Oca — three floors of Valdostan classics, snails and carbonada with polenta
Le Bar à Vin — fontina fondue in a cocotte and mountain charcuterie near Porta Pretoria
Trattoria Praetoria — the centenarian classic: venison ragu, gluten-free Valdostan dishes
Pila mountain huts (Yeti, Gran Baita) — polenta concia at 1,800 m with the 4,000ers on the skyline
HOTELS & STAYS
Where to stay nearby
The pedestrian-centre hotels around Piazza Chanoux — Roman ruins at the doorstep
Camping International Touring (Sarre) and Lazy Bee (Quart) — riverside pitches minutes from the centre
Mountain hotels and huts at Pila — ski-in, hike-out above the city
Agriturismi and B&Bs in the side valleys — Cogne, Valgrisenche, the Great St Bernard road
NEARBY DESTINATIONS
Continue the journey
%22%2F%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22600%22%20cy%3D%22300%22%20r%3D%2290%22%20fill%3D%22%23c8a06a%22%20opacity%3D%220.35%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M0%20620%20L300%20420%20L520%20560%20L760%20360%20L1000%20540%20L1200%20460%20L1200%20800%20L0%20800%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%23a97c50%22%20opacity%3D%220.22%22%2F%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M0%20700%20L260%20540%20L480%20640%20L720%20500%20L980%20620%20L1200%20560%20L1200%20800%20L0%20800%20Z%22%20fill%3D%22%2320241f%22%20opacity%3D%220.14%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
INTERESTS
Explore by what you love
PART OF
Keep exploring
The atlas goes on — more attractions, destinations and stories from every corner of the world.