Aosta
Aosta is the capital and largest city of the Aosta Valley, a bilingual region in the Alps of north-western Italy, about 110 km (68 mi) north-northwest of Turin. It stands at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, at the junction of the routes toward the Great and Little St Bernard passes.
At a glance
- Type
- Capital city / comune
- Period
- Roman foundation, later developments
- Style
- Roman and historic Alpine city
- Location
- Aosta Valley, north-western Italy
Overview
Aosta is the capital and largest city of the Aosta Valley, a bilingual region in the Italian Alps. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel and the Great St Bernard Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea rivers. The city sits at the junction of the Great and Little St Bernard Pass routes and has around 33,000 inhabitants.
History
Aosta lies at a strategic Alpine crossroads on the routes leading toward the Great and Little St Bernard passes, a position that long shaped its role as a gateway between the Italian peninsula and the territories beyond the western Alps. Over the centuries it became the principal settlement and administrative centre of the valley that bears its name.
What you see
The city occupies the floor of the central Aosta Valley, at the meeting of the Buthier and Dora Baltea rivers and surrounded by high Alpine peaks. As the regional capital it combines its historic urban core with the role of administrative and cultural hub for the surrounding mountain region.
Cultural significance
As capital of Italy’s smallest and only fully bilingual autonomous region, Aosta is a centre of Italian and Franco-Provençal culture in the Alps. Its position at the junction of the great Alpine pass routes has long given it strategic and cultural importance.
Practical information
Aosta, Aosta Valley, Italy. For opening times of museums, monuments and current visitor information, check the official city and regional tourism websites.
Getting there
Aosta is reached by the A5 motorway corridor from Turin and by regional roads through the valley. It lies near the Italian entrances of the Mont Blanc Tunnel and the Great St Bernard Tunnel, making it an Alpine gateway between Italy, France and Switzerland.
Sources & resources
Wikipedia: Aosta. More cultural heritage guides at culturalheritageonline.com.