Aosta, the ancient Augusta Praetoria, was inhabited by a Celtic-Ligurian population, called Salassi; the nit became an important Roman defensive outpost, equipped with villas, forum, theater, thermal baths and amphitheater.
it was located in a very suggestive natural basin and it is rich in monuments of great value, such as the Roman remains (the Arch of Augustus, the Porta Praetoria, the defensive walls, the Amphitheatre, the Roman bridge, the Criptoportico Forense, recognized Italian National Monument), the Collegiata Church of Sant'Orso, dated back to the XI century, preserves many important works of art, the cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, built on a preexisting Christian building and restored during the century, the Cross of Calvin, realized in 1541 in order to commemorate the expulsion of the calvinists from the region and the municipality palace, in Neo-classical style, overlooking Chanoux square.
Photo By IZABELA & JACEK