Things to Do and See in Aosta

The city of Aosta traces its origins to the era of the ancient Roman Empire. From that period, we can admire the Arch of Augustus, the Porta Pretoria, the ancient city walls, and the Roman Amphitheater, which is still used today as a venue for concerts and performances.
These reminders of ancient Roman civilization are complemented by medieval monuments, primarily religious ones, such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the complex of the Collegiate Church of Sant’Orso. At the end of January, the city hosts the Sant’Orso Fair, the most important event in the area, which attracts numerous tourists and visitors and offers a wide selection of local crafts and regional culinary specialties.
In the valley floor stretch between Pont Saint Martin (the first village you encounter when arriving from Piedmont) and Courmayeur, you can admire the numerous castles that, over the centuries, have served as residences for the various feudal lords who ruled the territory. Notable among them are Bard Castle, Fenis Castle, Issogne Castle, Verres Castle, Sarre Castle, and Saint-Pierre Castle. Numerous others can be added to this list; in fact, there are over eighty castles in the region in total.
The region, with its distinctly Alpine characteristics, is a winter sports paradise; in fact, it boasts about thirty ski resorts, among which the Monte Rosa ski area—featuring the town of Gressoney—stands out, the Matterhorn ski area with the town of Breuil-Cervinia—where you can even ski on the glaciers in summer—the Mont Blanc ski area with the town of Courmayeur, and the Gran Paradiso ski area with the towns of Cogne and Pila. At all of these ski resorts, you can enjoy any winter sport, from skiing to snowboarding, from cross-country skiing to off-piste snowshoeing.
During the summer, the entire region offers marked trails and paths that allow visitors to enjoy nature-filled hikes and discover fantastic landscapes, such as the one offered by Lago Blu, located at the foot of the Matterhorn.
The region also offers opportunities for relaxation to spa enthusiasts; in fact, there are numerous thermal baths and spas in the town of Saint-Vincent.
The casino (one of only four in Italy) is also located in Saint Vincent.