Aosta
Aosta ( Aosta French, Franco-Provençal Aoûta, German rarely East) is the capital of the Valle d'Aosta in the Italian Alps. Aosta is located about 583 meters above sea level and covers 21 square kilometers. The city has 34 657 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012).
The town is dominated by the Monte Emilius.
History
The Aosta Valley was conquered in 25 BC by A. Terentius Varro Murena. The previously established strain of Salassians majority was sold into slavery. The city was founded by Augustus under the name of Augusta Praetoria from an existing legion camp out whose plan was adopted for the civilian town by veterans of the imperial bodyguard, the Praetorian Guard.
When securing the route over the Little St. Bernard ( Alpis Graia ) Colonia Augusta Praetoria was founded. Here 3000 veterans of the Praetorian Guard were settled. After the opening of the Great St. Bernard the importance of the site took too.
The town was laid out like a chessboard. It consisted of 64 insulae (neighborhoods) and had the shape of a square. This Roman structure can be seen in the cityscape of the old city today. The city wall had on all four sides of a gate. The forum took the area of eight insulae, the amphitheater of two. The other buildings were apparently not built Insula - across. In addition there were a theater and thermal baths.
In early medieval times feuded Pippin the Younger the Lombards in the area. Charlemagne built the Via Francigena through the city to Rome.
The former French-speaking Aosta got with the influx of Italian native speakers in the 20th century Italian trains.
Attractions
The strategic location at the Alpine pass brought the city since Roman times, a traffic- importance. To date, some is from this period. In particular, the further used in the medieval town wall is in large parts still available. Some towers are Roman least in the core. One is obviously only from Roman substance. A city gate, the Porta Praetoria ( main gate ) is also preserved. Before that there is a triumphal arch built around 25 BCE Arco d' Augusto ( " Arch of Augustus "). The Roman bridge Pont de Pierre, which led past a river that now runs elsewhere, also dates from the time of Augustus. Near the town is another well preserved Roman bridge, Pont -Saint -Martin, in the same village.
The remains of the theater and the forum are also on display. The remains of the amphitheater are not accessible due to still ongoing restoration work. A farm on the hillside above the town is preserved.
The Roman Arch of Augustus
Traffic
Rail transport
The place is a terminus of the line Aosta -Pré -Saint -Didier.
Road
With the Italian motorway A5 Aosta has a powerful road access, which connects Turin with France via the Mont Blanc tunnel. The other nationally important road in the Aosta Valley is the Italian state road SS26. Aosta is also on the connection of the Alpine passes and the Little St Bernard Great Saint Bernard.
Traffic
Aosta has the Aosta Airport (Italian: Aeroporto della Valle d' Aosta " Corrado Gex ", French Aeroport de la Vallee d' Aosta " Corrado Gex " ) a regional airport. It is located about two kilometers east of the city.
Famous people
Anselm of Canterbury was born in Aosta. The second son of the Italian king, Amadeo, 1870-73 King of Spain, bore the title of Duke of Aosta. Even the football players Sergio Pellissier and ski mountaineers Gloriana Pellissier, Jean Pellissier, Chiara Raso and Dennis Brunod are born here.
Sports
- On June 2, 1996 Gianni Bugno won the 15th stage of the Giro d' Italia in Aosta.
- From 21 June to 25 June 2006, the World Junior Championship of street hockey took place in Aosta.