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We fortified ourselves with a good breakfast in the reception room,
paid our bill at the VW Bus reception desk, and set off downhill into the autumn landscape,
with clear blue skies. After a little, we arrived at the outskirts of Aosta,
having to walk along roadsides, and through vineyards.
(We had enough of vineyards in Switzerland - often hot and boring places!)
Still high above the old town of Aosta, we found a small café where we had coffee and cake,
and then continued downwards. We didn't pause at main town centre, but continued on to
the outdoor market nestled against part of the old roman walls, which we knew was due to close soon.
After making some purchases, we found a local restaurant for lunch to give us energy
for some sight seeing.
The Romans founded Aosta approximately 25 b.Chr, its name at the time was Augusta Praetoria
and its mission was to control access to the alpine passes of Minor and Grand St-Bernard.
Despite various plunderings and desctructions during the following centuries,
many of the original buildings like the town wall, town gates, the triumphal arch
as well as the roman theatre and the amphitheatre partly survived.
We walked round part of the perimeter walls, and then spent some time enjoying the
fascinating archaeological museum and special exhibit on Picasso.
Our museum ticket also allowed us to visit the amazing Criptoporticus.
This monument dates back to the Augustan era, was a structure for levelling the ground for the forum.
It is also possible that the partly underground part could have been used as a warehouse
and military storage area. The marble colonnade that stood over it no longer exists.
Also included was the early Christian basilica of San Lorenzo, we we rushed to see,
but which unfortunately was closed when we got there,
We completed our visit with attendance at a service in the cathedral,
and then headed off to the bus station to get a Flixbus back to Bern
