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Arch of Augustus

The Roman triumphal arch that has marked Aosta's eastern entrance since 25 BC.

  • Aosta
  • Monument
Plan your visit
Where
Aosta
Best for
Arch of 25 BC
Allow
15 minutes
Tickets
Free

The Arch of Augustus stands at the eastern entrance of Aosta, built in 25 BC after Rome defeated the Salassi and founded the colony of Augusta Praetoria. For two thousand years it has watched over the road into town, in line with the Porta Praetoria and the Roman bridge across the Buthier.

Locals called it Saint-Voult, after a crucifix hung beneath the keystone; the one you see now dates from 1980 and replaced a fifteenth-century cross that is kept in the cathedral treasury museum. A restoration in 1913 and 1914 gave the arch its present look. It is a monument to see from the street, on foot, at any time, and it costs nothing.

Sources and citations (5)
  1. Comune di AostaArco di AugustoPage title; Dov'è and La storia sectionsRead source
  2. Regione Autonoma Valle d'AostaArco onorario d'AugustoOpening two paragraphs: road, dedication, defeat and colony foundationRead source
  3. Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta tourism portalArco di AugustoMain description, paragraphs 1-2Read source
  4. Regione Autonoma Valle d'AostaAugusta Praetoria, la città romanaCity plan paragraphs; external-space paragraph and numbered monument listRead source
  5. Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta tourism portalGuida turistica della cittàPage 15, Arco di Augusto paragraph: crucifix copy and Treasury originalRead source

Four things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The mixed-order columnsRoman, 25 BC

    Corinthian capitals are paired with a Doric frieze, a mix that shows Roman eclecticism.On the arch itself

  2. The Saint-Voult crucifixWooden crucifix under the vault

    A crucifix hangs beneath the arch, the source of the medieval nickname; the original is in the cathedral treasury.Beneath the keystone

  3. The slate roofAdded in 1716

    An unusual pitched slate roof replaced the old attic to protect the monument from water.Top of the arch

  4. The Roman bridge over the ButhierRoman, 1st century BC

    A well-preserved Roman bridge that once carried the road out of Augusta Praetoria.A short stroll from the arch

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
Free
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
15 minutes
Best time
Golden hour, when the stone warms and traffic thins
Getting there
At Piazza Arco d'Augusto, on the eastern edge of the old town, where Via Sant'Anselmo meets the ring road. It is a short stroll from the Porta Praetoria and easy to combine with the Roman bridge over the Buthier.
Accessibility
An outdoor monument seen from the pavement; no steps are involved.

Free to see at any time. It is not part of the Aosta Archeologica combined ticket, which covers the indoor Roman sites.

Walk on to the Roman bridge over the Buthier, one of the few places where the arch, the bridge and the Porta Praetoria line up along the same axis.

Official website
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Good to know

How long should you spend at the Arch of Augustus in Aosta?

Fifteen minutes is enough. It is a monument to see from the street, and it is free, so stop on your way in or out of the old town.

Why is the Arch of Augustus in Aosta called Saint-Voult?

The medieval name comes from a crucifix hung beneath the keystone. The one you see today is a copy, and the older cross is kept in the cathedral treasury museum.

Can you see the Arch of Augustus and the Roman sites of Aosta in one day?

Yes, they are all on foot: the arch, the Porta Praetoria, the Roman bridge and the theatre lie within the old town. A morning is enough for the Roman walk.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

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