Turin to Aosta and Ivrea: Private day trip

The center of the Salassi people in proto-history, they were slaughtered and enslaved by the Romans in 25 BC, a victory memorialized by a triumphal arch still standing outside the city wells. By 11 BC, the military settlement the Romans had established had developed into the capital of the Empire’s Grey Alps province thanks to its strategic position at the confluence of two rivers and two mountain passes. Today, the streets of Aosta’s old town still follow the Roman city planning, and the Roman ruins have been incorporated into the city. The walls and two gates are still preserved, and if you keep your eyes open, you’ll see buildings that are built on Roman foundations. The facade of the Roman theatre still stands today, and the Forum is annexed to the 11th century cathedral, which still bears an Ottonian fresco on the ceiling.

Founded as a Roman outpost around 100BC, Ivrea was a Ducal seat under the Lombards, and throughout the middle ages was involved with some of the most prominent figures in Italy, being fought over by the King of Italy, the Holy Roman Emperor, various bishops, the marquisate of Monferrato, and the House of Savoy. Monuments from the city’s early days still abound, such as the 14th century castle, 10th century Bishop’s Palace, or the ancient Cathedral, which houses a Roman sarcophagus in its crypt. While the Old Town is beautiful, Ivrea also offers a unique modern attraction in the UNESCO-listed Open Air Museum of Modern Architecture. In the 1930s through the ‘60s, Adriano Olivetti brought in the best architects in Italy to develop an urban utopia for the workers of his typewriter company. Adriano believed he could reinvest his profits for both world-class industrial production and benefit the whole of whole society.