Aosta – Regional Archaeological Museum, ancient structures and memories in the belly of the city

A real archaeological site made up of overlapping walls, passages and openings: traces of different eras that overlap, obliterate and replace each other. A fundamental point of reference for Roman archaeology, being almost entirely dedicated to the exhibition of finds from ancient Augusta Prætoria.

The MAR – Museo Archeologico Regionale stands on the remains of the monumental Porta Principalis Sinistra, the northern gate of Roman Aosta, including a portion of the northern sector of the walls, the remains of a large public warehouse with related functional rooms and a structure with a probable recreational-sports destination bordering the forensic complex.

Visitors are accompanied along a timeline that develops through 14 Rooms on the ground floor of the Caserma Challant and an further Underground route of great charm.

The exhibition has a thematic-chronological organization and unfolds from the Mesolithic (7,000-6,000 BC) up to the Funerary objects of the 13th-14th century from the parish church of Courmayeur. The protagonist is undoubtedly the Roman age.

Roman Section
Augusta Praetoria and daily life. One of the richest sections is dedicated to the ancient Roman city of Augusta Praetoria Salassorum (Aosta).

Here you can admire everyday objects, funerary objects, glass, statues, epigraphs, tools, games and a large model of the Roman city, which helps to visualize the ancient urban structure.

Christian-medieval era and the 8th century pulpit
Among the medieval finds, the 8th century white marble pulpit stands out, coming from the Cathedral of Aosta, recomposed and enhanced in a dedicated room.

Also on display are funerary objects from the 4th to the 14th century, including Golden glasses with a theory of Saints and a Sword with spurs from the church of Sant’Orso.

Underground
You can see the remains of the Porta Principalis Sinistra, one of the four city gates of Augusta Praetoria, with sections of Roman walls and the original embankment. This route offers an immersive experience in the urban history of Aosta.

Pautasso Numismatic Collection
720 coins on display including Celtic (376), pre-Roman from northern Italy, Greek, Italic, Roman, Byzantine, medieval and Savoy. The selected coins cover a time span of 2400 years

Carugo Collection
As many as 200 heterogeneous finds from the Etruscan world, Ancient Egypt and the Near East.

MAR-Regional Archaeological Museum
Piazza Roncas 12
Aosta
Val d’Aosta – Italy

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