The Regional Archaeological Museum of the Aosta Valley

The Regional Archaeological Museum of the Aosta Valley (MAR) is a key institution for understanding the rich history of this Alpine region, from its most ancient origins to the Middle Ages.

Located in the heart of Aosta, it is a true “museum within a museum” thanks to its setting atop significant archaeological remains. The MAR stands strategically in Piazza Pierre-Léonard Roncas 12, in the city’s historic center. The building that houses it — once the Convent of the Visitandine Sisters and later the Challant Barracks — was constructed in an area of great archaeological importance, where in Roman times stood the Porta Principalis Sinistra of Augusta Praetoria.

Excavations carried out before the museum’s renovation uncovered, beneath its floors, the remains of this ancient gate and a section of the Roman city walls. Today, these can be admired via suspended walkways, offering visitors an immersive journey through the history of Aosta.

A Journey Through Time: From Prehistory to the Middle Ages

The museum’s permanent exhibition follows a chronological and thematic path, guiding visitors through more than eight thousand years of human history, from 7000 B.C. to the 7th century A.D.

The first section, dedicated to Prehistory and Protohistory, explores the earliest human presence in the Aosta Valley. Highlights include finds from the Megalithic Area of Saint-Martin-de-Corléans, such as sculpted anthropomorphic stelae and funerary objects that illustrate ancient spiritual practices and social structures.

The following section is devoted to the Roman era, one of the richest and most captivating periods of the museum. Here, visitors can admire an impressive scale model of Augusta Praetoria, alongside numerous objects of daily life — cutlery, ceramics, lamps, toys, and tools — that reveal the habits of Roman citizens. Particularly striking are the funerary artifacts: glass vessels, bronze and marble fragments, and painted decorations that evoke the elegance of Roman artistry and craftsmanship. A reconstruction of a Roman thermopolium (tavern) brings ancient Aosta vividly to life, while inscriptions and epigraphs shed light on its social and political organization. Among the most precious items is an exquisite balteus (soldier’s belt) decorated with scenes of battle between Romans and barbarians.

The MAR also preserves the prestigious “Pautasso” Numismatic Collection, which spans from the Greek world to the Savoy period, including rare Celtic, Gallic, and northern Italian coins.

The tour concludes with the Christian-Medieval Section, featuring masterpieces such as an 8th-century ambo (pulpit) discovered in the excavations of Aosta Cathedral and richly decorated burial objects, including gold-inlaid glass goblets and a knight’s sword with spurs from the site of Saint-Ours.

Finally, visitors can descend to the Archaeological Excavations beneath the museum, where the remains of the Porta Principalis Sinistra and Roman walls are accessible — a rare chance to explore the city’s ancient foundations firsthand.

In addition to its permanent collection, the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events in the upper floors, transforming it into a dynamic space for discovery and reflection on the region’s heritage.

Address: Piazza Pierre-Léonard Roncas, 12, Aosta (AO), Italy

Contacts:

• Phone: +39 0165 275902
• Website: www.valledaostaheritage.com

Opening Hours:

• Daily (Monday–Sunday): 09:00 – 19:00

Tickets:

• Full price: € 10.00
• Reduced: € 8.00
• Free: Visitors under 25 years old

Cover photo credits: Valle d’Aosta Official Heritage