Identity: municipality, languages, Saint Gratus
Aosta is a single municipality without districts in a region without provinces. Italian and French are co-official; Franco-Provençal (patois) is the traditional language. Patron saint Gratus, town holiday on 7 September. Founded by the Romans in 25 BC.
Sections: Geography · History · Population · Languages · Time zone · Public holidays
Administrative structure
Valle d'Aosta has no provinces: the municipality of Aosta answers directly to the autonomous Region, which also exercises many powers normally held by the state (schools, health, roads, land registry). The municipality is small and not divided into districts; its territory includes the centre, the valley-floor quarters and many hamlets (villages) on the south-facing hillside, from Signayes to Porossan.
The municipality uses the double name Aosta/Aoste and publishes its acts and website in Italian and French.
Languages
The Special Statute of 1948 places Italian and French on the same footing: in public schools French has the same hours as Italian from nursery onwards, regional public competitions include a French test and official documents are bilingual. In daily life people speak Italian; standard French is understood by almost everyone but little used.
The historic language is Valdôtain Franco-Provençal, the patois, still spoken mainly in the villages and by older generations; the municipality and the Region run free patois courses for adults. The Valley also has two German-speaking Walser municipalities (Gressoney and Issime), not in Aosta.
- Patron saint: Gratus, bishop of Aosta in the fifth century. 7 September is a holiday in the municipality, with the fair and the procession of the reliquary bust.
- Foundation: Augusta Praetoria Salassorum, a Roman colony of 25 BC; the Arch of Augustus, Porta Praetoria, the Theatre, the Cryptoporticus and the walls are still visible and earn the town the name «Rome of the Alps».
- Sant'Orso Fair (30–31 January): a thousand-year-old fair of wood and soapstone crafts, the Valley's identity event.
- Institutions: Regional Palace (Piazza Deffeyes), Regional Council, Hôtel de Ville on Piazza Chanoux, Cathedral and Collegiate of Sant'Orso, Parini regional hospital, Università della Valle d'Aosta, Bibliothèque régionale.
Data
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Reviewed: 10/23/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-10-31
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