Arch of Augustus

The Arch of Augustus is a monument in the city of Aosta, northern Italy [1]. It was erected in 25 BC on the occasion of the Roman victory over the Salassi and was the work of Aulus Terentius Varro Murena [1]. It is located at the end of the decumanus maximus [1]. Constructed from conglomerate, the arch has a single vault, with a height to the keystone of 11.4 metres [1]. Its span is a barrel vault, constituting an extension in width of a round arch [1]. In the monument, various styles can be recognised: The ten engaged columns which decorate its facade and its sides culminate in Corinthian capitals, while the entablature, adorned with metopes and triglyphs, is of the Doric order [1]. During the 12th century, the arch contained the home of a local noble family and in 1318 a small fortification was built inside it, designed for a corps of crossbowmen [1]. In 1716, because of the numerous leaks that were compromising the integrity of the monument, the attic that previously crowned the arch was replaced with a slate roof [1].