Donnas: Roman Road, Viticulture and Historic Village Culture

Donnas is a place where Roman transport history, viticulture and village architecture stand closely side by side. The slopes of the hilly landscape are covered with densely planted vine terraces; at the same time, paths, ecomuseums and historic buildings preserve traces of everyday life. If you are looking for a place with diverse cultural and landscape experiences, Donnas offers a remarkable variety.

Roman Traces Along the Via delle Gallie

The history becomes particularly vivid at a 221-metre-long section of the Roman Via delle Gallie near Donnas. The road is carved into the rock and opens onto a 4-metre-high archway. Deep wheel ruts left by passing carts have been preserved in the paving. Beside the Roman archway, a milestone relief set into the rock marks the 36th mile from Augusta Praetoria. Together, these details provide a tangible picture of how the historic transport route shaped the rock and the village landscape.

Viticulture and Historic Buildings

The Wine and Vine Ecomuseum in Donnas displays tools that document the history and development of heroic viticulture. The densely planted terraces on the slopes of the hilly landscape also provide a visible setting for this theme. In the old village, you will find 16th-century windows, frescoes and inlaid walnut portals. Palazzo Enrielli is a 17th-century building. The Ecomuseum of the Tréby seasonal dairy also documents part of the history of the local community of Donnas.

Festivals in the Historic Village

The local culture is also reflected in recurring events. The Donnas Grape Festival takes place every year on the first weekend of October and is connected with viticulture. The Donnas Sant'Orso Fair takes place on the third Sunday in January in the historic village.

Paths, Rock Faces and Walks

For an active exploration, the relatively easy Barmet Trail offers a special historical highlight. It leads to natural shelters that were formerly used by different owners as wine cellars, tool sheds or places to collect rainwater for the vineyards. Donnas also has interesting rock faces for climbing: in the sunnier all’adret zone above the Via delle Gallie and at Albard in Donnas, as well as in the shadier area of Outrefer. Relaxed walks are possible along the Fer stream. This makes it possible to combine the history of viticulture, the landscape and physical activity in different ways.

Practical Orientation in Donnas

The Cignas forest has parking spaces as well as tables and benches for up to 250 people. For travel to Donnas, the village can be reached by bus via the Pont-Saint-Martin–Aosta route. These two aspects complement the cultural and landscape attractions with practical information for your stay.

Discover More Places

In addition to Donnas, you can also discover Verrayes, Arvier, Arnad, Oyace, Coveyrand, Villeneuve, Chateau and Lillianes.

To the higher-level travel overview: Aosta Valley.