The Riviera of the Alps and the Fons Salutis
In the central Aosta Valley, on a sunny terrace facing south, sheltered from the cold winds, Saint-Vincent is called the "Riviera delle Alpi", the Riviera of the Alps, for its particularly mild and sunny climate, which has made it, since the eighteenth century, one of the most popular holiday resorts in the valley. Its fortune began in 1770, when the abbot Jean-Baptiste Perret discovered a spring of mineral water with beneficial properties, which was called the Fons Salutis, the "spring of health", and around it a renowned spa developed, frequented by the aristocracy and the royal family of Savoy, which gave the town an elegant atmosphere of hotels, villas and gardens. The water of the Fons Salutis, rich in bicarbonate and minerals, was used for drinking cures and baths.
In the twentieth century, Saint-Vincent became famous also for the Casino de la Vallée, opened in 1947, one of the four casinos in Italy and one of the largest in Europe, which made it a glamorous destination for shows, events and nightlife. The thermal establishment has been the subject of a long relaunch project, so it is worth checking which services are open before you go. The town also offers a pleasant pedestrian centre, the Via Chanoux, with shops and cafés, and the Romanesque parish church of Saint-Vincent, of the eleventh century, with a crypt and the remains of Roman baths. From Saint-Vincent, it is easy to reach the castles of the valley, such as Fénis, Ussel and Verrès, and the Valtournenche, with Cervinia.
Tip: check the opening of the spa before you go; visit the parish church with its crypt; combine it with the castles of the valley.
Where it is
More things to see in Aosta Valley
Where to stay near Saint-Vincent
Tours and activities nearby
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