Rue d'Italie (Italy Street), Aix-en-Provence

Italy Street ranks among the oldest in Aix鈥攁nd in all of France, for that matter. Its name tips the hat to Napoleon鈥檚 Italian campaigns, though its roots stretch much further back. It traces the route of the ancient Roman Aurelia way, which once linked Rome to Spain, passing right through the Baths of Sextius, a colony founded by consul Gaius Sextius Calvinus in the 2nd century BCE. Time has layered names onto the street like sediment鈥攆rom the medieval "Way of Saint Maximinus" to "Way of Saint John," thanks to the nearby church.

By 1540, a manor near that same church was sacrificed to strengthen city fortifications, only to give way again in 1671 to a priory built by chaplain Jean-Claude Viany. A few centuries later, that priory transformed into the Granet Museum鈥攖oday, one of the city鈥檚 cultural cornerstones.

Set in the old Mazarin district, Italy Street doesn鈥檛 scream grandeur, but its quiet mix of townhouses, shops, and eateries makes it one of the friendliest walks in town. You鈥檙e never far from a plate of pasta at La Dolce Italia or a cold drink at A Casa.

The cobblestones underfoot are distinctly Provence-style, and one side of the Church of Saint John quietly watches over it all. If you're there around midday, snag a seat at Between Noon and Two 鈥� some names just speak for themselves.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Rue d'Italie (Italy Street)
Sight Location: Aix-en-Provence, France (See walking tours in Aix-en-Provence)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Aix-en-Provence Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence, France

Create Your Own Walk in Aix-en-Provence

Creating your own self-guided walk in Aix-en-Provence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

In the Footsteps of Paul C茅zanne

Paul C茅zanne, often called the 鈥渇ather of modern art鈥� for bridging 19th-century post-impressionism and the birth of early modernism, caused a bit of a stir early in his career. While staying with Doctor Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise, he painted his take on Manet鈥檚 Olympia鈥攂ut with a twist. Instead of just a reclining nude, C茅zanne inserted himself into the scene, back turned, like a shy... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Aix-en-Provence Introduction Walking Tour

Aix-en-Provence may not have coastal views, but it compensates in style with its Roman bathwater and city logistics. Founded in 123 BC by Roman consul Gaius Sextius Calvinus, this southern French settlement鈥攐riginally named Aquae Sextiae, which means 鈥淲aters of Sextius鈥濃€攚as built around its thermal springs and the promise of a good soak. Centuries later, the name was streamlined to... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

Aix-en-Provence Fountains and Squares Tour

Aix-end-Provence is known for its fountains. With more than 1,000 fountains, a tourist could spend weeks walking around the city without glimpsing them all. The fountains began appearing under the Roman empire when the Romans discovered Aix's natural thermal water source. They referred to the area as Aquae Sextiae or the Waters of Sextius.

The fountains appear throughout the city and are... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

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