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Visit Aquileia

Aquileia is found to the south-east of the Veneto-Friuli region, between Gorizia and Trieste.

2000 years ago, Aquileia was a large and thriving Roman town. It is now a much quieter place, but contains important ruins and monuments that remain from its heyday. Unfortunately much of the city was destroyed by Attila in the 5th century then pillaged and used for building materials during later centuries, and there are fewer Roman ruins to be seen than you would expect.

The major highlights in Aquileia include the Roman Forum, the basilica and the Archaeology Museum - the Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site

The “decumanus maximus” was the main street of the Roman city, and it passed on the south side of the forum, right next to the Basilica. It was a very important way to Aquileia, because  from the city centre  came to port. The “Forum” the “decumanus” was above a critical link, because there were many shops in it. Through this way the merchants could easily access the port to take the goods arrive by sea. The aqueduct at Aquileia came from the North and crossed the entire underground forum.

Aquileia Basilica

The Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia, dedicated to Saints Ermacora and Fortunato, was built in 1031 by Patriarch Poppone (1019-1045) on an existing paleo-Christian basilica, dating from the time of Bishop Theodore (fourth century). The history of the Basilica is that of abuilding  in continuous renewal. It suffered severe destruction due to the passage of Attila, after which it was rebuilt with three naves, but without apses.

In the mosaic floor there is an inscription that recalls Bishop Theodore, the founder of the Basilica. The mosaic floor of the Basilica of Aquileia is an imposing work of 700 square meters, dating from the fourth century AD. The theme of the mosaic is one of the most important examples of "Biblia pauperum" (or "the Bible of the Poor", 'poor' meaning those who could not read and write and therefore could only approach the sacred history in pictures ). Hence the images are used for moral reasons and are characterized by strong Christian symbolism.

The main entrance was located perhaps in the South Hall, where there is a mosaic depicting the achievements of Jonah, while the North Hall was reserved for the catechumens. The south room was richly frescoed and the floor was a mosaic depicting a sea full of fish and the cycle of stories of Jonah. The floor was divided into nine panels  and reflected the division of the ceiling into nine bays. The rest of the room is enriched with festoon acanthus and shapes of faces, presumably of the commissioners. There is also the figure of the "Good Shepherd" with a deer and a gazelle, the Christian symbol of the soul towards God.

The visit to Aquileia may continue to the South of the Basilica, along the banks of the river port on the river Natissa, once navigable. We see only the western bank, which still preserves some rings for moorings of vessels.

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was built with a very elongated shape. It is huge and rectangular, measuring nearly 200 meters long and about 80 meters in length. The “Platea” is the central part of the forum. It is not covered, and presents a large area paved with large flat stones. Unfortunately only a small part of the original floor now remains. Inside the “Platea” there are no large buildings today, but we can still see traces on the pavement of the original impressive buildings.

The portico was the part covered of the “Forum”. It was 6 meters wide and contained the “Platea” on all four sides. It consisted of a wooden roof, supported by one side on the buildings surrounding the forum, and secondly, on some columns. Blocks of stone covered the entire wooden structure of the roof. Lengthwise were originally 50 columns, and about twenty in breadth, separated from each other about 3 meters. The columns holding up the big lintels decorated with the motif of garlands vegetable; within each were carved garland of flowers. Above the lintel were located other large slabs of stone, the so-called  “plutei”, decorated with garlands supported by "cupids" or eagles. The smaller slabs of stone, which are located above each column, the "plinths", depicted the faces of deities like Jupiter or Medusa. All the portico above the columns was about 3 meters, and the columns were about 7 meters high.

Around the “Forum” were located several buildings with different functions (political, religious and commercial purposes), the  shops or “tabernae”.

The building used for popular assemblies, called “Comitium”, was located on the North side of the “Forum”. It was a covered building, the outer walls of which were square, but inside it was composed of four very large circular steps; the outer one had a diameter of 30 meters. The Roman shops, called "tabernae", were found on the east side of the “Forum”. It were all equal, narrow and very long, which measured about six feet by twelve. Their work was interrupted by the burning of Attila in 452 AD, when most of the city was destroyed. All that now remains of these shops are the floors and some parts of the back wall. The "Forensic Basilica" closes the area South of the forum. This large building, according to ancient writers, served as shelter for the merchants during the cold season and weather. Its size was very large, about 80 meters long and 30 wide. Even the “Forensic Basilica” was burned by Attila in 452 AD and its remains were then used to build the great walls of the city.

Aquileia archaeology Museum - a brief guide to the highlights

The Archaeological Museum preserves artefacts of the Roman period found in the territory of Aquileia. On the first floor you can see mosaics from private homes, numerous portraits and statues; is also very impressive in the Lapidary Gallery, in which the highlight is the tombstone of Lucius Manlius Acidinus (2nd  century BC), one of the triumvirate that founded the city.

On the upper floors there is a vast collection of artefacts of the minor arts, such as glass, jewellery, coins, cameos and lamps.The first room shows some examples of Roman portraiture, very realistic, and the tombstone of Lucius Manlius Acidinus, one of three magistrates who founded the colony in 181 BC (eg among the documents is an interesting to note the “ex-voto” for victory against Maximinus the Thracian (173-238), who besieged Aquileia in 238 AD).

In the second room are some funerary statues, which come largely from the necropolis outside the city - the great statue of Claudius, the "navarch" and a child's head crowned with ivy, while the third room keeps funerary relieves, with lively depictions of the occupations practiced by the deceased. The fourth room is devoted to some sacred sculptures and copies of Hellenistic originals. Upstairs there is the important collection of cameos (with portraits of the Julio-Claudian dynasty), ambers, a late antique silver helmet, many ceramics, bronzes,  and a bronze chandelier with early Christian symbols (fourth century).

The lapidary is located outside, where, on the floor, have been incorporated some mosaics with scenes depicting "The abduction of Europe", the “Triumph of Neptune” and figures of athletes. See also history of Aquileia

Other Aquileia Highlights

Besides the Roman heritage, we can not forget that the Patriarchate of Aquileia was for almost a thousand years (400-1400 AD) the religious and political capital of a vast area that included, in addition to Friuli, part of Eastern Veneto, Carinthia and Slovenia. The grandeur of this history is now very noticeable in Aquileia and its surroundings.

Certain customs of the city date from very ancient traditions, such as those related to crafts and good food: people here have always been sustained by fishing and the 'seafood tradition' is perhaps best represented by the so-called “boreto a la graisana”. But the meats are also well represented, such as our local duck, salami, beef sirloin and pork leg or pork, dairy products like cheese, smoked ricotta, and finally the dessert, gnocchi and the homemade pastas.