Aquileia - Patriarchal Basilica - Interior

The ancient city of Aquileia is located in the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region of Italy and is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. One of the most prosperous towns in the Roman era it was destroyed in the 5th century by Attila the Hun.

The majority of the town and its Roman ruins remain buried making it one of the biggest archaeological fields in Europe. Aside from the excavation sites one of the town's most famous structures is the Patriarchal Basilica, featuring a stunning mosaic pavement, which played a very important part in the evangelization of Central Europe. A town rich in history Aquileia is perfect for visitors interested in discovering the past through archaeological finds. 

  
Aquileia - archaeological site - Italy.

Aquileia - Forum Romanum - Photo courtesy of Alecobbe/Wikimedia

The Forum

Remnants of the town's Forum, center of trade and the meeting place of the citizens, can be toured by visitors to Aquileia today. The plans for this area were created when the settlement of the town was devised, although changes were made in later years. Due to recent excavations unearthing other houses and buildings in the area the Forum as it is seen today appears to be larger than the original would have been.

Aquileia - Roman Fluvial Port - Photo courtesy of Zavijavah/Wikimedia

The Port

The Romans chose Aquileia as a site to colonize largely because it was situated on the river Natiso. Today traces of the Roman harbor system can still be seen, including canals dug to drain water flow and the natural water ways and canals that were constructed to Canale Anfora.

On the northern side of the Monastero, three different ports have been found. The Romans reinforced the river bank with Istrian limestone, known to be corrosion resistant, and both sides of the river were connected to the city by roads that led to the market place. The genius of these early engineers, and the organization of the city, can best be seen throughout Aquileia's port. 

 
Aquileia - Friuli Venezia Giulia - Italy Unesco World Heritage Site.

Residences

Aquileia has many historic houses that are quite traditional in nature, but only two residential areas can be visited by tourists. The Northern part of the Piazza Capitalo is the first area and can be reached by the Via Sacra. The second site is located on the western side of the Via Iulia Augusta.

The buildings have an interesting plan and the open air courts and porticoes surrounding them were a part of the ancient design. The houses in the areas that can be toured by visitors were once the residences of the elite in Aquileia. 

Aquileia- Archaeological Path - Photo courtesy of G.dallorto/Wikimedia

The houses located to the north of Piazza Capitalo are some of the oldest in the town. The rooms were all designed to face west so the inhabitants would have ample light during the day. Mosaics from some of the more elaborate homes can now be seen in local museums.

Via Iulia Augusta

Several homes on the Via Iulia Augusta have been recognized as being particularly important or lavishly decorated. One of the houses has an atrium and a peristylium, surrounded by columns and a portico, and one of its rooms was used for Christian worship. This room features a mosaic that depicts the Good Shepherd, a symbol seen in many of the homes in the area. The floors in the home were built on uneven levels, thought to help prevent dampness from seeping into the house.

The Burial Area

One of the most interesting archaeological sites in Aquileia is the ancient burial area. The old necropolis stretches along a road close to the amphitheater. The necropolis was found in 1939 and has been carefully restored over the years. This cemetery is noteworthy because it is one of the only ones from this time period that can still be seen as many burial grounds were flanked by monuments during Roman times. 

The main burial area was divided into various different parts, each one protected by walls and stone blocks. The stone blocks reflected the name of the family and the deceased. There are five different parts, which belonged to different families and have been dated from the 1^st century to the 3^rd century. 

The Emperor Justinian once described Aquileia as "the greatest of all the towns in the West." Today visitors can glimpse the remnants of the glorious past of this Roman town by touring the sites in Aquileia.