Aquileia: Archaeology, Mosaics and Roman History

Aquileia is an exceptional destination for anyone who wants to experience history not only in individual buildings, but across an extensive archaeological landscape. Most of Aquileia lies unexcavated beneath fields, creating a unique archaeological reserve. Among mosaics, the basilica, forum, port facilities and residential buildings, a multifaceted picture of bygone eras emerges.

An Archaeological Area of Great Dimensions

The archaeological area of Aquileia covers 155 hectares. This size makes the site particularly interesting for travellers who want to combine different forms of historical evidence. The Patriarchal Basilica represents the religious history of the site, while the Roman Forum and river port reveal political, social and economic connections.

The Roman Forum of Aquileia was the central square of the city's political, administrative and social life. It measures 141 metres in length and 55 metres in width. The Decumanus of Aratria Galla connected the river port in an east-west direction with the area of the forum and theatre. This makes it possible to view individual sites as parts of a historical urban structure.

Basilica, Crypt and Exceptional Mosaics

The Patriarchal Basilica houses an exceptional mosaic floor. Its significance extends beyond an art-historical perspective: it played an important role in the Christianisation of a large part of Central Europe. The basilica also contains a ninth-century fresco crypt. Fresco scenes from the twelfth century depict the legend of the Evangelist Mark there.

Further mosaics show how diverse the themes and visual worlds of Aquileia are. The Good Shepherd mosaic decorates the apse hall at the northern end of the archaeological area of Fondo CAL. The mosaic of the South Hall has been accessible since 2011 in a museum building specially constructed for this purpose. It consists of three separate fields: the side sections show geometric patterns, while the central field contains octagons with animal figures, including a lamb.

Forum, River Port and Residential Buildings

The Roman river port of Aquileia is one of the best-preserved port facilities in the Roman world. Visitors can see preserved waterfront areas, loading and unloading quays, inclined planes and ramps that connected the port with the city's streets. Anyone interested in infrastructure and everyday life will find here an illustrative counterpart to the basilica's sacred mosaics.

Residential architecture is also part of the experience. The Domus di Tito Macro covers 1,700 square metres and is considered unique in Europe. The tour through Domus e Palazzo Episcopale reveals mosaic floors and building structures from the 1st and 2nd, 4th and 5th centuries at depths of up to 4 metres. Fondo CAL also includes an accessible residential building with geometric black-and-white mosaics. Fondo Pasqualis comprises three paved areas visible today, interpreted as marketplaces.

Museum and Practical Information

At the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, the lapidarium galleries contain hundreds of inscriptions and funerary monuments. The Early Christian Museum combines a museum presentation with an archaeological area on the site of one of Aquileia's early Christian basilicas. The Sepolcreto consists of five funerary enclosures and provides further insight into burial culture.

For planning purposes, the digital guide “Aquileia patrimonio dell'umanità” offers a map with 100 sights and themed tours through Aquileia. From 1 January 2026, the official combined ticket includes the basilica with its crypts, the baptistery and South Hall, the Domus or Episcopal Palace, as well as the Domus di Tito Macro. The regular price is 12.00 euros. Casa Bertoli is opened to the public on special occasions and during major events, in some cases also with guided tours.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Aquileia, you can make the focus of your visit your starting point. Those who place mosaics and sacred art at the centre of their visit will shortlist different sites from travellers who want to compare the forum, port facilities and residential buildings. Accommodation in Aquileia can thus be tailored to your own interests and preferred pace of visiting.

A complementary page in the directory is Belvedere. Other destinations in the same directory are Torviscosa, Tavagnacco, San Giorgio Di Nogaro, Osoppo, Majano, Enemonzo and Ragogna.

To the main travel overview: Udine.