Aquileia is today a town of just over 3,000 inhabitants in the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The city is located about ten kilometers from the Grado Lagoon on the Gulf of Trieste. It was once one of the largest Mediterranean cities of the Roman Empire. In addition to the remains of Roman buildings, the magnificent mosaics of the Basilica of Aquileia are particularly impressive today. Some treasures are probably still waiting to be unearthed. The area where — despite the sweltering heat — surveys are carried out day after day is the size of a football field. Archeology students at the University of Verona have an insight into how research work works in practice and can also work on it themselves.
ORF Basilica of Aquileia
Research leader Diana Dobreva: “We are in the process of excavating a large trading post, which consists of at least four smaller fields. It emerged in late antiquity, when Aquileia played an important political, economic and religious role here through the basilica.”
Hello Srecno Ciao from July 22, 2023
Servus Srecno Ciao visits the Aquileia excavations and a trout farm.
Trade in meat, fish and cereals
Traces of residues found suggest that meat, fish and grains were once traded here, says PhD student Nicola Delbarba: “It’s very exciting to do research here and always discover something new. It’s often like looking for a needle in a haystack. Often we sit together late into the night and talk. It’s fascinating and completely enchants you.”
ORF mosaic floor in the basilica
A film festival is also held in Aquileia from the 1st to the 8th of August. The focus is on showing films about history and archaeology. Valuable finds unearthed during excavations can be seen in the Museum of Aquileia. It also houses one of the most comprehensive amber collections in the world.
Shipping note:
Servus, Srecno, Ciao; 7/22/2023
Each country used to have a different type of amphora. The variety of finds is testament to the fact that Aquileia was an important trading city during the Roman Empire.
ORF excavation site
Village open to visitors
“Domus Tito Macro” is one of the greatest examples of a Pompeian villa in all of Italy. It has only been open to visitors since this spring, according to Roberto Corciulo, president of Fondazione Aquileia: “To the east you can see where the shops used to be, facing the street that used to pass here. The rooms provide insight into how this wealthy Roman used to live here.”
The remains of at least two or three private houses were brought to light as early as the 1950s. A few years ago, specialists from the University of Padua proved that the remains of walls and floors belong to different eras, from the 1st to the 4th century.
ORF Aquileia
Right in the center is an apartment with an open courtyard and a water fountain. The mosaic of the “Good Shepherd in an unusual robe” once adorned the reception hall, and another motif shows a fishing scene. Motifs like these were also very popular with pagans during the 4th century – so this hall should not have been used as a Christian oratory. Experts see these mosaics as a sign of the former owner’s prosperity. Until the end of August, Aquileia’s excavations and archaeological sites are open every Friday until 11 pm.