From 25 to 27 September, a packed programme of events offers the chance to discover Aquileia’s heritage: archaeological excavations open to the public, virtual tours, guided visits, experiences in nature, glassmaking using ancient techniques, evening museum openings and an international exhibition dedicated to the Gospel of Mark.

Three days to step into the places where history happened, meet those who study and preserve this heritage every day, discover new technologies applied to archaeology, and experience different ways of exploring and telling the story of Aquileia. This is the theme of the 2026 European Heritage Days, taking place in Aquileia from 25 to 27 September, with a programme encompassing archaeological sites, museums, historic buildings and other cultural venues. The event focuses not only on the opportunity to visit cultural heritage sites, but also on the work behind their study, conservation and enhancement. In Aquileia, this heritage continues to be the subject of research while also providing a testing ground for new forms of participation and access.

The event is made possible through the collaboration of Fondazione Aquileia, the Municipality of Aquileia, the Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape Superintendency for Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Regional Directorate of Museums of Friuli Venezia Giulia – National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, the Basilica of Aquileia, PromoTurismoFVG, the University of Padua, the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the University of Verona, Pro Loco Aquileia, and the Associazione Nazionale per Aquileia.

Friday, 25 September
The programme opens on Friday, 25 September with the European project REEVALUATE – Rethinking Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age, of which Fondazione Aquileia is a partner.
From 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, in the conference room at Palazzo Brunner-Segré, the project’s main results will be presented. Funded by the Horizon Europe programme, REEVALUATE has explored how digital tools can contribute to enhancing and reusing cultural heritage in a responsible and sustainable way. The three international case studies – Aquileia, the Olympic Museum of Thessaloniki and the Fashion Museum Antwerp – will also be presented, together with a live demonstration of the tools developed.

In the afternoon, from 3 to 5 pm, the project will move directly into the archaeological area of Fondo Cossar, at the Domus of Titus Macer, where Fondazione Aquileia will present the virtual tour of the domus created as part of the REEVALUATE project. The event will show how digital experimentation, participatory processes and new approaches to interpretation can complement a physical visit to an archaeological site.

At 5.15 pm, the programme continues at the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia with the presentation of the new edition project for Volume XIV of the Inscriptiones Graecae, dedicated to the Greek-language inscriptions of Aquileia, followed by a practical session focusing on inscriptions from the museum’s collection.

Saturday, 26 September
Saturday, 26 September will be the heart of the programme, with a particularly rich schedule of events.
From 10 am to 1 pm and from 3.30 to 6 pm, visitors can take part in Archeo Open Day, a special opening of the archaeological excavation sites. Archaeologists and restorers from Fondazione Aquileia and the Universities of Padua, Verona, Venice, Trieste and Udine will welcome visitors and explain, directly in the field, the latest discoveries, finds uncovered during excavation campaigns and aspects of everyday life in ancient Aquileia. Numerous sites will be involved: the Forum, the Decumanus and Zig-Zag Walls, the Civil Basilica, the Great Baths, the Roman Theatre, the Ancient River Port, the eastern bank of the River Port, the Domus of the Dancing Putti, the Ancient Markets and the Roman Domus of Fondo CAL. Admission is free and no booking is required.

At 10 am and 4 pm, the area of the Ancient River Port will host Shinrin Yoku-Dō, a “forest bathing” experience combining nature, archaeological heritage and wellbeing, promoted by Fondazione Aquileia together with the FVG-ITALIA Forest Therapy Station and Eco&Salute. Places are limited to 20 participants per session and booking via Eventbrite is required.

Throughout the day, at the Ancient Markets – Fondo Pasqualis, visitors can watch an experimental glassmaking demonstration using a “Roman” furnace, organised by the Associazione Nazionale per Aquileia and Fondazione Aquileia. Murano-trained master glassmakers will demonstrate ancient techniques, from free-blown and mould-blown glass to mosaic glassmaking, using a wood-fired furnace. The demonstrations are free and no booking is required.

For those wishing to discover Aquileia on a guided tour, at 10.30 am “Travel with Us Through the History of Aquileia”, organised by PromoTurismoFVG, will lead visitors along an itinerary taking in the Decumanus of Aratria Galla, the Forum and the River Port, as well as the Basilica and its celebrated mosaic floor (booking required by emailing [email protected]).

Also at 10.30 am, the Associazione Nazionale per Aquileia presents “Aquileia Reinvented: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”, a walk through the archaeological areas exploring the history of excavations, restorations and interventions that have progressively transformed the way the ancient city is understood and experienced (booking required by emailing [email protected]).

At 11 am, the National Archaeological Museum will host a guided tour of the exhibition “Contemporaneità costante. Pop art” with curator Carlo Stragapede. Booking is required by emailing [email protected].

From 3.30 to 7 pm, Casa Bertoli will also be open to the public for a special afternoon, with guided tours every half hour of the home of Giandomenico Bertoli, regarded as the father of archaeological research in Aquileia. Visitors will discover its architecture, medieval frescoes and his “Conserva di Lapide”.

At 6.30 pm, the Council Chamber of the Municipality of Aquileia will host the closing event presenting the results of the Handy project, designed to strengthen cooperation between civil protection organisations in the Adriatic area.

The afternoon and evening offer further opportunities for discovery. The National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia will remain exceptionally open until 11 pm, with a special admission price of €1. At 9 pm it will host the participatory workshop “Imagining the MAN”, exploring the dialogue between archaeology and contemporary art through the exhibition “Contemporaneità costante. Pop art” (booking required by emailing [email protected]).

At 8.45 pm, the Basilica will host a concert by the Italian Youth Choir, conducted by Maestro Filippo Maria Bressan.

Sunday, 27 September
Sunday, 27 September will also offer an opportunity to explore the international exhibition “The Gospel of Mark. Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. A European Story”, organised by Fondazione Aquileia. At 10 am, at Palazzo Meizlik, the curators will guide visitors through the exhibition, which brings together in Aquileia three fragments of one of the most important manuscripts of medieval Europe. The tour – already sold out – is included in the exhibition admission ticket.

The Ancient Markets – Fondo Pasqualis will once again take centre stage throughout the day with another session of experimental glassmaking, while at 10.30 am the National Archaeological Museum will present “Aquileia, Gateway to the Mediterranean: A City at the Crossroads of History”, a guided tour of the museum’s collections (booking recommended by emailing [email protected]).

At 6 pm, the Piccola Pinacoteca in Via Roma will host a talk organised by Pro Loco Aquileia with Daniele Pasini entitled “Whose Heritage? The Troubled History of the Basilica of Aquileia”. At 7.30 pm, Piazza Capitolo will host the presentation of the Rusticitas Award, organised by the Associazione Don Gilberto Pressacco.

For information, bookings and the full programme: Fondazione Aquileia and Discover Aquileia.