Aquileia prepares to relive the spirit of the city's origins with Tempora in Aquileia, the major historical reenactment organised by the Municipality of Aquileia with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and the Aquileia Foundation. From Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June 2026, the historic centre and the archaeological areas of the UNESCO World Heritage city will be transformed into an open-air stage to relive the origins of Aquileia, at the time of its founding in 181 BC.

The theme of this edition is "The Founding of the City: the Sulcus Primigenius" — the primordial furrow that, according to Roman tradition, marked the sacred boundaries of the city at the moment of its establishment. Against the historical backdrop of the raid led by the consul Gaius Cassius Longinus into the territories of the Carni Gauls, more than 500 reenactors in costume will bring to life battles, rites, ceremonies, and performances that will draw the public into an authentic journey through time among Roman legionaries and Celtic warriors.

The Opening Ceremony: Friday 19 June

The highlight among this edition's novelties is the opening ceremony on Friday 19 June, a spectacular event that will launch the festivities with a sequence of moments of high scenic impact.

After the opening of the food-and-wine stands and the tabernae at 6.00 p.m., the official Opening Ceremony will take place at 9.00 p.m., followed at 9.45 p.m. by the Rite of the Fire of Belenus, the Celtic god of light and the sun, celebrated at the moment of the Summer Solstice. The night will then be set ablaze by the fire show of Opera Fiammae (10.30 p.m.): a rarefied and visionary performance of fire theatre, visual displays, and dreamlike set designs, directed by Anton Lumi Bonura, a professional with twenty years of experience in street theatre. The ceremony will close with the Celtic Festival, featuring music and nighttime celebrations.

Saturday 20 June: From Daily Life to the Roar of Battle

Saturday 20 June is the richest and most varied day of the entire event. From 10.00 a.m. the Historical Camps will open with educational activities in the castra, where legionaries and Celtic warriors will welcome visitors to recount daily life, combat techniques, and the customs of the era. At 10.30 a.m. the first session of Arte Gladiatoria Techné begins, the educational demonstration on the evolution and workings of weaponry, followed at 11.50 a.m. by the Ancient Dances and, at noon, by the first performance of the Joculatores, the ancient street entertainers who animated the public and private life of Republican Rome.

The afternoon will open at 3.00 p.m. with the presentation of the comic book "Torc spezzato" ("The Broken Torc"), at 3.30 p.m. with the Captio Virginis, the solemn initiation rite of a Vestal, and at 4.00 p.m. with the Plautine Comedy, blending classical theatre and satire. The most eagerly awaited ritual moment arrives at 4.45 p.m. with the Rite of the Sulcus Primigenius: the ceremony that reenacts the tracing of the sacred furrow with which the Romans founded their cities, the narrative heart of this edition. At 6.00 p.m. the stage is given over to falconry with the Gallic and Germanic peoples, followed by the Symposium at 6.30 p.m. and, at 7.15 p.m., by the Gladiatorial Arena with the Munus "The Underworld in the Arena," the combat show that brings to the stage the epic of the duels between gladiators.

As night falls, the dramatic tension rises: at 8.30 p.m. the Assembly of the Gallic Chiefs will be held, the war council in which the tribal chiefs decide to resist the abuses of Consul Longinus, followed by the Druid's propitiatory rite. At 9.00 p.m. the Ancient Dances return, then at 9.10 p.m. the most dramatic moment: the In Mortem Vestalis, the funeral ceremony of the Vestal.

The evening will culminate in the nighttime clash between the Celtic troops and the legions of Longinus, a choral spectacle with hundreds of performers that will bring the evening to a close in a crescendo of emotion. The battle will be preceded by the appearance, in the skies above the battlefield, of divine figures who will survey the time of Aquileia — recounting its past, tempering its present, and foretelling its future. The scene will be brought to life through an absolute first for this 2026 edition: the performance of Nico Gattullo, an internationally renowned aerial acrobatic dancer who, suspended dozens of metres high on fabrics and ropes, will blend strength, elegance, and theatricality in a unique act enhanced by special effects. Finally, at 10.30 p.m., "The Attack of the Carni Gauls" breaks loose: the nighttime clash between the Celtic troops and the legions of Longinus, a choral spectacle with hundreds of performers that will bring the evening to a close in a crescendo of emotion.

Sunday 21 June: Diplomacy, the Senate, and the Epilogue

Sunday, under the sign of the Summer Solstice, opens at the same pace as the previous day: from 10.00 a.m. the Historical Camps once again welcome the public for educational activities, while at the same time "Aquileia between History and Legend" debuts, the presentation of the comic book inspired by the events of the ancient city. In the early hours of the morning these are followed by a new session of Arte Gladiatoria Techné at 10.30 a.m., the Ancient Dances at 11.50 a.m. and, at noon, the performance of the Joculatores.

The afternoon brings to the stage the political heart of the narrative: at 3.00 p.m. the "Roman Senate vs. Gauls" opens, the session in which the Gallic delegates plead their cause before the Senate against the violence of Longinus, in a tense confrontation between two worlds and two visions of the law. At 3.30 p.m. the Ancient Dances return, at 3.40 p.m. a new performance of the Plautine Comedy. At 4.00 p.m. the Rite of the Sulcus Primigenius is repeated, followed at 5.15 p.m. by the second Munus "The Underworld in the Arena" and at 6.30 p.m. by the falconry demonstrations.

The event's epilogue arrives at 7.00 p.m. with "The Final Battle": the Carni Gauls confront the troops of Longinus one last time in an epic clash with an unexpected ending, releasing the narrative tension built up over the three days. Closing out Sunday, and the entire 2026 edition, will be the Ancient Dances at 7.45 p.m. and the final performance of the Joculatores at 8.00 p.m., a festive and light-hearted farewell that restores a smile to the public after the emotions of the battle.

From Dawn to Night, All Weekend Long

For the entire duration of the event it will be possible to visit the Celtic Village and the Roman Castrum, with dozens of educational activities: from Roman clothing to combat techniques, from Iron Age nutrition to Celtic herbalism, from iron forging to the art of mosaic and fresco. All of this is accompanied by the Market of Reconstructive Historical Craftsmanship and the food-and-wine stands, where it will be possible to taste the flavours of antiquity. For information and updates: www.temporainaquileia.it.

The Value of Reconstruction: Experimental Archaeology on Stage

Historical fidelity is the true beating heart of the event. The historical camps on display are not mere stage sets, but genuine living museums based on the most recent archaeological and literary discoveries. Every detail meets strict criteria of philological accuracy: Experimental Archaeology: Faithful reproduction of weapons, armour, tools, and clothing, handcrafted with the materials and techniques of the era (wrought iron, bronze, naturally dyed wool and linen).

The Military and Civilian Camps: Accurate setup of the Roman castrum and the Celtic village, where one can observe up close the arrangement of the tents, the guard shifts, and the military hierarchy.

Daily Life in Antiquity: Practical demonstrations of the age-old routine, from the preparation of the legionaries' meals (puls) to craft activities such as forging, weaving, and the minting of coins.

Interactive Education: The historical reenactors, deeply versed in the subject, are available to the public to explain the evolution of combat tactics, field medicine, and the complex religious rituals that united and divided the two civilisations. This immense work transforms scientific dissemination into a living, thrilling story accessible to all.

Throughout the weekend, visitors of all ages will be able to immerse themselves in the daily life of the ancient Roman and Celtic world: from the military camps with gladiatorial demonstrations to the historical craft workshops, from the flavours of ancient food and wine to the shows of dance, comic theatre, and juggling. There will also be the Plautine comedy with the atelier of Roman masks, and the evocative educational visits to the Celtic village and the Roman castrum.

A unique opportunity to experience Aquileia in an immersive way — among history, spectacle, tradition, and participation — restoring meaning and life to a heritage that continues to speak to us powerfully from the past.