Imagine strolling through the ruins of one of the most powerful cities in the Roman Empire, while a master glassblower shapes incandescent glass using techniques two thousand years old, or while an archaeologist tells you — straight from the dig — what they uncovered just last week. This is not a film set: this is what happens in Aquileia from 12 to 14 June, during the European Archaeology Days. A weekend in which this extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site, among the best preserved in Italy, steps off the page and becomes something you can touch, smell and walk through.

Archaeology "Live"
The highlight of the three days is undoubtedly Saturday 13 June, when archaeologists open the gates of their active excavation sites to the public. The Archeo Open Day (10.30–13 and 16.30–19, free admission, no booking required) allows visitors to step inside working digs - from the Forum to the Great Baths, from the Roman Theatre to the Ancient River Port, all the way to the Roman townhouses - and hear directly from the excavators about the latest discoveries, finds from recent campaigns, and the everyday lives of the inhabitants of what was once one of the most important metropolises of antiquity. A rare opportunity that turns a sightseeing trip into something closer to a journey of detection through the past.

Glass, Fire and Two Thousand Years of Craft
One of the most spectacular events of the weekend - and perfect for the whole family - is the experimental glass-working demonstration using a "Roman" kiln, scheduled on both Saturday 13 (10.30–13.00 and 15.00–19.00) and Sunday 14 June (10.30–13.00 and 15.00–17.00), at the late-antique market archaeological area (Fondo Pasqualis). Master glassblowers trained in the Murano tradition will demonstrate ancient techniques including free blowing, mould blowing and mosaic glasswork, using a wood-fired kiln built to Roman models.
Free admission, no booking required. Info: assaquileia@libero.it

A Walk to Read the Walls
For those who like to look at cities with fresh eyes, Saturday 13 June (10.30–12.30, meeting point at Casa Bertoli, via Popone 6) brings Hunting for Spolia: a guided walk through the historic centre of Aquileia to learn how to spot, embedded in the walls of medieval and modern buildings, fragments of Roman material recovered and reused centuries later. A fascinating way to understand how the ancient city never truly disappeared - it simply hid in plain sight.
Free admission, booking required (max 30 places): assaquileia@libero.it

A Monastery That Became a Museum: The Story of a Second Life
On Saturday evening, 13 June (20.30, meeting point at Piazza Pirano), a night walk tells the story of Aquileia's ancient Benedictine monastery, today home to the Early Christian Museum. Buildings, as we know, live many lives: this guided walk helps visitors read the layers of history accumulated over the centuries, weaving together architecture, religious history and the reuse of heritage.
Free admission, booking recommended: prolocoaquileia@libero.it

A Forest Bath Among the Ruins
For those seeking a more contemplative and unusual experience, Saturday 13 June offers two sessions of Shinrin Yoku — Forest Bathing in the archaeological area of the Ancient River Port (10, meeting point at Piazza Capitolo at 9.50, and 16.00, meeting point at 15.50). The Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku - literally "bathing in the forest" - invites participants to slow down and awaken their senses through sounds, scents and breathing in nature. Experiencing it within an archaeological site adds an almost meditative dimension, where ancient time and the present seem to overlap.
Free admission, booking required (max 20 per session) on Eventbrite @FondazioneAquileia. Minimum age 16. Info: www.fondazioneaquileia.it

Voices from the Great War
At Night, Among the Graves Closing the weekend, Sunday 14 June (20.15, meeting point at Piazza Capitolo), comes a deeply evocative event: "The Voices of Art", a multi-voice reading of letters and official documents from the First World War, tied to the founding of Aquileia's Cemetery of Heroes, where fallen soldiers who never received a name lie at rest. Taking place inside the Cemetery of Heroes itself, the event is particularly moving and is also recommended for school-age children.
Free admission, booking required (max 40 participants): storia.aquileia@gmail.com

Getting There and Getting Around
Throughout the weekend (12–14 June) a free audio guide will be available for visitors to explore Aquileia's archaeological sites at their own pace. It can be collected at the PromoTurismoFVG Infopoint, via Giulia Augusta 11, from 9.00 to 16.00.
Info: info.aquileia@promoturismo.fvg.it — tel. 0431 919491