Special openings, experimental archaeology, guided tours, concerts, open days at the excavation sites will enliven Aquileia from 27 to 29 September for the European Heritage Days 2024. The Friulian UNESCO site is preparing to make its most precious treasures shine and to reveal the most intriguing aspects of a rich and stratified past in a weekend full of events, designed to meet the interests and needs of every visitor, from archaeology enthusiasts to the curious, from those hunting for little-known wonders to families with children and teenagers.

Among the most anticipated events is the Archeo Open Day scheduled for Saturday 28 when, guided by archaeologists and restorers of the Aquileia Foundation or the Universities of Udine, Padua, Verona and Venice, it will be possible to explore the excavations in progress and learn from the voice of the protagonists the news of the latest campaigns, the recent discoveries, the stories and customs of ancient Aquileia. Sites included in the visit include the Decumanus and the so-called Zigzag Walls, the Great Baths, the Roman Theatre, the River Port, the ancient Markets and several Roman-era residences, including the Domus dei Putti Danzanti.



On the evening of Friday 27th, instead, a suggestive night appointment awaits us. With the archaeologist Cristiano Tiussi and the theologian Andrea Bellavite we will visit by moonlight the Basilica Complex, a group of buildings dating back to different eras that, with a historical-artistic heritage unique in the world, represents the heart of the Friulian Unesco site. From the early Christian Basilica to the Domus and Episcopal Palace, up to the Chromatian Baptistery with the extraordinary Südhalle, we will discover the symbols hidden in the famous mosaics of Aquileia. In addition to the mosaics, the city was renowned for the processing and trade of glass. On Saturday and Sunday it will be possible to experience its production with the Murano glass masters in a wood-fired oven similar to those used in Roman times.

On the morning of Saturday 28 September the doors of the Roman domus will open, among the most evocative places in the city: a dive into the daily life of ancient Aquileia, discovering architecture, furnishings, habits and customs of the distant past. In the afternoon, instead, it will be possible to visit Casa Bertoli, dating back to the 13th century. The house takes its name from Gian Domenico Bertoli, the father of Aquileia's archaeology, who lived there in the 18th century: the garden and the interiors, adorned with precious frescoes, are all to be discovered.


Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Aquileia | Foto: © A. Chemollo | Courtesy Fondazione Aquileia


The National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia will also participate in the festive weekend with evening openings and a special guided tour with director Marta Novello, while for the little ones, on Saturday afternoon there will be a treasure hunt in the name of Medusa, the terrible monster that according to myth turned anyone who met her gaze to stone. Also dedicated to children is the theatrical walk to the Roman Forum with Titus Annius Luscus, a character who made the memory of Aquileia eternal, to be booked for the morning or afternoon of the 28th.

The grand finale is scheduled for Sunday morning with the guided tour “Travel with us through the history of Aquileia”, which will touch on the main points of interest of the ancient city, and the piano concert Matinée romantica (music by Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann) at the National Archaeological Museum.

For information and reservations, visit the page https://www.fondazioneaquileia.it/it/eventi/giornate-europee-del-patrimonio-2024



Aquileia, theatrical visits I Courtesy Fondazione Aquileia