Born in France in 2010 on the initiative of the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives) and the Ministry of Culture across the Alps, the European Archeology Days (GEA) are now an event attended by 46 countries of the Old World.

In Italy, the General Directorate of Museums of the Ministry of Culture has joined the project since 2019 and continues again this year to promote this important initiative aimed at raising awareness among the Italian public of the importance of the national archaeological heritage.

The 2023 edition, which this year takes place from 16 to 18 June, sees Aquileia as the protagonist, which comes alive with the open day of the archaeological areas (Saturday 17 June only) and which includes a rich program of openings extraordinary, theatrical walks and workshops for children, experimental archeology, conferences, music, guided tours.

The program opens on Friday 16 June with a free visit to the Ca'Viola drainage plant, which will be open from 9.00 to 12.00, as an example of industrial archeology built in 1932 and still functioning today. Another big news of 2023 for Aquileia, the podcast "Aquileia Città Frontiera" which will be presented to the public with the first three episodes on 16 June and with a program of new episodes that will be updated weekly every Friday until 4 August 2023. The podcast tells 2000 years of glories, hopes and culture in an unforgettable journey inside the city, through its history. The series is made thanks to a project by the Aquileia Foundation and is produced by Archeostorie and NWFactory.

The program of the European Archeology Days in Aquileia on Saturday 17 June promises to be particularly intense and full of ideas. Starting from the "open day" in the archaeological areas and excavation sites where from 10.30 to 13 and from 16.30 to 19.00 the archaeologists and restorers of the Aquileia Foundation and the Universities will welcome citizens and enthusiasts in the forum, in the decumanus area of Aratria Galla and the zig-zag walls, in the area of the theater and large baths, in the ancient markets (Fondo Pasqualis), in the area of the Domus (Fondo Cal), at the domus of the dancing cherubs, at the river port and on its eastern shore. And if at the Fondo Pasqualis there will be the opportunity to see live the functioning of a glass furnace built according to the techniques used in Roman times, in the evening (from 8.30 to 10 pm) it will be possible to attend demonstrations of mosaic working and glass blowing of glass thanks to the glass masters who will be present in Aquileia for the occasion.

Theatrical walks of Aquileia Lab are planned for children which - subject to compulsory booking by calling +39.375.6562461 and via email ateducazione@discoveraquileia.com will take the kids to discover three stages of the ancient Roman city - the Decumanus of Aratria Galla, the Roman Forum and the river port - in an educational itinerary full of content and fun. The visits are divided into age groups: for the very young (4-8 years) at 9 and 16:30, for the older ones (9-13 years) at 10:30 and 18.

For art history enthusiasts there are two guided tours - “Aquileia, a millennial crossroads of peoples and cultures” (for a fee, booking required info.aquileia@promoturismo.fvg.it – 0431 91949) and at 11.00 am the guided tour “Stories of life in the inscriptions of the Paleochristian Museum” with Francesca Beltrame of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archeology (free, booking recommended: bookshopmanaquileia@gmail.com – 0431-91016). The program concludes at 17.00 with the conference at the National Archaeological Museum "Archaeology in colors" (free admission, booking recommended at bookshopmanaquileia@gmail.com).

In the afternoon from 3 to 7 pm, the ideas and ideas continue with guided visits to Casa Bertoli (medieval frescoes), to the Domus di Tito Macro and with a visit to the exhibition “Totale. The Great War through stories of women and men”, recently inaugurated, to discover the memorabilia already kept in the museum of the Third Army House of Redipuglia, accompanied by Ten. Col. Fioretti, director of the Redipuglia Shrine. The visit then continues with a short walk to the Heroes' Cemetery.

Grand finale in the evening with the concert "GLORIA KV 589 by A. Vivaldi" by the Friulian Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the S. Antonio Abate Polyphonic Choir at 9.00 pm inside the splendid patriarchal Basilica. Conductor: Walter Themel (free admission subject to availability, more information at concerto@basilicadiaquileia.it).

The three-day event will close on Sunday 19 June with a visit to the Pasqualis estate, in the area of the ancient markets from 10.30 to 13.00 it will still be possible to assist in the morning glass processing and blowing and over the course of the day it will be possible to participate in two guided tours ( for a fee, reservations required: info.aquileia@promoturismo.fvg.it – 0431 919491) dedicated to the domus of Tito Macro (10am and 3pm).

The rich program of Aquileia of the European Days of Culture was born thanks to the collaboration between the Aquileia Foundation, the Municipality of Aquileia, the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Regional Directorate of Museums of Friuli Venezia Giulia - National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, the Society for the Conservation of the Basilica of Aquileia, PromoTurismoFVG, University of Padua, Trieste, Udine, Venice, Verona, Pro Loco Aquileia, National Association for Aquileia, Radio Magica Foundation, Friulian Plain Reclamation Consortium, Office for the Protection of Culture and of Defense Memory, Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, Archaeostories and NWFactory.media.

The complete program is available on the website www.discoveraquileia.com