Travel - Aquileia: Roman ruins one hour from base

  • Published
  • By Jessica Lynn
  • 31st Fighter Wing/ Public Affairs
AQUILEIA, Italy --  One of the main sites visitors want to see when they travel to Italy is Rome. More specifically, it's to see ruins dating back thousands of years that are now scattered throughout a thriving metropolis.

But what tourists hitting up the major Italian cities may not know is that the Roman Empire was spread all across Europe and there are still towns within the Friuli region with have Roman ruins. Take Aquileia, for example.

Aquileia is a small town close to the Adriatic Sea that's a little more than an hour's drive southeast of the base. While Rome is a wonderful place to see acres and acres of ruins, Aquileia is the perfect day trip to see similar ruins on a much smaller scale; not to mention, you can be home in time for dinner later that night.

We arrived in Aquileia around noon on Saturday and enjoyed lunch and wine at La Capannina, a restaurant within walking distance to the entrance of the main archeological site. The food at this ristorante was some of the best we've had since moving to Italy. If you're a fan of seafood try the "spaghetti ai frutti di mare" and "scampi ai ferri," and if you're in the mood for something sans seafood, opt for the "gnocchi di zucca in crema di Montasio"--it's like a grown up Italian version of mac 'n cheese that's so flavorful you'll want to lick the plate clean.

After lunch we headed toward the excavations. One unique thing about Aquileia is that you don't even have to leave your car in order to see the ruins from the forum--they can be seen as you drive into town. Alternatively, we left our car at the restaurant and strolled along the tree-lined trail to check out the burial grounds, markets, walls, and what's left of the river port. Fragments of historic structures surrounded us on both sides; what's left tells the story of thousands of years of history.

Aquileia dates back to Antiquity (around 180 B.C.), and at the time was one of the wealthiest cities in the Roman Empire. Today it's a working archeological site, as well as featured on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The town, dubbed "Second Rome," was not only destroyed and demolished by Attila in the 4th century, but after the ambush many Venetians traveled to Aquileia to acquire building supplies. They ended up stealing stones to help construct their homes in Venice.

Although the ruins practically transport you back in time, it's not the only site to see in Aquileia. Once you reach the end of the excavation site, continue following the dirt path--it will lead you to the Basilica of Aquileia, which is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

While the cathedral is the main attraction, don't dismiss the baptistery. The basilica claims its "territory is the origin of baptismal rites due to its peculiar historical, geographical, and religious content," and goes on to explain that the exhibition follows different historical baptismal stages from Christianity. History and religion aside, the baptismal is gorgeous.

After the baptistery we went into the Cathedral di Aquileia. The church dates back to the 4th century just after the end of religious persecution, and once Christians were legally allowed to worship publicly, this became the first place for public worship. The view just after stepping inside is simply stunning; the cathedral is massive, beautiful, and the entire floor is completely covered in mosaic.

You're not allowed to walk on the mosaic (it's roped off in some parts and there is a fake glass floor to walk across), but it's clear how much detail went into the design. The mosaic was laid in by hand, piece by piece, back in the 4th century--long before the days of machines doing the work for you.

Entrance into the basilica is free, but it's €3 to visit the crypt. It was interesting to see the original foundation for the cathedral, as well as more mosaics, but if you're on a budget or time crunch, the crypt can be skipped. Another site to see if you have the time and energy is the view from the top of the bell tower.

For a town with so much history that you can see right before your eyes, Aquileia is definitely an untouched and relatively unknown gem in the middle of Northern Italy, and is the perfect spot for a day trip.

More information:

How to get there:
Take the A28 towards Portogruaro, then the A4 towards Palmanova; right towards Aquileia.

Where to eat:
La Capannina
via Gemina, 10, Aquileia
+39-0431-91019
www.campingaquileia.it

Website:
www.aquileia.net