Description

The town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. Aquileia, founded in 181 bc, was one of the largest and wealthiest cities of the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean, home to a Patriarchate which lasted until 1751, and a hub of Christianity throughout Central Europe during the Middle Ages. Archaeological excavations have not yet brought all the ruins to light, but those found constitute one of the best preserved examples of ancient Roman grandeur. Among the treasures of Aquileia is the Patriarchal Basilica dating from about the year 1000 which, with its magnificent fourth-century mosaics, offers a unique example of religious architecture.