Aquileia is a fascinating historical site well worth a visit. During the Roman Empire, it was a vibrant and wealthy commercial city, thanks to its port located on the banks of the Natisso River, at the foot of the Julian Alps. The city also served as a fortress defending against invasions by Hannibal and the Gauls.

After the fall of the Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages, Aquileia became a smaller town but developed into an important religious center. A basilica was built there, adorned with some of the most beautiful and largest mosaics and frescoes found in Italy today.