Aquileia
Roman colony, early Christian hub, sacked by Attila.
Aquileia, a municipality in northeastern Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, lies near the head of the Adriatic, about 10 kilometers inland on the Natiso River (a branch of the modern Torre, not the Natisone), whose course has shifted since Roman times. In the 2nd century AD, this ancient Roman city boasted a population of roughly 100,000. Established as a Roman military colony in 181 BC, it later served as the capital of the Augustan X region and became an early Christian hub. During late antiquity, it was sacked by Attila the Hun, along with other Italian cities such as Padua and Milan. Today, Aquileia ranks among northern Italy’s most important archaeological sites, featuring ruins such as mosaics and an early Christian basilica, all recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also holds historical significance as a former capital of Friuli, and its coat of arms remains the region’s symbol.
Quick Facts
- Official Name
- Comune di Aquileia
- Native Name
- fur · Olee / fur · Acuilee
- Region
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Province
- Udine (UD)
- Frazioni
- Beligna, Belvedere, Viola, Monastero
- Mayor
- Emanuele Zorino
- Population Total
- 3302
- Population As Of
- 30 April 2017
- Population Demonym
- Aquileiesi
- Elevation M
- 5
- Istat
- 030004
- Saint
- Sts. Hermagoras and Fortunatus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Aquileia was founded as a Roman colony in 180/181 BC along the Natiso River, on land south of the Julian Alps but about 13 kilometers north of the lagoons. The colony served as a strategic frontier fortress at the north-east corner of transpadane Italy, intended to protect the Veneti and check the advance of hostile peoples such as the Carni and Histri. The site had been of commercial importance since the Iron Age (around the 6th century BC onward) as the end of the Baltic amber trade. The colony was established with Latin Rights by a triumvirate of Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica, Caius Flaminius, and Lucius Manlius Acidinus, who led 3,000 families to settle, giving Aquileia a population of perhaps 20,000 soon after its founding. Roads soon connected it with other Roman colonies, and in 169 BC, 1,500 more Latin colonists reinforced the garrison. The discovery of gold fields near modern Klagenfurt in 130 BC brought further notice, and it became a center of commerce, especially in agricultural products and viticulture.
Reader's Guide
Aquileia's significance lies in its role as a major Roman city and early Christian metropolitan center, with a population estimated at 100,000 in the 2nd century AD. It was a key strategic fortress and commercial hub, connecting Italy to the northeastern empire via several important roads. The city was the first in the Italian Peninsula to be sacked by Attila the Hun in 452, an event that led many residents to flee to the lagoons, laying the foundations for Venice and Grado. Despite destruction, Aquileia rose again but was diminished, and its patriarch fled to Grado after the Lombard invasion in 568. Today, its archaeological ruins, including mosaics and an early Christian basilica, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the most significant archaeological sites in northern Italy. Its coat of arms is the symbol of the Friuli region.
Did You Know?
- Aquileia was founded as a Roman military colony in 180/181 BC.
- It was sacked by Attila the Hun in 452, alongside other Italian cities like Padua and Milan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aquileia?
Aquileia is an ancient Roman city in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, sitting roughly ten kilometers inland from the Adriatic coast along the Natiso River. Originally founded as a military colony in 181 BC, it grew into one of the largest urban settlements in the Roman world.
What role did Aquileia play in Roman history?
After starting as a garrison town for Roman soldiers, Aquileia rose to become the administrative capital of the Augustan X region. At its 2nd-century AD peak, the city supported a population close to 100,000, making it a dominant urban and commercial center in northern Italy.
Why is Aquileia a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Aquileia earned its World Heritage status because its remarkably well-preserved ruins document both its stature as a major Roman urban center and its later significance as one of the earliest hubs of Christianity in the region. Together these layers make it an exceptional archaeological record of northeastern Italy's ancient past.
Where exactly is Aquileia located?
The site lies in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, a short distance inland from the head of the Adriatic Sea. It was built along the Natiso River, a branch of the modern Torre, though the waterway's course has shifted noticeably since Roman times.
More in World Heritage Sites in Italy 1-24
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