Italy: Archaeological Area of Aquileia

From Trieste, we made a day trip to Aquileia by train and bus. Aquileia didn't get on our radar until I looked around for things to do around Trieste. Today Aquileia, UNESCO 1998, is a small village of a few thousand people. In the 2nd century CE, Aquileia was estimated to have 100,000 people, and was considered a "Second Rome." Aquileia was sacked and destroyed by Attila the Hun in 452. The migration of refugees from Aquileia is often linked to the founding of Venice.

Aquileia isn't particularly well preserved and excavated. The major thoroughfare thru town bisects the Forum. The most prominent features were the rather uncommon river harbor, and mosaics. Mosaic was popular during Roman times, and was deployed in early Christian churches, as in the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta. While many of the mosaics were geometric, there were acres of them.

We arrived at Aquileia by bus. We spotted a sign with a reconstruction of the Roman City, passed a pile of cremation urns and a relocated mausoleum, then headed straight to the Roman Road.








We happened to visit on one of the two "Archaeology Days" of the year when archaeologists give tours. So we headed over to the Roman Forum.




Then we walked on the mulit-purpose trail to the Paleochristian Museum, housed in the ruin of a Roman Christian Basilica with a mosaic floor, the second best church mosaic floor in Aquileia. Keep reading. The museum also houses the floor of the Basilica of Fondo Tullio on a mezzanine level modern addition. This is early Christian symbolism.








And down into the floor of the basilica.






There was a Roman Port on the 48 meters wide Natissa River, but the river is now silted up.




The Roman House of Titus Macer was cool. To conserve the site, a roof was built in the presumed shape of the original.






We took a break at the lunch hour and visited the weekend Roman Encampment.






The 11th century Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta Complex has 5 key components.

• The Baptistery and adjacent halls/li>
  
  
• The 11th century Basilica and its 4th century Christian 4th-century floor mosaics depicting the story of Jonah, the Good Shepherd, and moire.





• TThe 12th century Crypt of Frescoes



• The Crypt of the Excavations where a section of the 4th-century mosaic floor was destroyed when a massive bell tower was built in the 11th century /li>
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The 11th century bell tower.

The site museum was excellent. In the entrance hall, a pair of telemons / atlantes.


Medalion.


Cremation Urns.


Ancient Roman Portrait Heads and Busts


Abduction of Europa Mosaic


The coolest part of the museum was the series of Visitable Storerooms. Reminded me of the penultimate scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark.