Friuli-Venezia Giulia:
Aquileia & Grado

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Grado is a darling little fishing port with a really neat old town area (it’s an old old town and people have been fishing here for centuries). I worry more people are going to find out about this spot and perhaps when you look at the crowded beaches…. they have found out about it…..just another reason to go there off peak. The alleyways in the old town go hither and thither, broken only by the pretty piazzas. You can tell real life goes on here. The Duomo di Santa Eufemia (6^th century) is Romanesque in style and has been renovated after a long life. It is truly worth visiting. The bell tower (campanile) has a statue of Saint Michael/San Michele Arcangelo. The interior has a 6^th century mosaic dedicated to Father Elia who consecrated the church in the 6^th century and his grave is in the mausoleum there. There’s a lovely altarpiece from the 14^th century. There are rare and precious marbles in the Capella di San Marco too. Next door to the duomo is the Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie (5^th century) with some fine mosaics. In the Piazza della Vittoria there are ruins of two churches that date back to the 5^th century. If you’re in to spas, this is indeed a spa town and has been a spa town for years….the vegetation at the shoreline creates oxygen and when you add the salt and iodine from the sea - you’ve got the CURE!

Aquileia was founded in 181 BC and was part of the Roman Empire. At one time, it was one of the richest and most heavily populated towns in all of Italy. It was a grand and glorious place. Today it is a small town with some very important Roman ruins. The ruins are on Via Sacra (behind the basilica). You’ll find the forum, circus, cemetery, houses and other ancient structures there. In the Museo Archeologico Nazionale on Via Roma, you’ll find other Roman treasures. The Basilica (11^th century) has some fabulous mosaics from the 4^th century (pavements depicting various religious scenes) and Byzantine frescoes in the crypt (Affreschi - 9^th century). This is one gorgeous basilica. Aquileia is a spa town too.