Escape to myself

I wasn’t sure what I would find here. A train journey and then waiting for a bus it seemed quite a journey as it’s about 40 miles from Trieste. However I’d heard about it and it is yet another UNESCO world heritage site so I thought it would be worth a look. I walked a little in Trieste in the morning with my roommate and newfound friend Mihaela who showed me where the buses left from. She was returning to Salzburg … a charming woman. So I got on my trusty app and booked the train and on arriving at the nearest station to Aquileia bought my bus tickets in the station bar!

Aquileia is a town of about 3500 people but in Roman and medieval times was much more important. Driving in on the bus I passed some Roman remains and I went to look. Good and well presented but not exactly inspiring after Rome. I saw some merchants houses (well the foundations and some good mosaics) and the forum and a well preserved Roman street. After Rome and Pompeii I wasn’t entirely impressed and I wondered if my visit would be worthwhile. It turned out it was!

The Basilica

This was what made the day. A beautifully presented journey from the 1st century AD through the 3rd and 4th and on to the 11th showing how the medieval town grew on its Roman origins. The first Christian basilica was built in the reign of Constantine and was followed by rebuildings until the present church was consecrated in 1031. The basilica is a fabulous structure built on Roman structures which are incredibly well preserved.

The church mosaics revealed that they were laid over the top of 4th century mosaics from early Christian times making them some of the oldest in the world.

From the church you entered a wonderfully decorated crypt. It was a revelation. The Frescos of the 12th century

Moving from the basilica proper you were lead to the Roman structure clearly showing how the present church foundations lie on earlier structures. It was really well presented.