Aquileia: City of Antiquity

ITALY

March 8–13, 2021 from £1645 per person | with Andrew Wilson

Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta

• Visit the city’s remarkable basilica with its sequence of 4th century mosaics • Journey across a beautiful lagoon to fnd the cobbled streets and courtyards of Grado, home to historical churches with 6th century mosaics • Discover the Lombard Temple and medieval Duomo in Cividale, high above the Natisone River

Aquileia, once described by Emperor Justinian as “the greatest of all towns in the West”, is today a little known but important Roman city perched on the Adriatic coastline. As a hugely important strategic city in the Roman Empire during the 1st century AD, Aquileia served as a crossroads, with a wide trading network between Rome and the East.

From 182 BC, when it became a Roman colony amid the local Gallic peoples, until the arrival of Huns, Goths and Lombards in the late imperial and early medieval period, Aquileia was revered for its military and economic assets as well as its cultural and spiritual magnifcence. Our tour takes in the tranquil cypresslined forum and harbour, delights in themselves, but the city’s crowning glory is contained within its magnifcent basilica, a remarkable sequence of 4th century mosaics that provide some of the oldest and most illustrious PaleoChristian memoirs in Western Europe. Nearby, we journey across a picturesque ‘Venetian’ lagoon to the beautifully situated town of Grado, a maze of

20 cobbled streets and courtyards with splendid mosaics from the 6th century located in two of its historical churches. Cividale is located high above the Natisone River, and although little remains of this important Roman town (its original name of Forum Iulii gives the modern region of Friuli its name), we will explore the fne medieval Duomo, whose foundations date back to the 8th century, and the lovely Lombard Temple from the same period. Our fnal excursion is to the enchanting seaport of Trieste. A cultural meetingpoint throughout its history, today the city is the site of interesting AustroHungarian architecture alongside superb Byzantine mosaics, a Roman theatre and the medieval Castello di San Giusto.

Te tour will be based at the Astoria Hotel in the city of Udine, where there is a superb Duomo, and two fascinating art galleries, including a pictorial cycle by the Venetian artist Tiepolo.

FITNESS / PRACTICALITIES: This tour is not expected to be particularly strenuous, with visits reached either by coach or a short walk from the hotel. The full day in Aquileia involves some longer walks of up to 15 minutes, and the visit to the Civic Museums of History and Art in Udine involves a steep fight of steps. Participants should fulfl our usual ftness requirements and be prepared for some uneven terrain.

Please note that the itinerary represents a guide to what we hope to offer, and some elements may be subject to change or confrmation. Sites in Italy can close at short notice for restoration works, and so some adjustments may be made nearer the time. This tour will be led by Andrew Wilson, BA, BD, FSAScot. Andrew studied archaeology then theology before working overseas as an archaeologist, specialising in Roman frontier systems and Byzantine mosaics. He has led many tours for ACE in the GrecoRoman world, and also several in Britain, with a particular emphasis on the archaeology of his native Scotland.

Day 1 Flight from London Gatwick to Venice. Transfer to Udine in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region for fve nights at the Astoria Hotel. Day 2 Morning lecture. Whole day excursion exploring the ancient city of Aquileia including the Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta (mosaics depicting scenes of the prophet Jonah, gospels, apostles and portraits of patrons, 11th and 12th century Byzantine frescoes), the Paleo-Christian Museum, Roman forum and Archaeological Museum. Day 3 Morning in Cividale: Duomo (originally an 8th century structure, rebuilt 15th century), Christian Museum, Hypogeum, Lombard Temple (fne Byzantine frescoes and stucco decorations) and Archaeological Museum. Afternoon in Udine: Diocesan Museum (housed in the Patriarchal Palace), Duomo and Baptistery. Day 4 Morning lecture followed by visits in Grado (Basilica of Sant’Eufemia, Santa Maria delle Grazie and old town) via Palmanova (late 16th century defences). Late afternoon visits to Piazza Libertà (15th century town hall and clock tower) and optional visit to Udine’s Civic Museums of History and Art (housed in the 16th century castle). Day 5 Whole day excursion to Trieste via Miramare: walking tour of seafront and downtown Trieste (important Austro-Hungarian architecture, Roman Theatre), St Justus Cathedral (superb Byzantine mosaics) and medieval Castello di San Giusto. Day 6 Flight from Venice to London Gatwick.

“Excellent planning –I felt very well looked after throughout... I knew nothing about this area before going on this tour but would now recommend it without reservation”

– ACE customer on 2019 Aquileia: City of Antiquity tour with Andrew Wilson

Cost of £1645 includes: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, breakfast, dinner with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities. Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £110, double room for single use supplement £170. TOUR CODE: AQU121