Grado and Aquileia

An extraordinary concentration of art, history and natural beauty, an exceptional urban heritage, two UNESCO sites, a cuisine based on ingredients from both the sea and the land, accompanied by excellent DOC wines, all in just a few kilometres: this area in the low Friulian plain has it all!

Aquileia was an important city during the Roman Empire and then the main centre for the spread of Christianity through northern and eastern Europe. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the sheer size of its archeological sites as well as the artistic value of its early Christian mosaics. The two national museums and the extraordinary patriarchal basilica are visited by hundreds of visitors every day.

Originally twinned with Aquileia and then Venice, Grado also has important archaeological and early Christian evidence. However, its current fame is mainly due to its constantly sunny beaches, the sea that has boasted a Blue Flag for years, the beneficial properties of its thermal waters and its delicious traditional dishes. Grado also has a historic centre with a certain Venetian charm, where you can loose yourself among squares and narrow streets that are overlooked by beautiful fishermen’s houses.

Palmanova, the famous Renaissance fortress town in the shape of a perfect nine-pointed star, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017. Together with the Roman Aquileia and Torviscosa, an industrial twentieth century town, it is at the centre of an itinerary in the history of European urban planning.

Last but not least, the picturesque lagoon that lies between Aquileia and Grado is made up of a maze of tiny islands, home to many different species of birds. The entire lagoon is an environment of great natural value and is protected by two natural reserves that can partly be visited on foot or by bike, partly by boat.