San Canzian d'Isonzo

The ancient Vicus Cantianum was rather important in the Roman age, as testified by the many archaeological finds and mosaic floors found in the latest years during the excavation campaigns.

Situated along the Via Gemina, the Roman road that led from Aquileia to Trieste, San Canzian probably developed around the 4th-5th century A.D.

In fact, during the excavations, many materials have been found, which date back to the proto-Christian age and testify the presence of a vital Christian community. In the location "ad aquas gradatas" (today called Le Grodate), during Diocletian's persecutions of 303 the brothers Canzio and Canziano and their sister Canzianilla were martyred, and their bodies were buried in a necropolis along the Via Gemina; the town's name probably derives from them.

All the territory was devastated by the Huns in 452 and, afterwards, was subjected to the Lombard rule. San Canzian was a Patriarchal possession until 1420 and then passed under the Venetian rule until 1797, when all the territories of the Serenissima Republic of Venice passed under the rule of Austria, until the 1915-1918 war.

The Antiquarium Cantianense, situated next to the Parish church of San Canzian d'Isonzo, is worth a visit: it features early-Christian mosaics and remains of Roman and early-Christian funerary monuments. Particularly interesting are the mosaics coming from the ancient basilica (4th century A.D.) built over the tomb of St. Canzio, St. Canziano and St. Canzianilla. Moreover, among the other finds, you will see men's heads and statues, a marble inscription that indicated St. Proto's tomb and other small objects, such as coins, earrings and tile fragments. It is the destination of pilgrimages to the tombs of the three Canziani martyrs.