This stunning, well-preserved Church is part of Unesco World Heritage Site due to its Roman history…read moreand the significant role it played in the spread of Christianity into central Europe in the early Middle Ages. Aquileia was one of the most important cities of the Early Roman Empire and the Church is a poignant testimony to its glorious past. It's a large site and even though most of it still lies unexcavated beneath the fields, the Romanesque facade, the mosaic floors, the frescoes and devotional pieces all over the church are beautiful and a must-see while visiting the area. I would recommend to spend at least 3-4 hours here and take a guided tour including the cemetery. To me, the most special part of the visit is represented by the frontal view of the mosaic floors when you enter the church: they date back to the beginning of the 4th century and are very well-kept. We walked inside for several hours and even went into the crypt below the altar, which also has a lot to see.

This is a lovely and ancient Cathedral. It was built over a pair of churches from The 400s in the…read moreRoman era. The the two mosaics in the apses at either side of the end of the church are majestic, and date from the 13th century. One depicts the virgin flanked by angels, the other shows Jesus, with a pair of saints. The glittering gold and glass squares of the mosaics are at their most divine when illuminated, so it is worth dropping a coin into the the box that activates the light.