National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia

Founded in 1881, the museum is one of the oldest in Northern Italy and houses finds of outstanding value coming from the excavations carried out in Aquileia and the neighbouring areas. A visit throughout the rooms of the museum will help you travel into the daily life of the inhabitants of Aquileia at the time of the Roman Empire. The Archaeological Museum is an active witness to the role of Aquileia as a trade hub at the crossroads of different civilisations and populations. Precious exhibits demonstrate the presence in Aquileia of Eastern deities and influences, including religious objects and precious stones from Egypt, along with statues representing Artemis and Mithra.

The military role of ancient Aquileia is exhibited through objects of the army life, including a beautiful helmet and a sandal. The collections housed in the museum are completed by a wonderful open-air exhibition in the garden and galleries of the museum. Many mosaics and hundreds of inscriptions and burial monuments bear evidence of the social habits and religious beliefs of Roman inhabitants. The Museum is currently under renovation, but the galleries, the garden and depositories are open to visitors.