Visitor guide
Basilica di Aquileia visitor guide — everything you need to know before visiting
Aquileia is a small town in Friuli-Venezia Giulia that was, in Roman times, one of the largest cities of the Empire — a fortress port founded in 181 BC near the head of the Adriatic, and later one of the earliest and most influential centres of Latin Christianity. Its Basilica, rebuilt in Romanesque style and consecrated in 1031, stands over a mosaic floor laid in the early 4th century for the first church built here after Constantine legalised Christianity — one of the most extensive early-Christian mosaic pavements to survive from antiquity, rediscovered beneath later flooring in the early 20th century. Since 1998 the Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia have together held UNESCO World Heritage status, and since 2026 a single ticket has covered the Basilica, its crypts and bell tower, the Baptistery and Südhalle, the episcopal complex, and the separately excavated Domus di Tito Macro — four windows onto one Roman and early-Christian city.
At a glance
- Address
- Piazza Capitolo 1, 33051 Aquileia (UD), Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
- Hours
- Daily; April–September Mon–Sat 10:00–19:00, Sun/holidays 12:00–19:00 (Baptistery from 10:00); shorter hours March, October and November–February
- Founded
- 181 BC, as a Roman colony on the Natiso river near the head of the Adriatic
- Mosaic floor
- Early 4th century, laid for the first basilica built after Constantine's Edict of Milan; rediscovered beneath later flooring in the early 20th century
- Current church
- Rebuilt in Romanesque style and consecrated in 1031, over the ancient mosaic pavement
- UNESCO status
- World Heritage Site since 1998, as the Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia
- The complex
- Basilica, frescoed and excavation crypts, bell tower, Baptistery and Südhalle, Domus–Palazzo Episcopale, and the Domus di Tito Macro
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From Roman colony to Christian centre
Aquileia was founded in 181 BC as a Roman colony on the Adriatic, grew into one of the Empire's largest cities and a key northern fortress, and after Constantine's Edict of Milan became one of the earliest major centres of Latin Christianity, its Basilica rebuilt in the Romanesque style seen today in 1031.
The 4th-century mosaic floor
The Basilica's mosaic pavement, laid in the early 4th century for the first church on this site, covers the nave in patterned and figurative scenes — among the most extensive early-Christian mosaic floors to survive from antiquity — and was rediscovered beneath later flooring in the early 20th century.
Crypts, bell tower, Baptistery and Domus di Tito Macro
Beyond the nave, the complex extends to a frescoed crypt and an excavation crypt beneath the church, a Romanesque bell tower, a Baptistery and Südhalle with further early mosaics, an episcopal residence, and the separately excavated Domus di Tito Macro — one of the larger Roman town houses uncovered in northern Italy.
Getting to Aquileia
Aquileia sits in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, around 40km from Udine and 45km from Trieste, with Trieste's airport the nearest by air; the practical routes in are by car, by train to nearby Cervignano-Aquileia-Grado station with a local bus onward, or as a day trip from Grado or Trieste.
On the day — hours, notices and what to know
Opening hours contract through the year — roughly 10:00–19:00 in summer, 10:00–18:00 in shoulder season and 10:00–16:00 in winter — with the Basilica closed to visitors before midday on Sundays and holidays and during religious ceremonies, since it remains an active church.
Visitors under 18 and several other categories enter free at the gate; a single ticket now covers all four elements of the complex, and the separate National Archaeological Museum is not included.
A suggested route through the complex
Because the single ticket covers several separate buildings spread across the historic centre, visitors get the most out of Aquileia by starting in the Basilica nave, working down into the crypts, then finishing at the Baptistery and the Domus di Tito Macro rather than trying to see everything in one pass.
Photographing the Basilica and mosaic floor
The mosaic pavement is best photographed from the raised walkways that cross the nave, which give a straight-down angle onto the geometric and figurative panels without needing to lean over the roped-off sections.
Combining Aquileia with Grado, Palmanova and the region
Aquileia is a small town rather than a base in itself, so most visitors see it as a half-day or full-day trip alongside nearby Grado, the star-shaped fortress town of Palmanova, or a wider day out from Udine or Trieste.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Basilica di Aquileia?
The Basilica di Aquileia is a church in Aquileia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, rebuilt in Romanesque style and consecrated in 1031 over the mosaic floor of an earlier basilica built in the early 4th century, soon after Constantine's Edict of Milan. It is the centrepiece of a UNESCO World Heritage complex that also includes crypts, a bell tower, a Baptistery, an episcopal residence, and the Domus di Tito Macro, a large excavated Roman house.
How old is the Basilica di Aquileia?
The visible church dates mainly from a Romanesque rebuild consecrated in 1031, with further work in the 13th century. Its mosaic floor is far older — laid in the early 4th century for the first basilica on the site, and rediscovered beneath later flooring in the early 20th century.
Why is Aquileia's mosaic floor important?
It is one of the most extensive early-Christian mosaic pavements to survive from antiquity, laid soon after Christianity was legalised across the Roman Empire. Its patterned and figurative panels, including portrait medallions and a large image of the Good Shepherd, offer a rare, largely intact view of how an early Christian community decorated its principal church.
Is Aquileia a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. UNESCO inscribed the Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia as a World Heritage Site in 1998, recognising the city's exceptionally well-preserved remains from its time as one of the largest cities of the Roman Empire and an early centre of Latin Christianity.
What does the Aquileia ticket include?
Since a January 2026 change to the ticketing structure, a single ticket covers the Basilica with its mosaic floor and crypts, the Baptistery and Südhalle, the Domus–Palazzo Episcopale, and the separately excavated Domus di Tito Macro. The National Archaeological Museum in the town is a separate site with its own ticket.
What is the Domus di Tito Macro?
It's a large excavated Roman town house near the Basilica, one of the larger private residences uncovered anywhere in northern Italy, with its own mosaic floors. It's included on the same ticket as the Basilica and the rest of the complex.
How do I get to Aquileia?
Aquileia is about 40km from Udine and 45km from Trieste in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The nearest airport is Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia (Ronchi dei Legionari); by train, the Venice–Trieste line stops at nearby Cervignano-Aquileia-Grado station, with a local bus onward, though driving is the most flexible option.
How long does a visit to Aquileia take?
Most visitors spend around ninety minutes to two hours covering the Basilica, the crypts and the Domus di Tito Macro properly. Add time for the Baptistery and episcopal complex, or if you plan to explore the wider archaeological area of the ancient Roman city on foot.
Is the Basilica still an active church?
Yes, it functions as a working parish church, which is why it closes to visitors before midday on Sundays and holidays and during religious ceremonies. Respectful dress and behaviour are appropriate throughout a visit.
Is admission free at any time?
Visitors under 18, Aquileia residents, disabled visitors with documentation, accompanying teachers, journalists, authorised guides, and FVG Card or Aquileia Card holders enter free, issued in person at the ticket office. There is no general free-admission day published for the complex.
Sources
This guide is written by the concierge team and cross-checked against the official operator every time we update it. Primary sources:
About our service
Aquileia Basilica Tickets is an independent concierge service that helps international visitors book and receive their entry ticket to the Basilica di Aquileia and its complex in English. We are not the Basilica, we are not its custodian, and we are not its official ticket office — we obtain a genuine dated entry ticket on your behalf and our service fee is included in the price you see. If you prefer to buy directly, the Basilica operates its own on-site ticket office and its own official online ticketing channel.
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