CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI

Cividale del Friuli, the ancient Forum Iulii founded by the Romans around 50 B.C. and becoming the capital of the first Lombard duchy in Italy in 568, offers a deep dive into European history. The city retains significant traces of its different eras: Roman, Longobard, patriarchal and Venetian.

Visitors can admire the impressive view from the Devil’s Bridge, mentioned in a popular legend, and discover the enigmatic Celtic Hypogeum with its mysterious carved masks. The 14th-century Medieval House bears witness to the architecture of the period, while the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta holds valuable works such as the silver altarpiece by Pellegrino II.

Walking through the streets of Cividale is a charmy experience, with panoramic views of the Natisone river and the lively Piazza Paolo Diacono. The Monastery of S. Maria in Valle, with its Renaissance portal and 19th-century nativity scene, and the small church of Saints Peter and Blaise are further stops on this journey through time.

Cividale boasts important Longobard remains, concentrated in the Gastaldaga and the Episcopal Complex. The Longobard Temple, with its splendid stucco work, is a unique example of Lombard art. City museums, such as the Cathedral Christian Museum and the National Archaeological Museum, display rich collections of artifacts that tell the story of this fascinating city. This is why it is the starting point of the UNESCO itinerary The Longobards in Italy, Places of Power (568-774 AD) dedicated to the legacy left by this mysterious people.