Cividale del Friuli: from Forum Iulii to the Lombard duchy
Cividale del Friuli is located on the banks of the Natisone, at the foot of the hills of eastern Friuli and 17 kilometers from Udine. Founded in Roman times with the name of Forum Iulii, it gave its name to the region and later became the Lombard capital and temporal seat of the Patriarchate of Aquileia.
History and identity
Human presence is attested from the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, with further Venetian and Celtic evidence. The Romans created a settlement which was later elevated by Julius Caesar to a forum and subsequently to a municipium. In 568 the Lombard king Alboin chose Forum Iulii as the capital of the first Lombard duchy in Italy; the city was sacked by the Avars in 610.
What to see
The urban route allows you to follow the traces of Forum Iulii, the Lombard duchy and the subsequent presence of the Patriarchate of Aquileia. The banks of the Natisone and the entrance to the Natisone Valleys add the geographical interpretation of a city located on the road between the Friulian plain and the middle and upper Isonzo valley.
Understand the place
Check opening hours and entrances to the historic sites before your visit and consider the differences in height towards the banks of the Natisone. If you continue into the valleys or towards Slovenian territory, check road conditions, transport and necessary documents.
Where to stay
A hotel in the center facilitates the discovery of the Roman and Lombard remains and the routes towards the Natisone. To use Cividale as a base in the valleys, compare road access, parking, public transport and distance from Udine before booking.
Prepare the visit
Times, access conditions and transportation may change. Before the trip, check the official pages linked from the source, protect the heritage and leave the entrances to the homes free. Source in local language.