Cividale del Friuli: the heart of Lombard history

In the Natisone Valleys we find one of the richest destinations in terms of cultural and artistic heritage in Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Cividale del Friuli, in the province of Udine. Let’s explore its history and places of interest together!

Cividale del Friuli: where eras and peoples meet

Cividale del Friuli is a town full of historical evidence, still accessible today, and boasts a long history marked by many different peoples. In June 2011 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, and it is the starting point of the UNESCO itinerary “The Lombards in Italy: Places of Power.”

But one could say that the history of Cividale del Friuli begins as early as the Paleolithic, to which the oldest finds in the area date back, some of which are now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Cividale. Human presence is also attributed to the Neolithic and the Iron Age, and until the 4th century BC, the Veneti and Celts were present.

Later, the Romans settled in Cividale in the 2nd century BC, founding a castrum (military camp). Julius Caesar transformed it into a forum (market) and gave it the name Forum Iulii: from here comes the name Friuli, which the region still bears today.

The Lombards arrived in Cividale in 568 AD and established the seat of the first Lombard duchy in Italy. In 775 AD they were defeated by the Carolingians, who invaded the Duchy of Friuli and prevailed. Centuries later, Cividale came under the rule of the Republic of Venice until 1797, when it passed to the Habsburg Empire.

Today, Cividale del Friuli preserves an invaluable historical heritage. There are numerous places where this heritage can be admired: here is a selection.

Archaeological Museum of Cividale

The Museum preserves artifacts from different historical periods: Roman, Paleochristian, Lombard, Romanesque, and Gothic. The ground floor presents the lapidary section, divided into various areas by era. The first floor hosts the Lombard Exhibition, in seven different rooms, where precious artifacts are preserved, ranging from the first settlement of Forum Iulii in the 6th century to the later phases of Lombard art, influenced by the Carolingian world. The Museum also displays a collection of fifty-six extremely rare Lombard gold coins.

Christian Museum of the Cathedral

The Christian Museum of the Cathedral is divided into two sections: the Lombard Heritage and the Cathedral Treasury. The Lombard Heritage includes the Altar of Ratchis, a masterpiece of Lombard art, created between 737 and 744 AD. It was commissioned by Duke Ratchis in honor of his father. It is believed that the Altar was originally richly colored and decorated. Thanks to recent studies and a permanent multimedia installation, visitors can see projections of the original polychromy on the altar, as well as discover the different stages of its painting.

The Cathedral Treasury preserves ancient goldsmithing and liturgical objects, such as manuscripts and codices, paintings, and sculptures that tell the millennial Christian history of Cividale del Friuli.

Lombard Temple

The Lombard Temple is an important testimony of Early Medieval architecture. Its origins are mysterious: it is said to have been built in the second half of the 8th century as a chapel of the Lombard court. Later it became the chapel of the Benedictine nunnery of Santa Maria in Valle, hence the name Oratory of Santa Maria in Valle.

Celtic Hypogeum

Located in the center of Cividale, the Celtic Hypogeum is a fascinating work of underground archaeology, shrouded in mystery. It consists of a series of underground cavities carved into the rock. Access is only possible through guided tours organized by the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli. One enters the hypogeum via a steep staircase ending in a central chamber, from which three different corridors branch out. On the walls are niches, loculi, and three very peculiar masks, whose function remains unknown.

Various legends and hypotheses have been passed down regarding its use. Some scholars believe the hypogeum was used as a prison during the Roman or Lombard period, while others suggest it was a funerary site in Celtic times.

How to reach Cividale del Friuli

Cividale del Friuli can be reached by car, first taking the A4 Venice–Trieste motorway (Udine Sud exit) and then the state road 54 Udine–Cividale, or by exiting at the Palmanova tollgate. Those coming from the north can take the A3 Tarvisio–Udine motorway, exit at Udine Nord, and then continue on the state road 54 Udine–Cividale. It is also possible to arrive by train, via the Udine–Cividale railway line.

Now it’s your turn to take a “journey through time” in Cividale del Friuli! For more information, visit the official website of Cividale.

Cover photo credit: Friuli Venezia Giulia