|
Tour
description
A full-day tour to the pretty lagoon-side town and
resort of Grado and the superb Roman remains at Aquileia.
 If
you want to relive the fascinating history of ancient
Rome but can't travel that far south, come with us
to Aquileia, one of the biggest Roman Empire cities
declared by UNESCO as historical and archaeological
heritage for humanity. Founded in 181 BC, Aquileia
has seen the passing of Caesar's legions in the first
century BC and Attila's hordes five centuries later.
It was also an important commercial center.
We'll visit the forum, remains of public
baths and private houses with beautifully
preserved mosaic floors, Roman roads, a Roman
cemetery and the ancient Basilica, which
preserves one of the largest and most spectacular
early Christian mosaic floors of the West. A visit
to the stunning Byzantine frescoes in the crypt
is also a must!
Heading south towards the Marano Lagoon, home
to 8800 hectares of unpolluted nature, and after crossing
a sort of causeway, we'll finally reach the island
of Grado, named Golden Island after the color
of its sand. Grado was an ancient fishing village
that has gradually been transformed in a modern and
unique seaside resort and world-renowned spa center
for treatments like sand bathing and thalassotherapy.
We'll stop for lunch in a restaurant serving  typical
local dishes accompanied by renowned DOC wines from
inland Friuli. In the afternoon we'll stroll around
the narrow paths and small squares of the old town
center, among thousand-year-old churches and
charming fishermen's houses. We'll visit the
Basilica of S. Euphemia dating back to more than 1400
years ago, the Baptistery and the Basilica of S. Maria
delle Grazie.
Our day in Grado would be incomplete without enjoying
an Italian gelato while strolling along the scenic
"Diga", from where you can admire the most enchanting
views of the Adriatic Sea..
|
