The Cemetery of Heroes of Aquileia lies in the heart of this ancient Roman town, next to the famous Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. It is a very important historical site because, unlike other cemeteries, memorials and ossuaries, it has maintained its original shape since 1915. Moreover, this is the place from where the coffin of the Uknown Soldierdeparted to the Altar of the Fatherland in Rome in 1921.
Aquileia is one of the most important places in the history of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Italy. An ancient Roman colony and port, it was one of the main centres of early Christianity, becoming then the seat of the Patriarchate and the main political, cultural and religious centre in the area until the fifteenth century. During the following centuries, Aquileia was first ruled by Venice and then the Habsburg Empire until the Great War. As it was part of the latter, the Great War here started as early as the summer of 1914.
The first marksmen divisions arrived in town already in late May 1915, heading then to Monfalcone. The Patriarch town thus became one of the rear lines on the karstic front and the cemetery beside the Cathedral accommodated the very first casualties.
Graves were arranged by a local priest, Don Celso Costantini, who took care of providing an adequate resting place to all fallen soldiers. He had flowers sent from Concordia Saggitaria (Venice) and received a number of trees and plants from the Municipality of Florence. Each tomb features an iron cross decorated with laurel and oak leaves, donated by the association "Dante Alighieri" and created by sculptor Alberto Calligaris. Each cross is engraved with the wording "Dulce et decorum est pro Patria mori" ("To die for the Motherland is sweet and dignified") and the name of the deceased.
The Cemetery of Heroes includes several monuments, first of all the arcosolium (a sarcophagus placed in a niche) containing the remains of 10 unknown soldiers who were buried here on 04th November 1921 and, at its feet, the tomb of Maria Bergamas, the woman who chose the body of the Unknown Soldier for the Altar of the Fatherland in Rome. Other important tombs are those of Giovanni Randaccio, Commander of the "Tuscan Wolves" and General Alessandro Ricordi, head of the Murge Brigade.
Several statues decorate the cemetery, dotted with ancient Roman and medieval ruins. You can see "The Sacrifice" by Edmondo Furlan (1921), a marble statue representing Jesus Christ on the cross while comforting two dying knaves at his feet and "The Angel of Charity" by Ettore Ximenes (1917), a dying soldier supported by a winged female figure. Finally, on the Cathedral wall, you can read a quotation by Gabriele d'Annunzio dated 02nd November 1915.
INFORMATION
Via Sacra
I-33051 Aquileia (UD)
Opening hours April - September
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sundays and Public Holidays: 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
March and October
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sundays and Public Holidays: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
November - February
Monday - Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sundays and Public Holidays: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
