Zuglio

Established a few decades before Christ along the right banks of the river But, Zuglio (whose original name was Julium Carnicum) is an ancient Roman centre founded most probably during Julius Caesar's proconsulship (58-49 BC) close to the so-called Via Iulia Augusta, and is nowadays the archaeological centre of Carnia.

Between 1937 and 1938, diggings brought to light the entire archaeological complex made up of the remains of the Roman forum, a basilica, a temple and spa. Furthermore, many prehistoric, pre-Roman, Roman and Early Middle Ages remains can also be found in the Civico Museo Archeologico Julium Carnicum (Julium Carnicum Civic Archaeological Museum) located in the Palazzo Tommasi Leschiutta just a short distance from the Forum.
 
During the late Roman, gothic and Longobard eras, it was the bishop's residence (4th-8th century). The diocese, suffragan of Aquileia, extended its jurisdiction to Carnia and Cadore. It took on greater significance for its strategic position that allowed for the control of Via Iulia Augusta that led to the Norico regions across the impassable Monte Croce Carnico Pass.
 
Following continuous Barbarian raids between the end of the 6th and the start of the 8th century a new basilica was built on the S. Pietro hill. Zuglio then became the Matrix Church and of the eleven built in Carnia: each year, the tribute that all the churches in the valley brought to the cross of S. Pietro, is remembered on the third Sunday of May with the rite of the "bacio delle croci" (kissing of the crosses).