The UNESCO-listed city of Aquileia, in Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, continues to reveal its ancient secrets. A new excavation campaign by the University of Verona — under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and supported by the Fondazione Aquileia — has brought to light remarkable finds from an area never explored before.
Over three months, twenty young researchers uncovered fragments of daily life from the Roman era, including three gold coins depicting the emperors Valens, Magnus Maximus, and Arcadius. Hidden beneath a marketplace portico, the coins may have been imperial gifts or a small treasure stashed away during uncertain times.
The team also discovered a complex network of amphorae and storage areas linked to Aquileia’s ancient river port, suggesting the city’s commercial core was far larger than previously believed. The open-access excavation site has drawn curious visitors and students alike, offering a rare glimpse into the slow reawakening of a city that continues to breathe through its past, layer by layer.