Aquileia is the largest archaeological site in Northern Italy, which once stood at the geo-political crossroad of cultural exchanges between Italy, the central-eastern Mediterranean and continental Europe. This book explores its beginnings as a Latin frontier colony which, over time, became a flourishing commercial center of a cosmopolitan nature. By the end of the imperial age, it once again became the gateway to Italy, reaffirming its strategic and military role at the time of the barbarian invasions and the spread of Christianity.

The archaeological discoveries and results of scientific research made over the last 30 years offer the reader an accessible and engaging history of the site that has existed from the eighth century BC to the present day. The concluding chapters are dedicated to the rediscovery of the ancient city, its political use during Fascism and the modern investments that transformed Aquileia into one of the major archaeological tourism centers in Italy.