BARCOLANA
CAMMINA

An event exploring the deep connection between Aquileia and water, with walks along ancient and modern waterways, activities for children, cycle rides and trips across the lagoon, telling the story of a relationship that has shaped Aquileia from the pre-Roman period to the present day. An invitation to slow down and experience the area through nature, culture and history.

The event is organised as part of Barcolana58 by Fondazione Aquileia, in collaboration with the Municipality of Aquileia, SABAP for Friuli Venezia Giulia, Basilica of Aquileia, Associazione Nazionale per Aquileia, Fondazione Radio Magica ETS, Stazione di Terapia Forestale FVG-ITALIA, Eco&Salute Soc. Coop. – ecosystem services for human health, and with Cammini d’Italia as media partner.

PROGRAMME

3.00 pm
All participants meet at the Fondo CAL archaeological area (Via Giulia Augusta).

3.00–3.30 pm
Welcome to Barcolana Cammina! Institutional greetings.

3.30 pm
All activities begin:

Aquileia, Gateway to the Mediterranean

A walk along ancient and modern waterways, with Cammini d’Italia as media partner. The route includes a one-hour boat trip along the River Natissa to the first casoni, the traditional fishermen’s huts of the lagoon.

Excavations carried out in the 1930s revealed the unquestionable importance of Aquileia’s river port, which remained active at least until the 4th century. More recent discoveries by the University of Verona in the area of the ancient markets have shed light on the ingenuity with which the inhabitants of Aquileia overcame navigability problems on the ancient Natiso, creating new landing places and trading areas in the southernmost part of the city. These two archaeological sites will be stops on the first part of the walk.

During the second part of the itinerary, participants will leave the riverbank and take to the water, as people have done here since ancient times, navigating a stretch of the Natissa before reaching the Grado Lagoon. This vast transition zone between land and sea preserves countless archaeological traces beneath its brackish waters and opens onto a remarkable natural environment, rich in resident and migratory birdlife, salt-tolerant flora and the deep-rooted traditions of local fishing communities.

Duration: approximately 3 hours
Participation: €5 ticket, available online from the Cammini d’Italia website.

Technical information:
Elevation gain/loss: +/- 10 m
Difficulty: T – Tourist/Easy
Route: circular
Terrain: mixed surfaces, including unpaved roads, tarmac, grassy forest tracks and short sections of footpath.

Clothing: Comfortable clothing and suitable walking shoes are recommended. Participants should bring a bottle of water and, if necessary, a lightweight windproof jacket. Open or unsuitable footwear, such as high heels, is not permitted. Hiking shoes and trainers are suitable.

Additional information: Participants are asked to remain with the group at all times and follow the guides’ instructions carefully. For safety reasons, anyone who does not comply with the basic clothing and footwear requirements may be refused participation at the organisers’ discretion.

Activity organised by: Fondazione Aquileia and Cammini d’Italia.

Shinrin Yoku-Dō

Forest bathing in the archaeological area of Aquileia’s ancient river port

The term Shinrin-yoku (森林浴, “forest bathing”) was coined in 1982 and promotes the awakening of the senses through slowness, sounds, textures, scents and breathing in nature. Shinrin Yoku-Dō encourages a stronger individual commitment to protecting nature while generating longer-lasting psychological and physiological benefits, creating a virtuous circle that can lead to a genuine partnership between people and nature and a greater sense of overall balance.

Participation: free, booking required (maximum 20 participants) via Eventbrite @FondazioneAquileia.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.
Additional information: Animals are not permitted. Minimum age: 16. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered for the activity.
Activity organised by: Fondazione Aquileia and Stazione di Terapia Forestale FVG-ITALIA, Eco&Salute Soc. Coop. – ecosystem services for human health.

Theatrical Walk for Children

This guided walk is a real journey through time. Equipped with a Talking Passport, children will set off to discover some of Aquileia’s most famous and ancient sites. At every stop they complete, they will earn a sticker for their passport. There will also be surprises along the way, including an encounter with a very famous woman who lived here around 2,000 years ago.

Duration: approximately 1 hour.
Participation: free, booking required via the dedicated link. Recommended age: 5–10 years.
Additional information: maximum 15 children.
Activity organised by: Radio Magica ETS.

Canale Anfora: A Waterway Through History

A cycle route from the outskirts of Aquileia to the lagoon, following the course and long history of the Canale Anfora: from its construction in Roman times through its abandonment and rediscovery to its transformation into a major land-reclamation waterway.

Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Participation: free, booking required. For information and bookings (maximum 30 participants): assaquileia@libero.it
Additional information: bicycles can be hired for a fee.
Activity organised by: Associazione Nazionale per Aquileia APS, with the participation of Associazione Il Filo Rosso.

Guided Visit – The Jonah Mosaic

An exceptional guided visit to the Basilica of Aquileia, exploring the great Jonah Mosaic, centred on the story of the prophet and on imagery connected with the sea and fishing.

Duration: approximately 1 hour.
Participation: booking required at eventi@basilicadiaquileia.it. Tickets for the Basilica Complex and headset hire (€11.00) are payable on site.
Activity organised by: Fondazione SoCoBa.

6.45–7.30 pm

Venue: Conference Room, Palazzo Brunner-Segré, Via Roma 20

Talk – Beauty Lies Along the Way: The Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Walking Routes

A walking route is not simply about kilometres, paths and GPS tracks. It is a thread running through landscapes, villages, traditions, stories, flavours and communities. A slow journey through the tangible and intangible heritage that makes every route unique: not only what we encounter along the way, but above all what that route preserves and continues to pass on.

Participation: free; booking recommended via Eventbrite @FondazioneAquileia.
Activity organised by: Cammini d’Italia.

TO FOLLOW

Screening of the documentary “La Via Decia”

Ninety-five kilometres, five stages and two valleys to cross at a slow pace: Valle Camonica and Valle di Scalve, between the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo. The Via Decia follows the River Dezzo – the Decio of the ancient Romans – through woodland, small villages and landscapes at the foot of the Presolana massif.

Above all, however, this is a journey into the memory of a territory: from ancient iron mines to the Gleno Dam, passing through the stories and communities that still inhabit these mountains today. The documentary tells the story of the Via Decia by walking it, revealing how every trail can conceal landscapes, encounters and stories worth discovering.

Participation: free; booking recommended via Eventbrite @FondazioneAquileia.
Activity organised by: Cammini d’Italia.