Description of the attraction
The historic center of Grado with its many cultural and architectural monuments is one of the main tourist attractions of the resort town. It is located on the site of an ancient settlement - castrum and, for the most part, is limited by the Campo dei Patriarchi square, on which the main attractions are located. The architectural appearance of the square is reminiscent of the religious role of Grado, which for many years was the place of refuge for the bishops of Aquileia, who were in opposition to various political forces.
The main buildings of the historic center of Grado are the Basilica of Santa Eufemia, the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie and the Baptistery (aka the bell tower of Santa Eufemia), all of which were built in the 6th century. Also worth paying attention to are the ruins of the Della Corte Basilica and the city's Lapidarium with fragments of ancient Roman and early Christian buildings. In order to preserve these ancient historical monuments, the center of Grado is closed to car traffic and completely devoted to pedestrians and cyclists. Another interesting place in the historical center of the city is Piazza Biagio Marin with its archaeological site from the era of Ancient Rome.
In the very center of Grado, on the site of an ancient castrum, stands the Basilica of Santa Eufemia, which bears the title of a cathedral. Its construction began in the early years of the 6th century and was completed only in 579 - the basilica is considered the oldest surviving Christian church in the city. It was erected on the site of another temple, the Basilica of Petrus, fragments of which have also survived to this day. The influence of Byzantine architecture can be seen in its external and internal appearance, and the mosaics decorating the interior, of course, serve as the main "highlight" of the building. The baptistery deserves special attention, which is also the bell tower of the Basilica of Santa Eufemia. It has the shape of an octagon, and in the center of the baptistery there is a hexagonal baptismal font. The interior decoration is very simple - this applies to both architectural elements and decorations. In the 17th century, the baptistery was restored in the Baroque style, and in 1933 it was restored to its original appearance, while retaining some baroque elements.
An irreplaceable part of the historic center of Grado is the Lapidarium, located behind the Basilica of Santa Eufemia. Its main attraction are fragments of buildings from the era of Ancient Rome and the first centuries of Christianity.
