Longobards in Italy, Places of Power

A very warm and heartfelt welcome to Cividale del Friuli, an ancient historic town in northeastern Italy where thousands of years of luminous history and sacred heritage quietly resonate. The revered ground where you stand today…

The Gastaldaga courtyard, steeped in layers of deep history, stands as a supreme symbol of political authority, marking the historic center of power for the very first duchy established by the Lombards following their arrival on…

Standing directly before you, the Oratory of Santa Maria in Valle represents the single most exceptionally preserved monument of Lombard sacred architecture, seamlessly synthesizing classical Roman traditions with the distinct…

Stepping inside the sanctuary of the Lombard Temple, the breathtaking stucco reliefs of female saints positioned high upon the wall immediately capture our admiration with their striking three-dimensional presence. That these…

Dominating the museum gallery with its impressive presence, the octagonal stone baptismal font of Patriarch Callisto stands as a monumental masterpiece showcasing the absolute apex of eighth-century Lombard sculptural artistry.…

Finally, we stand before the Altar of Duke Rachis, a stone monument celebrated as having one of the most remarkably unconventional and original compositions in the entire canon of early medieval Christian art. Please focus your…

Today, we have journeyed together through the luminous heritage of power and faith left behind by the Lombard people in the picturesque historic town of Cividale del Friuli in northeastern Italy. From the serene courtyard of the…