UN’AQUILA IN COMUNE
(AN EAGLE IN TOWN)

On 3 April 2025, the project “Un’Aquila in Comune” has been launched in Cividale del Friuli – a town that was called “FORUM IULII” in ancient times, after which Friuli was named. In the following months, the project will see the symbolic display of a work of art in the historic centre of 130 municipalities within the Friulian-speaking territory. The artwork, created by designer Stefano Borella, will be exhibited at representative buildings or places of historical and cultural interest. It was inspired by the eagle of the Friulian flag, which is a symbol that unites Friulians more than any other and that represents the emblem of many public and private institutions of Friuli.

The initiative is promoted by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region and ARLeF with the aim of enhancing and promoting Friulian identity. “Un’Aquila in Comune” aims to remind every citizen and the many tourists who enjoy the beauty of the historic centres in Friuli of the unique millenary history of this territory at the heart of Europe as well as its people who have a deep sense of their identity and proudly preserve their language, culture and traditions.

The current flag of Friuli draws inspiration from the ancient banner and is officially recognised by the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region It is composed of a rectangular standard with at its centre a golden eagle set in a sky blue field. The municipalities included in the territory of protection of the Friulian linguistic minority exhibit the flag in public places. Every year, the main occasion for its official presentation is on 3rd April, the anniversary of the birth of the Patriarchal State of Aquileia.

A region in the heart of Europe

Friuli is a region located in the extreme northeast of the Italian Republic, on the border with Austria and Slovenia. It covers an area of about 8,000 sq km and is bounded on the west by the River Livenza and on the east by the river Timavo. Friuli is currently included in the administrative region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (in the former provinces of Gorizia, Pordenone and Udine), with the exception of the district of Portogruaro, which is included in the Veneto region, specifically the province of Venice. Friuli is comprised of a wide plain and a mountain range that surrounds it, namely the Carnic Alps and a short stretch of the Julian Alps.

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  Inhabited in ancient times by pre-Celtic and Celtic populations, it was later conquered by the Romans. Starting from Aquileia, they made it a focal point for the maintenance and development of their dominance on the European continent. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Friuli witnessed years of invasions and raids, and then it became the seat of the first Lombard duchy. With the advent of the Holy Roman Empire, the region took on a strategic role, which culminated in the creation of the Patriarchal State of Aquileia in 1077. This ecclesiastical state ruled Friuli until 1420, when it was conquered by the Republic of Venice. In 1516, with the Treaty of Noyon, the Serenissima acknowledged the dominion of the Habsburgs over eastern Friuli.
  With the fall of Venice in 1797, the rest of Friuli also became part of the Austrian Empire. It was later annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866 (except for eastern Friuli, which was annexed only in 1919). During the 20th century, Friuli was hit by dramatic events, such as the two world conflicts and the devastating earthquake of 1976. Today, Friuli can boast an excellent level of economic development, with key sectors such as manufacturing, commerce, agriculture and tourism. Its rich history, its four official languages (Friulian, Slovenian, German and Italian), its unique landscapes and its food and wine tradition make it one of the most distinctive regions of Italy.

THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPALITIES HAVE JOINED THE PROJECT “UN’AQUILA IN COMUNE”:

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