Christian Museum and Treasure of the Cathedral of Cividale, Cividale del Friuli

Vast hall with wide collection of mosaics and epitaphs

Located close to the ducal cathedral, in the fascinating city that was a Lombard seat of primary importance, this small museum is easily found, certainly not due to its importance, as a museum that bears witness to the rich and composite past of a Christian Cividale that never ceases to amaze and fascinate us. To be seen absolutely, in our opinion: the imposing and extraordinary altar of Ratchis, dedicated to his father Pemmone, which still retains traces of his original pigmentation (reconstructed ad hoc thanks to images that overlap and integrate the decoration of the altar itself, in way of offering the visitor the original state of the artifact as it appeared to his contemporaries), the majestic and light at the same time, Callisto baptistery. The first room, on the right after the entrance, thus becomes a casket of early medieval art of real charm and beauty. Also on the ground floor, a rich and composite section of liturgical objects, stauroteca, reliquaries, which is part of the treasure of the Cividale Cathedral. Here you cannot see the patriarchal sword, still used today as a symbol of the ancient temporal power in the suggestive Mass of the Spadone, which is held at every Epiphany, or the chair of the Patriarchs of Aquileia and ... I would add, at my own risk and danger, of Cividale. Upstairs an interesting art gallery where, among other works, the splendid "Noli me tangere" by Pordenone stands out. Ultimately, a destination not to be missed, which crowns a non-superficial visit to a city steeped in history. And what a story!