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.
Borella’s art piece sums up on a corten steel plate the identifying power of the eagle featured on the ancient medieval banner used by Patriarch Bertrand in 1350. That is the oldest specimen of the flag of Friuli, one of the longest-lived flags in the world, which can still be admired in the Udine Cathedral Museum. It is a banner officially recognised in its modern version by Regional Law 27/2001, which has remained an emblem of autonomy and cultural roots over the centuries.
“Un’Aquila in Comune” is a project funded by Regional Law 7/2024 for the 2025 Fieste de Patrie dal Friûl.
The initiative has been organised and promoted in cooperation with City ADV.
The Flag of Friuli
The flag of Friuli, used by the Patriarchal State of Aquileia, is an historical banner of rare longevity. Its historical roots date back to the Patriarchal State of Aquileia. The origin of the banner is closely linked to the emblem of the eagle, already associated with the city of Aquileia in Roman times. Numismatic findings show that the eagle was in use in Friuli as early as the 13th century as a distinctive symbol of Aquileian power. The oldest example of the banner, dating back to the early 14th century, is on display in the Museum of the Cathedral of Udine. It depicts a golden eagle on a blue-grey silk cloth that was part of the grave goods of Patriarch Bertrand of Saint Geniès.
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.
The Parliament of Friuli
The Parliament of Friuli represents one of the oldest and most significant assembly institutions in Europe. The first written evidence of Friulian parliamentary activity dates back to the 13th century. Its composition was quite original as it included, alongside the representatives of the clergy and nobility, even those of the town communities, which shaped it as a model of social and political balance in an era dominated by feudal power.
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.
THE FOLLOWING MUNICIPALITIES HAVE JOINED THE PROJECT “UN’AQUILA IN COMUNE”:
- Aiello del Friuli
- Amaro
- Andreis
- Arba
- Arta Terme
- Artegna
- Attimis
- Bagnaria Arsa
- Barcis
- Basiliano
- Bertiolo
- Bicinicco
- Bordano
- Buja
- Camino al Tagliamento
- Campoformido
- Capriva del Friuli
- Casarsa della Delizia
- Cassacco
- Castelnovo del Friuli
- Cavasso Nuovo
- Cavazzo Carnico
- Cercivento
- Cervignano del Friuli
- Chiopris-Viscone
- Cividale del Friuli
- Clauzetto
- Codroipo
- Colloredo di Monte Albano
- Comeglians
- Cordenons
- Cordovado
- Corno di Rosazzo
- Coseano
- Dignano
- Dogna
- Dolegna del Collio
- Enemonzo
- Fanna
- Fiumicello Villa Vicentina
- Flaibano
- Fontanafredda
- Forgaria nel Friuli
- Forni Avoltri
- Forni di Sopra
- Frisanco
- Gorizia
- Lauco
- Lestizza
- Lignano Sabbiadoro
- Magnano in Riviera
- Maniago
- Manzano
- Martignacco
- Medea
- Meduno
- Mereto di Tomba
- Montenars
- Montereale Valcellina
- Moraro
- Morsano al Tagliamento
- Mortegliano
- Moruzzo
- Mossa
- Muzzana del Turgnano
- Nimis
- Osoppo
- Ovaro
- Pagnacco
- Palazzolo dello Stella
- Paluzza
- Pasian di Prato
- Paularo
- Pavia di Udine
- Pocenia
- Pontebba
- Pordenone
- Porpetto
- Povoletto
- Pozzuolo del Friuli
- Pradamano
- Precenicco
- Premariacco
- Prepotto
- Ragogna
- Ravascletto
- Raveo
- Reana del Rojale
- Remanzacco
- Resiutta
- Rigolato
- Rive D’Arcano
- Rivignano Teor
- Ronchis
- Ruda
- S. Maria la Longa
- San Lorenzo Isontino
- San Martino al Tagliamento
- San Vito al Tagliamento
- San Vito al Torre
- San Vito di Fagagna
- Sedegliano
- Sequals
- Sesto al Reghena
- Socchieve
- Spilimbergo
- Sutrio
- Talmassons
- Tarcento
- Tavagnacco
- Terzo di Aquileia
- Tolmezzo
- Torviscosa
- Tramonti di Sopra
- Tramonti di Sotto
- Travesio
- Treppo Grande
- Treppo Ligosullo
- Tricesimo
- Trivignano Udinese
- Udine
- Valvasone Arzene
- Varmo
- Venzone
- Verzegnis
- Villa Santina
- Visco
- Vito d’Asio
- Zoppola
- Zuglio
