Grado Attractions

South of Aquileia, on the spit of land south of the lagoon, the popular seaside resort of Grado (2m/7ft; pop. 9,650) can be found. Half way along the spit of land is the little fishing port, to the north lies the harbor canal, to the east, along the beautiful sandy beach (3km/2 mi long; hot sand baths), is the hotel and villa quarter. Grado came into being as the resort of Roman Aquileia when the Patriarch fled here in 568 to escape the Lombards. The cathedral of Sant'Eufemia was built during this period with a mosaic pavement, a Romanesque pulpit and a silver frontal (Venetian; 1372). To the left of the cathedral stands the Baptistery (5th century), and beyond this the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, with a mosaic pavement.