Cervignano del Friuli

The city's history is tied to Aquileia's foundation. After the barbarian invasions and the restoration efforts by the Benedictine nuns of the Monastery of Santa Maria di Aquileia, from 1420 the area came under the control of the Republic of Venice, Austria, and Napoleon's Reign of Italy. Finally, it was occupied by Italian troops in 1915.

Its place-name probably comes from the name of the family which received this territory: "Gens Serviliana", that was later modified in the current "Cervignano".

In 452, during the Huns' invasions, Cervignano was completely destroyed, like Aquileia; this was only the beginning of a long series of raids by the barbaric populations.

In 568 there were both the occupation of this area by the Langobards of King Alboino and the foundation of the most ancient Abbey of Benedictine monks of Friuli, the Abbey of S. Michele Arcangelo ("Badia di San Michele Arcangelo"); the building underwent numerous assaults by the Barbaric populations and was finally destroyed in the X century.

Only later thanks to the Benedictine nuns of the Convent of "S. Maria di Aquileia", to whom the Patriarchate had given the marshy and unproductive territory of Cervignano, the area subdued a redevelopment and repopulation.

From 1420 onwards, Cervignano underwent the rules of the Republic of Venice and of Austria; in 1807 it became part of the Reign of Italy, but later became a possession of Austria again.

In 1915, when it was engaged by the Italian troops, the zone became a remarkable military centre.