I was finally done with my visit to the basilica of Aquileia. I spent more time than I expected. It was winter when I visited so the days would be shorter. This means that I wouldn’t have a lot of touring time and I need to keep moving. However, just as I was leaving the basilica grounds, I noticed that there was a something behind the bell tower of the basilica. It was a cemetery. It won’t be the first time that I would see a cemetery beside a basilica and I thought I knew that most of the people buried here would be from centuries ago. However this wasn’t the case.

A more accurate name for the place is the Cemetery of Heroes. This is where people of Aquileia who fought in the first world war were buried. It was a serene place. And you can see the love and respect that was done to preparing this cemetery. This is contrast to the centuries old cemeteries which I have seen elsewhere. There are several important facts about this place. Some people might be familiar with the Altar of the Fatherland which is a tomb for the Unknown Soldier in Rome. I visited that place years back and I still remember the rather bizarre architecture that it had.

So what does that place have anything to do with this Cemetery of Heroes here in Aquileia? A local woman named Maria Bergamas had the honor of choosing the body of the Unknown Soldier from this cemetery. She represented mothers who have lot children to the war, because she herself lost her son to the war, not knowing where the body was buried. The chosen body was transported to Rome and buried there. As for Maria Bergamas, she herself was laid to rest here when she passed away. I didn’t know about this history when I visited since there was little information about it. Not too many people make it here either since it seemed to be a little hidden from the outside. I guess my determination to see all things here in the basilica paid off, or I would have missed out on a piece of history.

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