For the first time in nearly seven hundred years, the three surviving sections of the Gospel of Mark—one of the most important manuscripts of medieval Europe—will be brought together in one place: Aquileia, the city that has preserved it for so long. From September 12, 2026, to April 25, 2027, Palazzo Meizlik will host the exhibition THE GOSPEL OF MARK. Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. A European Story, promoted and organized by the Aquileia Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region.
The exhibition is the result of a collaboration with the City of Aquileia, the Basilica of Aquileia, the National Archaeological Museum of Cividale del Friuli—affiliated with the Historical Museum and Park of Miramare Castle —Regional Directorate of National Museums of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Vitus in Prague, the Prague Castle Archives at the Chancellery of the Office of the President of the Czech Republic, and the Archdiocese of Prague.
The reunification of the three fragments is the result of a complex process of cultural diplomacy initiated by the Aquileia Foundation. This effort brought together Italian and Czech civil, religious, and museum institutions, giving rise to a project of great scientific and symbolic significance. Of particular importance is the loan of the fragment held by the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Vitus in Prague and the Cathedral Treasury. Considered an indivisible part of the heritage of the Czech state and people, this precious fragment will leave the territory of the Czech Republic for the first time to be exhibited in Aquileia alongside the other two parts.
It is no coincidence that Aquileia was chosen as the site for this reunion. In late antiquity, the city was known as “Splendida Civitas,” and in the early Middle Ages, the Patriarchate of Aquileia became the largest diocese in Europe. Thanks to its location and influence, Aquileia served for centuries as a key meeting point between Rome, Byzantium, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Slavic world, assuming a central role on the spiritual, political, and cultural levels. It is this unique European dimension of the city that has made the reunification of the three fragments possible. The project thus reaffirms the role of Aquileia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a crossroads of connections that—from the past to the present—continue to link European institutions, cultures, and nations.
The Gospel of Mark is not merely an ancient manuscript; it is one of the most significant testaments to medieval European culture. For centuries, it was venerated as an autograph of the Evangelist Mark, although historical studies now date its creation to the 6th century. The Gospel remained in Aquileia for a long time before being dismembered. Its three parts then took different paths, giving rise to a history spanning nearly seven centuries.
The exhibition at Palazzo Meizlik traces this very story. A unique opportunity to piece together not only an ancient manuscript but also a fundamental chapter in European cultural history. The exhibition project will be accompanied by a program of scholarly and public outreach initiatives. The exhibition and the calendar of activities will be presented to the Italian and international press on Thursday, September 10, 2026, in Rome.
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| The Gospel of Mark Returns to Aquileia: The Three Surviving Fragments Reunited for the First Time in Seven Centuries |
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