At the time of the Roman Empire, the island of Grado was the port of call of the populous city of Aquileia and, just a few years ago, the sea returned nothing less than a whole ship complete with its cargo: the "Iulia Felix". After the long, patient and arduous restoration work, this extraordinary discovery will be the main attraction in Grado's new "National Museum of Underwater Archaeology".
The number of people living in Gradus during the Roman Age is unknown, but according to the oral tradition passed down by the "the old islanders", Gradus was known as "Ambriabella", perhaps an ancient legacy connected with the important trade in amber to which this land is indebted for its prosperity.