A faulting model for the Friuli earthquake sequence (1976-1977) is derived through the inversion of levelling data obtained by the Istituto Geografico Militare. The inversion of these data is performed using the elastic dislocation theory and a source model consisting of three rectangular faults, as suggested by seismological observations. Both the quasi-linear formalism with a priori information developed by Matsu’ura and Hirata (1982), and the non-linear inverse formalism by Tarantola and Valette (1982) are applied and show coincident results. Location of the aftershocks from different networks operating in the epicentral area after the main events has been carried out in an homogeneous process to improve previous solutions. The focal parameters derived from the inversion and from the aftershock distribution are consistent with those obtained from the analysis of far-field seismological data. These results show that faulting along shallow dipping planes, involving underthrusting of the southernmost blocks beneath the Alps, is the predominant seismogenetic process in the Friuli region. These shallow faults (less than 10-12 km in depth) progressively ruptured during the 1976-1977 from E to W direction according to the seismological interpretation.