Ravenna
| Ravenna became the capital of the Roman Empire in 402 AD, under Emperor Honorius, and remained so during the 5th century and later of the Byzantine Italy until the 8th. The art of mosaic flourished in the city during that period. Eight of Ravenna's early Christian monuments and mosaics sites were declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1996. | |
| For me, the most beautiful mosaics in Ravenna are found at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. The oldest mosaics in Ravenna, built in the 5th century for Galla, sister of Honorius and daughter of Theodosius I, the emperor who divided the Roman Empire in two. |  |
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The building has the shape of a cross, with a central dome in which the mosaics show the evangelists. The wings are decorated with flowers of various patterns. The dominant color is blue. |
| The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was built in the 6th century and received additions later. Marble columns support high walls that are covered with delicate mosaics of religious themes, as shown in the images here. It is very beautiful. |  |
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 The Church of St. John the Evangelist. |
Other important sites I visited were: the Basilic of San Vitale (from the 6th century, with an altar in alabaster), the Neonian Baptistery (built around 500 AD in octogonal shape), the National Museum (with a huge collection of Byzantine art) and the Archiepiscopal Museum (with the ivory throne of bishop Maximinian, from the 6th century). But there are many other attractions in Ravenna. |
Ravenna Tourism, by The Municipality of Ravenna
Ravenna and around, by Welcome to Italy
Art Monuments and Museum & Tourism Ravenna, by The Municipality of Ravenna
Mosaico Ravenna
Copyright © Maria Adelaide Silva
No reproduction is allowed without the author's agreement