Sep 262014
After four days in Rimini for the Gelato World Tour Grand Finale, about which you will soon get a full report, my companions and I headed for Bologna. Ravenna is about midway between the two cities and we decided to stop here overnight. If its cuisine is overshadowed by those of other cities in the region—Bologna, Modena, Ferrara, Parma—certainly its art is world-class. The seat of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, and of Byzantine Italy until the 8th century, Ravenna’s 5th and 6th century mosaics are considered the finest in the world outside of Istanbul.
Early Christian mosaics in the Church of San Vitale and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe:
Photographs by Julia della Croce
If you liked this post, please share it.
Follow
email
What terrific photographs. I remember being in Ravenna in 1971. I had just finished my first year of college where I had spent a great deal of time studying Emperor Justinian. I was amazed to see his portrait in mosaic tiles . Oh, but I can just see the gorgeous blue and gold tiles. I can see his huge eyes and his crown. Thanks, Julia, for bringing back some truly wonderful memories of the trip of a lifetime.
Yes, I saw that one of Justinian. I’d been reading Gore Vidal’s historical novel about him while I was traveling. Loved seeng the portrait. It’s all so dazzling. Almost incomprehensible how so many artisans could have worked together and achieved such huge and perfect murals of glass.
How absolutely stunning and somehow or other, we need to visit Ravenna! I have heard about the mosaics and seen photos in magazines but not as lovely as your photos!
A mere glimpse of the city’s treasures!