Ravenna: Italy's capital of mosaics

This blip (added in May 2015) is a modified version of one posted in February 2014.  In the meantime extra photos have been allowed in blips, so I have added two more. 

Only interior photos are presented: it was a grey day and the exteriors of the buildings, albeit old and interesting, are not ornate.


Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

This church was originally dedicated in 504 AD to "Christ the Redeemer" as King Theodoric's palace chapel. Theodoric, an Ostrogoth or Eastern Goth, was master of Italy and many other adjacent territories.

This mosaic of the Three Kings illustrates the quality and beauty of the mosaics produced in Ravenna 1,500 years ago.

Theodoric and the Ostrogoths practiced Arian Christianity, which included the heretical belief that the Son of God had not always existed, but was created by—and is therefore distinct from—God the Father. This heresy would result in a later ruler in Ravenna , the Emperor Justinian, arranging for some of the mosaics in this church, considered religiously off-message, to be modified: an intriguing early precursor of "air brushing". This part of the mosaics remains untouched.

Ceiling of the Orthodox Baptistry

This Baptistry was partly built on the site of Roman Baths; the large font in the centre had presumably been part of the baths.  Walls are 4th/5th century and the mosaics date from the late 5th century.

A lot of visitors here, most of them - unsurprisingly - were Russians. 

Ceiling of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia

(My favourite among all of Ravenna's marvels.)

Galla Placidia (approx AD 388 - 450 or later) is believed to have commissioned the mausoleum as the burial site for her and her family - it houses three sarcophagi - but its construction date is unknown.

On my first visit to Ravenna, several decades ago, the only light in this mausoleum was the natural light from the windows and open doorway.  As you accustomed yourself to the low light level, this wonderful starry ceiling gradually emerged.  Sheer magic.  

That experience is no longer to be had, as electricity has been installed: this enables you to enjoy to the full the exuberant variety of mosaic work.

The mausoleum's little windows were made from animal horn.