A Visit to Ravenna

Ravenna is a city near the Adriatic coast in the Emilia-Romagna region south of Venice and east of Bologna. There is direct train service into town from Ferrara and Bologna. By car, the city can be reached from the west by a stretch of autostrada or otherwise by secondary roads from the north and south, including the potentially treacherous two-lane highway known as the Romea. Ravenna is relatively compact and definitely pedestrian friendly with regard to most of the major sights to see. A day will typically be enough time to take in the essential attractions. And what might those be, you ask? One word—mosaics.

Sant'Apollinare in Classe. © Nuovo Centro Italiano

In fact, there are other things worth a visit, but the mosaics in Ravenna are truly a wonder to behold. The vibrant colors of the countless tiny tiles adorning the walls and ceilings of numerous buildings across town and beyond must be seen in person to be fully appreciated. Photographs do not do justice to the works of artisans dating back to the Byzantine era of the 6th Century A.D. providing representations and honoring the movers and shakers of the time.

A list of main attractions would include a number of churches and a few related structures. One could start by visiting the Basilica of San Vitale—a good place to begin for those traveling by car considering there is an adjacent parking lot where vehicles can be left for the whole day for a small fee. Also, starting at San Vitale, on can purchase a punch-card ticket providing admission into several of the primary sights in town.

The interior of the Basilica of San Vitale is somewhat dark and cavernous, that is until the main alter is located. Above the alter is a domed ceiling containing and surrounded by exquisitely shimmering larger-than-life images of saints, animals, biblical figures, and, for good measure, the emperor Justinian and his wife Teodora accompanied by their respective courtly companions and staring across at each other as they have done for centuries. Prepare to be awestruck and expect a sore neck from having to turn your eyes up again and again to appreciate the detail.

Upon gazing at the display at San Vitale, take a short walk out into the courtyard to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. This small chapel-like structure is the final resting place of a royal dating back to the 5th Century A.D. The story of her life reads like a soap opera, but in the end, she was duly memorialized with the construction of the structure containing, not one, but three alcoves each with a sarcophagus. There is some uncertainty as to who might be entombed in each massive bas-relief sarcophagus, but there can be little doubt that one can get a superlative eyeful of the mosaics that decorate the coved ceilings. The images include animals and individuals, stars and other symbols in all the colors one can imagine. It is a breath-taking sight.

But these two sights represent only a sampling of the incredible mosaics to be discovered in Ravenna. There are many others to ogle throughout the core of the city in various churches and baptisteries. And if that is not enough, then there is the basilica in the nearby town of Classe that also contains a stunning example of the mosaic art form.

Ravenna has much to offer the art lover and the history buff. It may rank lower on the itinerary than some of the other destinations in Italy, but for those who make the effort to visit and tour the sites, they will not be disappointed.

If you are the type of traveler that likes to truly immerse yourself in your surroundings, contact Magda at Nuovo Centro Italiano and find out more about language courses and travel consultations.

(This article was written by our contributor, David Berger.)