Ravenna, UNESCO Mosaics

Ravenna is renowned for its eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, famed for the finest collection of late-Roman and Byzantine mosaics in the world -- it is sometimes called the mosaic city.  We visited three sites.  The last time my neck was this sore from trying to photograph things over my head, was when I visited the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

Our first stop was the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a small fifth century structure known for its deep cobalt blue dome filled with hundreds of glowing stars.  

Galla Placida

The first thing they tell you outside is that Galla was the daughter of one of the Emperors, and they have now figured out that she is not really buried here, but don't worry about all that, the mosaics are incredible.

They got that right.

It's hard to get an angle that gives it justice, but I tried.

entrance vault

The mausoleum is laid out in a cross shape, with four separate vaulted patterns.  It is not large and you go from bright sunshine into a starry night interrupted only by yellow light coming through windows of marble sliced very thin.

yellow marble windows

Above the vaults it builds to a central mosaic, at the center of which is aa starry cross.

The particular mosaic shown here is a local favorite because it depicts the doves drinking of the font of living waters.  You see that image around town in advertizing and gifts.

this is a recreation of what is atop the vault
(it is hard to photograph in the dark building, so this was outside)

the basilica of San Vitale, from the Galla mausoleum

The second place we visited was the Basilica of San Vitale.  This was consecrated somewhere around 547 during the reign of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.  It features biblical scenes with brilliant gold backgrounds (very different from the blue and gold of Galla.) 

the dome

above the altar

one side of the altar

as you approach the altar
one on each side

closer look at the other side - that's one big marble

the floor
big chunks of marble, and then tiny mosaics

They are in the process of restoring some of the "wrapping" around the main columns.  If you look at the original pieces, each features two pieces cut from the same marble then laid side-by-side so they form a mirror image.  Each of them is different.  One of them resembles a face, and it reminds me of a door knocker that we saw as we walked to the marketplace restaurant.

door knocker

Two hours of walking in 90 degree heat called for a gelato break.  Limon and fragola were our choices.... lemon and strawberry flavors so vibrant you could imagine the fresh fruit.

Oops, all gone!

Editorial note:  the system is giving me fits, I put everything in, and when I add the photos the size of type changes, or, in this case, it gave me a weird, highlighted type face  I don't have time to figure it out, so - as long as it is readable, I will publish it. I thought this sans serif font would be better than the Times it was originally set to use.... but, as you can see it keeps drifting back to a different size and type face on the comments.