Open the left menu is equal. Byzantine mosaics Ravenna Ravenna capital of the Western Roman Empire

In the Emilia-Romagna region, this is the brightest pearl. It seems to be the simplest structure, but no, there are imprints of hundreds or even thousands of years on it. And if the stones could talk, in Ravenna they would tell about the events they witnessed. They probably have something to remember, for example, about the last years of the Western Roman Empire, when Ravenna was the capital of the greatest state that soon fell ...

The famous Ravenna mosaics tell their stories. The most colourful, the most skillful, the most large-scale - any of the epithets in superlatives refers to this type of art in Ravenna. The most famous adorns the Basilica of San Vitale and is replicated on souvenirs.

The city is actively developing in our time. Now it is a popular beach resort, and a modern Mirabilandia amusement park has been built nearby with roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, attractions, various performances, and laser shows. By the way, the largest in Italy. So listening to the stories of the past, you can have a good rest in the present.

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How to get to Ravenna

By plane

The nearest major airport to Ravenna, which receives regular flights, is located in Bologna. You can also get by plane to Rimini or Venice, from where you can get to your final destination by land transport.

By train

There is a regional train from Bologna. The journey will take 1 hour 20 minutes. Some trains stop at Faenza or Portomaggiore, where you will have to transfer to another one. When traveling from Rome, most likely, after a 4-hour journey, you will have to make a change in Bologna. The same route is from Milan (3 hours). From Rimini you will drive under the sound of wheels for about an hour.

By bus

Bus service is provided by ATM.

By car

The distance between Bologna and Ravenna is 80 km, you will spend a little more than an hour on the way. Add 5 € for road tax to your expenses. From Rome to Ravenna 380 km, which can be covered in 4.5 hours, the tax will be 4 €. Between Ravenna and Milan about 290 km. The road will take 3 hours and will be the most expensive - taxes will "eat up" an additional 19 €. The A14 highway leads to Ravenna.

By sea

The port of Ravenna is one of the twenty most significant in all of Italy. Many cruise companies start their routes here: Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises go to Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. A ferry service connects Ravenna with Sicily (Catania).

Hotels in Ravenna

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There are about a hundred hotels in Ravenna for every taste and budget, you just have to choose the one that suits the purpose of your trip. If the task is to see the largest possible number of historical sights, then it is better to settle in the city center. Then the minimum cost of living will be from 70-80 € per day for double occupancy (Hotel Centrale Byron 3*, R&B Casa Aurora) and a little more expensive (La Reunion 4*, Best Western Hotel Bisanzio 4*, etc.). If the distance doesn't matter to you, you can find a place to stay for 45-50 €. At the same time, the quality will not necessarily suffer (B&B Al Borgo, Hotel B&B Ravenna 3 *, etc.)

If you wish, you can stay in hotels on the coast, however, in this case, the budget for accommodation can be safely multiplied by one and a half, or even two. The most modest options will cost 80-100 € for two.

Shopping in Ravenna

There are not as many shops in Ravenna as in Rimini or Bologna, but there are also places to leave - from a few euros to six figures.

Designer stores are mainly located on Via Cavour. In the historical center on any street you will find a souvenir shop, a grocery supermarket or a shoe boutique. The main food market - Mercato Comunale is located on Andrea Costa Square (Andrea Costa) and is usually open until lunch every day, except Sunday.

The main souvenir product is considered to be any product with a “mosaic-like” design. Traditional magnets, leather bags, T-shirts and, of course, ceramics can be decorated in the Ravenna style.

Try to take Ravenna delicacies back to your homeland: caramelized figs with Squacquerone cheese, typical of the region. A bottle of local Sangiovese wine will be useful in your luggage on the way back.

Beach holidays in Ravenna

The seaside resort of Marina di Ravenna is valued among its own, Italians, and among foreign tourists. Near the historical monuments of the city, modern beach areas are equipped. Most of the beaches are sandy, clean and well maintained.

The most modern - Lido Adriano - is designed for a youth audience, for whom the sea, sun and sand are not enough for complete happiness, and also serve active sports. Punta Marina Terme is more suitable for family holidays, it is quieter there due to cottage development surrounded by pine trees. A more sedate and wealthy audience also comes here, mainly for the sake of thalassotherapy. The center is located on the beach itself.

Ravenna- a seaside resort, once the center of the Eastern Roman Empire, today it is a small but very beautiful Italian city with its own unique features. Many attractions are concentrated here, some of which are today included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. But Ravenna is best known for its amazing mosaics, which, as before, adorn the walls of churches and monuments.

What to see in Ravenna on your own?

Beautiful places and main attractions: photos with descriptions in Russian.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Ravenna is famous for its amazing mosaics and UNESCO heritage sites. All this combines the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, built in the first half of the 5th century. In 1966, this contrasting and mysterious architectural structure was included in the UNESCO list, and the mosaic that adorns the walls of the mausoleum is considered the oldest in the city.

Initially, it was a chapel that was part of the church of Santa Croce. Later, when a street was laid in honor of Galla Placidia, part of the sanctuary had to be dismantled, after which the chapel turned into a separate structure. The mausoleum of Galla Placidia did not become the place of her burial, however, three sarcophagi: for her, her husband and son - are inside. There are questions about the remains buried in these sarcophagi, which to this day have not been answered.

From an architectural point of view, this is a very contrasting structure. A modest, small building, having a cruciform shape, made of red brick, amazes with the magnificence of its interior decoration.

• Address: Via Giuliano Argentario, 22
• Opening hours: from 01.04 to 30.09 from 9:00 to 19:00, in October and March - until 17:30, from 01.11 to 28.02 - until 17:00.
• The cost of a single ticket "Mosaics of Ravenna" (includes 5 attractions) is 9.50 euros, from 01.03-15.06 you need to pay an additional 2 euros. Children under 10 years old are free.

Mausoleum of Theodoric

The Mausoleum of Theodoric was built in 520 AD by the king of the Ostrogoths, who ruled in those days in Ravenna. This mausoleum is the only surviving creation of the Ostrogoths, in connection with which, in 1996, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The mausoleum is located in the middle of a Gothic cemetery. This is a round building with a dome made of solid stone, it is installed on a ten-sided pedestal. A distinctive feature of this building is that, compared to the chic temples and mausoleums of Ravenna, there is not a single decoration inside, with the exception of traces of the cross that once adorned the upper tier, and the red bowl that served as the tomb for Theodoric. During the reign of Justinian, the remains of the king of the Ostrogoths were removed from the mausoleum, after which the building was turned into a chapel.

• Address: Via delle Industrie, 14.
• Opening hours: in summer from 8:30 to 19:00.
• Entrance: 4 euros standard, 2 euros reduced. Admission is free every first Sunday of the month.

Arian Baptistery

The Arian baptistery was erected between the 5th and 6th centuries on behalf of the Ostrogothic king Theodoric. The king was a follower of the Arian branch of Christianity, which is why the baptistery got its name, but outwardly it is very similar to the baptistery of Neon (Orthodox). In the middle of the 6th century, the oratory of the Virgin Mary was made from the baptistery, when Arianism began to be suppressed. In 1996, along with other monuments of Ravenna, the baptistery was included in the UNESCO list.

Externally, the structure looks quite simple. The walls are made of red brick. The building itself is small and consists of two tiers. The first one has no windows, only the entrance to the room and several semicircular ledges. On the second tier there are small windows in the form of arches.

Inside, the dome of the baptistery is decorated with a mosaic depicting the scene of the baptism of Christ, and around it are depicted the twelve apostles, separated from each other by small palm trees.

• Address: Piazzetta degli Ariani.

Church of the Holy Spirit in Ravenna

The Church of the Holy Spirit is located just a few meters from the Arian Baptistery. This is another early Christian building from the beginning of the 6th century. The church was erected during the reign of the Ostrogoth king Theodoric. However, like many religious buildings in Ravenna, after the death of the Ostrogothic king, the Church of the Holy Spirit came under the auspices of the Orthodox branch of Christianity.

The only, but at the same time the most noticeable, decoration of the facade of the building is a portico with large arches running in a row, separated only by thin even columns. The church consists of three parts: the nave and galleries, they are separated by columns. The altar, made of Greek marble, has been preserved in its original form.

• Address: Piazzetta degli Ariani, 1.
• Entrance during worship from 10:00 to 12:00 on Sundays. Tourist visits are prohibited.

neonian baptistery

The neonian baptistery, neon baptistery or orthodox baptistery are all names for the same religious building in Ravenna. The baptistery got its name in honor of Bishop Neon. This step was necessary in order to be able to distinguish between the two baptistery in Ravenna, which are very similar in appearance to each other.

The Baptistery of Neon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as one of the early Christian buildings, in addition, it is decorated with magnificent mosaics on the inside, comparable to those in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia or in the Basilica of San Vitale. It covers all the walls and the dome of the baptistery. Inside is a large octagonal baptismal font. In general, the interior decoration is very elegant, but from the outside the baptistery looks quite simple.

• Address: Via Gioacchino Rasponi.
• Opening hours: from April 1 to September 30 from 9:00 to 19:00, in October and March from 9:30 to 17:30, from November 1 to February 28 - from 10:00 to 17:00.

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe

The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe is one of the main churches in Ravenna. It was built in the middle of the 6th century on the site where the patron and first bishop of Ravenna, St. Apollinaris. “Klasse” is the name of one of the districts of the city where the church is located. Today it is one of eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The basilica has an oblong shape, the size of the building is 55 m by 30 m. The walls are made of thin bricks, between which a rather thick layer of white mortar is visible. There are semi-circular windows along the perimeter of the building. Next to the basilica is a high round tower.

At the entrance to the basilica, the first thing that attracts attention is the colonnade of two rows. In this way, the interior space is divided into three naves, where the central one is the largest, and the side ones are much smaller. The basilica is decorated with mosaics from the reign of Justinian, in addition, there are sarcophagi with the relics of bishops, and the main value is the relics of St. Apollinaria, which are in the altar.

• Address: Via Romea Sud, 224.

Archbishop's Chapel and Museum

The archbishop's chapel was erected during the reign of Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, between the 5th and 6th centuries, as an episcopal house church. The chapel was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as one of the early Christian buildings.

The base of the chapel is laid out in the form of an elongated (Greek) cross. Inside the church is decorated with mosaics, where you can see floral motifs and biblical scenes.

The Archbishop's Museum was opened in the 17th century. Its exhibits are finds that were made on the territory of churches belonging to the diocese. The museum's greatest treasures are an ivory throne and a silver cross, which belonged to two archbishops of Ravenna who served in the 6th century.

• Address: Piazza Arcivescovado, 1.
• Opening hours: from April 1 to September 30 from 9:00 to 19:00, October and March from 9:30 to 17:30, from November 1 to February 28 - from 10:00 to 17:00.
• Entrance: single ticket "Mosaic of Ravenna" - 9.50 euros, reduced cost - 8.50 euros. Entrance for children under 10 years old is free.

Tomb of Dante

Dante Alighieri, author of the famous Divine Comedy, died in Ravenna in 1321 and was buried in that city in the Basilica of San Francesco. Dante spent the last years of his life in Ravenna due to expulsion from his native Florence. And only after his death, when it became clear that Dante had glorified himself for centuries, it was decided to transport the ashes of the poet to Florence. But the sarcophagus brought from Ravenna was empty. And all because the inhabitants of Ravenna did not want to part with their beloved poet, so the monks of the Church of San Francesco secretly removed the remains of Dante and hid them on the territory of the monastery. After that, the ashes of the poet were moved several times in connection with historical events.

Dante's tomb, in which his ashes now rest, was built in 1780. This is a very small, but rather elegant building, made in the neoclassical style. Inside there is a sarcophagus with an urn, and on the wall, transferred from the church of San Francesco, there is a bas-relief of the poet.

• Address: Via Dante Alighieri, 9.

Basilica of San Francesco

The Basilica of San Francesco, which is located in Ravenna, was built in the 10th-11th centuries on the site of a small church of the 5th century. It was originally consecrated in honor of St. Peter, however, in 1261, after it passed to the Franciscans, the basilica acquired its current name.

This church is known not only to the inhabitants of Ravenna, but also to all admirers of Dante, because it was here in 1321 that the great poet was buried, and then buried. In addition, finds of the 5th century attract attention.

The church has a rectangular base ending in a semicircular apse. Next to the basilica rises a 33-meter bell tower. The church is divided into three naves by colonnades of twelve columns. Under the apse is a crypt with a mosaic floor, which is now below the groundwater level, and real goldfish swim in the resulting water cover.
To date, the monastery does not operate, now it is a museum of the city of Ravenna.

• Address: Ravenna Piazza San Francesco 1
• Free admission.

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ravenna. It was built during the reign of King Theodoric at the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries and served as a royal church. Unfortunately, today only ruins remain of the royal palace, next to which the basilica was located.

During its existence, the basilica has undergone some changes, in particular, a high bell tower was added in the 10th-11th centuries, and later, in the 16th century, the facade of the building began to be decorated with a white marble portico. Most of the mosaics of the Arian period have been lost without compensation, but you can admire no less beautiful works of later times.

Of particular interest to tourists are the frescoes (in the first chapel from the entrance), which depict scenes from the Second World War.

• Address: Via di Roma, 52.
• Time: from April 1 to September 30 from 9:00 to 19:00, in October and March from 9:30 to 17:30, from November 1 to February 28 - from 10:00 to 17:00.
• Entrance: single ticket "Mosaic of Ravenna" - 9.50 euros, reduced cost - 8.50 euros. Entrance for children under 10 years old is free.

Basilica of San Vitale

The Basilica of San Vitale is the most beautiful of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Ravenna. First of all, its unusual design attracts attention - an octagonal base with apses, stairs, towers and many windows.

The Basilica of San Vitale was built by the Bishop of Ravenna in the middle of the 6th century. The architecture of Byzantium made a great impression on the bishop, in connection with which, he decided to embody all the most beautiful things he saw in his native city. No doubt he succeeded. White marble walls, an abundance of light, an unusual design, amazingly beautiful mosaics, the plots and craftsmanship of which can be talked about for hours, will not leave indifferent any tourist who stepped over the threshold of the Basilica of San Vitale.

• Address: Via Argentario, 22.
• Time: from April 1 to September 30 from 9:00 to 19:00, in October and March - until 17:30, from November 1 to February 28 - until 17:00.
• Entrance: single ticket "Mosaic of Ravenna" - 9.50 euros, reduced cost - 8.50 euros. Entrance for children under 10 years old is free.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo, translated from Italian as "People's Square", is the central square of the city, where all the main cultural and social events of Ravenna take place.

In the XIII century, the palace of the ruler of the city, Palazzo del Podesta and the Palace of the papal governor, were built, and the landscaped space between the palaces turned into Piazza del Comun. In the middle of the 15th century, after the Venetians came to power, the Venetian Palace was erected next to the square, where the City Hall was located.

Over the centuries of its existence, Piazza del Popolo has witnessed many reconstructions and new construction of the buildings surrounding it, they changed their purpose, but invariably remained the main buildings of the city, and thus the square itself acquired an important geographical and political significance. And in 1946, Piazza del Popolo received its current name.

• Address: Piazza del Popolo

Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is the main religious building in Ravenna. The city's cathedral was built on the site of the first cathedral built at the turn of the 6th and 5th centuries and was also consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. Thirteen centuries later, the first cathedral became so dilapidated that it was decided to dismantle it and build a new one in its place. The consecration of the new cathedral took place in 1749.

Some details from the ancient building were still preserved, for example, four columns of the 5th century adorn the facade of the building. They are built into a three-arched portico. In addition, sarcophagi have been preserved (of particular value are the sarcophagus of Monsignor Rinaldo da Concorreggio and the sarcophagus of St. Barbatian), the pulpit of Bishop Agnellus and some other relics of the 5th century. The cathedral is quite large, it consists of three naves, where the central nave reaches 60 meters in length.

• Address: Piazza Duomo.

Archaeological sieve Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra

Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra is a rather new archaeological discovery. In 1993, during the construction of an underground garage, traces of ancient mosaics were found. This place is called the museum of carpets, but there is not a single carpet there. The fact is that the floor is decorated with amazing mosaic ornaments, when you look at it, you get the impression that there really is a patterned carpet on the floor.

Although the museum is not very large, the exhibits deserve attention, especially since it is located on the way to the most famous sights of the city - the Mausoleum of Gala Placidia and the Basilica of San Vitale. Despite the fact that the museum is located underground, the lighting is very good, and tourists note that the photos taken in the museum are of high quality.

• Address: Via Gian Battista Barbiani - 16.
• Entrance: 4 euros for adults, 3 euros for children

National Museum

The National Museum is located in the building of a former monastery, and is located in close proximity to the Basilica of San Vitale. The museum was opened in 1804, and in 1885 received its current name. Most of the exhibits are utensils from monasteries that were closed during secularization at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition, the museum houses a collection of Roman coins. The reliquary (5th century) with interesting carvings is of particular importance for the museum.

Painting in the museum is represented by various frescoes of the Middle Ages, of which eight frescoes made by Pietro da Rimini in the first half of the 14th century are of great value. There are also exhibits of later times: a collection of paintings and fabrics that can be attributed to the XVII-XVIII centuries.

The National Museum is worth a visit for every tourist who wants to get to know the history of the beautiful city of Ravenna.

• Address: Via San Vitale, 17
• Entrance: Adult -5 euros, preferential -2.50 euros, under 18s - free of charge
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:30, ticket offices close at 19:00, closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25

Classense Library

The Classense Library is an unusual library. This is the preserved library of the monks, which was created in the 17th century. It belongs to the Abbey of Di Classe, and the books that fill the library were collected by the monks of the Camaldolian congregation. Of particular importance are the manuscripts of Pietro Canneti, who was the abbot of the monastery. In addition, the library's assets are various codices, incunabula, rare and old books, historical paintings and photographs. In total, if we take into account modern literature, the Classense library fund has about 800 thousand items.

This majestic temple of culture is worth a visit for every tourist. It is not necessary to take books to read. It is enough to visit the main hall, where time has stopped. It has two tiers of bookshelves decorated with floral motifs. On the white walls of the hall, portraits and historical scenes are depicted, enclosed in elegant stucco frames, as well as statues of great men.

• Address: Via Alfredo Baccarini - 3.
• Free admission

Fortress of Brancaleone

The fortress of Brancaleone was built for almost two decades, the final work was carried out in 1470. Construction began after the Venetians came to power, who wanted to build a reliable fortification around the city. The fortress walls stretched over 14 thousand square meters and became part of the city walls. At the first glance, everyone will understand that this is a very powerful structure that will withstand even the strongest onslaught of the enemy.

The walls have four towers (two round at the edges and two semicircular in the middle). An even stronger impression is created by the citadel, which has four towers. All towers of the fortress and citadels have their own names.

The walls of the fortress are made of red brick. Of the decorative elements, two bas-reliefs have survived: the lion of St. Mark and the Virgin Mary with the baby.

At the end of the twentieth century, the territory of the fortress was landscaped: a playground was built, a stage was erected for musical performances, and annual film screenings are held in the open air.

• Address: Rocca Brancaleone

Ravenna Planetarium

The planetarium in Ravenna is located on the territory of the city garden and began its work in 1985. The planetarium has not very large external dimensions, but a rather spacious auditorium, designed for 56 seats.

The planetarium building is a one-story structure. The lower part of the building is lined with large white shawls imitating marble. The central entrance is located under a canopy supported by four columns painted black. The dome of the planetarium has an uneven hemispherical shape, slightly angular edges.

From the inside, the dome is represented by many stars, planets and other space objects. When the lights are turned off and the heavenly lights come on, and the mechanism automatically sets the entire structure in motion, there is not a single doubt that the visitor's chair is not in the auditorium, but on board the spacecraft.

• Address: Viale Santi Baldini, 4
• Visits are possible from Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 12.30; on Tuesday and Friday additionally from 20:30 to 22:30.

Amusement park Mirabilandia

Mirabilandia is a place that not only children but also adults will want to visit. It was opened in 1992 and is constantly developing and improving. No wonder it is considered that this amusement park is the largest and most interesting in all of Italy. It is spread over 850,000 square meters, and is divided into three parts, where most of it is given over to parking spaces, 300,000 square meters is a theme park, and 100,000 is a water park. The number of visitors is increasing every year.

The amusement park has more than forty different attractions and entertainment venues, they are divided into seven thematic areas. Separately, it is worth a ride on almost the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, only the London attraction is larger.

Every tourist planning a holiday in Ravenna should certainly afford to go to Mirabilandia and enjoy hours of carefree childhood.

• Address: Strada Statale 16, km 162.
• Opening hours: open from mid-April to mid-October every day from 10:00 to 18:00, depending on the holidays, the schedule may change.
• Ticket price: adult - 34 euros, children - 28 euros (height below 140 cm and under 10 years old), children under three years old - free of charge. To visit the water park, you need to add 9.5 euros and 7.5 euros for adults and children, respectively.

Paguro platform

The Paguro platform has been attracting divers for over fifty years. In 1965, an accident occurred on the Paguro platform during work on a methane field. After the disaster, the platform sank to the bottom of the sea, to a depth of about 25 meters. Since then, the remains of Paguro have been beckoning outdoor enthusiasts.

As a rule, tourists go there in order to take a closer look at the rare underwater inhabitants who have found their refuge on the wreckage of the platform. Visibility under water is different: from a few decimeters to 18 meters. At depth, the temperature can drop to 10 degrees Celsius, so you should take care of the appropriate equipment. According to experienced divers, underwater walks in these places are quite difficult, but interesting.

In 1995, the flow of tourists increased so much that it was decided to create the Paguro Association to protect underwater inhabitants.

• Location: Port of Marina di Ravenna

Garden of Forgotten Plants

The Garden of the Forgotten Plants (Rasponi Garden) is a piece of paradise in a busy city. It is located at the crossroads of Via Guerrini and Via Rasponi. A special atmosphere is betrayed by thick brick walls that protect visitors from the bustle of the city, as well as ancient castles, reminiscent of the old days, between which there is a garden.

One day, the city administration, together with the People's Bank of Ravenna, thought about a wonderful gift for the inhabitants of their native city, they wanted to create a place where they could take a break from the hustle and meanwhile spend time usefully. This is how the Rasponi Garden was born.

A distinctive feature of this green corner is the abundance of various plants, from rare medicinal to familiar culinary herbs. And beautiful flower beds and a central fountain decorated with wrought iron will make the walk even more pleasant. In addition, the famous Ravenna sights are located very close to the garden.

• Address: intersection of Via Guerrini and Via Rasponi.
• Free admission

Garden of Palazzo della Provincia

The garden of Palazzo della Provincia is a very interesting place, where stone historical elements and fresh lush flora are combined. But most of all, the garden is interesting because it is located on the roof of the Palazzo della Provincia.

The palace building was erected in the second quarter of the 20th century and is a symbiosis of "new romanticism" and elements of Byzantine culture. The modern building was built on the site of the Rasponi Palace, which at the end of the 19th century was converted into a hotel, and then, in 1922, it was completely swallowed up by fire. However, some elements have survived and are now of historical value.

One of the remains of an ancient culture is the Crypt of Rasponi, a mosaic preserved on the floor that dates back to the 6th century and used to be part of the Basilica of San Severo. In addition to the details of the past, in the garden, and in particular in the crypt, you can find objects of contemporary art.

• Address: Piazza S. Francesco
• Time: from June 8 to October 9: daily from 10:00 to 14:00. From October 11 to November 15: on weekends from 10:00 to 18:00. From November 16, the crypt will be closed.
• Entrance 2 Euro.

Byron's house

Lord Byron lived in Ravenna from 1819 to 1921 at the Palazzo Guiccioli. This, small at first glance, period of time played a very important role in the life of the poet. Here he met his love in the person of Teresa Guiccioli. She was the young wife of Count Alessandro Guiccioli, who was the owner of the Palazzo Guiccioli.

The life of the poet during this period was filled with many events of various emotional coloring, perhaps because of this, the years spent in Ravenna turned out to be very fruitful in terms of Byron's creative success.

Palazzo Guiccioli was built in the 16th century by the Osio family from Milan and was originally called Palazzo Osiso, but in 1802 it was sold to the Guiccioli family and has had its current name ever since. In 1843, it was sold to the Rasponi family, and after 1921 it became state property, in 1990 the palace was taken over by the municipality, and only years later, it was decided to open a museum in this building dedicated to the memory of the great poet Byron.

• Via Camillo Benso Cavour, 52−54

Museum of Art in Ravenna

The building, which houses the Museum of Art, is already an architectural treasure of the 16th century. This is the ancient monastery of Loggetta Lombardesca, belonging to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto. It is a large Renaissance building inside which is a beautiful courtyard surrounded by an elegant colonnade.

Various temporary exhibitions are regularly held on the ground floor, modern mosaicists (artists working with mosaics) often take part. On the second floor there are copies of ancient sculptures. And on the third floor there is a very interesting collection of religious art. The museum has a permanent collection of modernist and medieval art. The museum also houses the International Mosaic Documentation Center.

• Address: Via di Roma, 13
• Entrance: full 3 euros, reduced 2 euros
• Working hours:
  Tue, Thu and Fri 9.00 -13.30 / 15.00 - 18.00
  Wed and Sat 9.00 -13.30
  Sun 15.00 - 18.00
  Closed - Mondays
  Every Saturday from September 27 to January 11 - the museum is open from 9.00 to 18.00.
  Open: November 1, December 26, Easter, Easter Monday, April 25, May 1, June 2
  Closed: 15 August, 25 December and 1 January

TAMO Museum (Tamo Museo del Mosaico)

The TAMO Museum (full name - Tutta l "Avventura del Mosaico) is a museum of mosaics, which Ravenna is so famous for. The museum exposition shows visitors the most interesting finds, as well as the stages in the development of this art from ancient times to the present day. Such a large asset of the museum is due the fact that most of it is represented by copies of famous mosaics.However, the quality of these duplicates is at a very high level, which is almost impossible to distinguish from the real ones.

The museum is located in the building of the old Basilica of San Nicolò. In the TAMO Museum, you can not only see beautiful mosaics from different times, but also learn this art from masters who clearly show and tell all the stages of creating a mosaic masterpiece.

The TAMO Museum is worth a visit for those tourists who want to learn as much as possible about the main value of Ravenna (its mosaics), but they have too little time to go around all the sights.

• Address: Via Rondinelli, 2
• Entrance: 4 euros;
• Opening hours until October 9: every day from 10:00 - 14:00. From October 11: Mon - Fri from 10:00 - 17:00; Saturday, Sunday and holidays - from 10:00 - 18:00.

Perhaps Ravenna will not conquer you instantly, but after spending some time here, you will be surprised to notice that you don’t want to leave here at all. Ravenna will slowly and gradually win your heart and leave an indelible mark on your soul.

Ravenna(Ravenna) is a beautiful Italian city that has a lot of unique features, thanks to which it can be called both a tourist and a seaside resort.

In terms of attractions Ravenna can be called a treasure trove a region that has preserved outstanding historical and cultural values, many of which are today included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. But the most famous, of course, are the early Christian and Byzantine mosaics that adorn the walls of churches, monuments and museums. And even today, Ravenna is one of the leading mosaic producers in Italy.

As a seaside resort, Ravenna has also gained worldwide fame, primarily for its beaches, which are located on the shores of one of the cleanest seas(Adriatic), as well as the hospitality of the locals and excellent infrastructure. Another point that makes the beaches of Ravenna unforgettable is that along them there is a beautiful forest Pineta di Ravenna (Pineta di Ravenna).

The population of Ravenna is just over 140 thousand inhabitants.

The center of Ravenna is Piazza del Popolo(Piazza dell Popolo), which is a great place for walking, since the historic center of the city is partially closed to public transport. It is here that the main celebrations and events take place.

Sights of Ravenna

Of course, there are a lot of attractions in Ravenna, and like in any other city in Italy, and imagine most of all these historical monuments are decorated with amazing Ravenna mosaics. You know, such an abundance of mosaics can only be seen in Istanbul.

8 most visited attractions in Ravenna:

Basilica of San Vitale (Basilica di San Vitale);
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (Mausoleo di Galla Placidia);
Baptistery Neon (Battistero di Neon);
Chapel of St. Andrew (Cappella di S. Andrea);
Arian Baptistery (Battistero degli Ariani);
Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo (Basilica di S. Apollinare Nuovo);
Mausoleum of Theodoric (Mausoleo di Teodorico);
Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Class (Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe).

In my opinion, the whole of Italy is like a huge attraction, it amazes with the diversity of its landscapes. Since the article is about Ravenna, I would like to say that its surroundings are, well, simply of extraordinary beauty - wide fields planted with fruit trees, pine trees, sandy beaches, valleys and canals.

For tourists who love nature and forest, not far from Ravenna there is a great place called Oasis Alberete where you can see reptiles, molluscs, amphibian fish and rare bird species. The best option to get to the forest is to rent a car. Keeping towards Venice on the SS 309 Romea Nord. And don't forget to dress appropriately, there are a lot of mosquitoes.

Ravenna airport

The nearest airport to Ravenna is Gastone Novelli.(Gastone Novelli) is currently used mainly for air training, as it competes with other larger international airports nearby, from which regular and charter flights are made - (Bologna at 80 km), G. Ridolfi (Forli at 20 km), (Rimini) and Marco Polo ().

Flights from Moscow

How to get to Ravenna from Bologna

• The distance from Bologna to Ravenna is 80 kilometers.

by car: the whole trip will take about an hour and 15.00 €, of which 5.00 € for road tax and 10.00 € for fuel.
by train: by regional train from Bologna Central Station to Ravenna can be reached in 1 hour 20 minutes, the fare will be 6.90 € in the second class, in the first 11.50 €. But it is possible that you will get a train with a transfer in the city of Faenza or Portomaggiore.

How to get to Ravenna from Rome

• The distance from Rome to Ravenna is 380 kilometers.

by car: the journey will take 4.5 hours, petrol 48.00 € and road tax 4.00 €, total cost 52.00 €.

Rent a car cheap

by train: the journey will take about 4 hours, and most likely the transfer will be in Bologna, the ticket price is 62.00 € in the second class, and 81.00 € in the first (but the cost may change depending on which train will take you - regional, intercity, Frecciarossa or some other).

How to get to Ravenna from Milan

• The distance from Milan to Ravenna is 288 kilometers.

by car: in time, the trip will last 3 hours, it will take 33.00 € for fuel, 19.00 € for the road, a total of 52.00 €.
by train: the trip will take about 3 hours, the ticket price is from 40.00 € in economy class and 60.00 € in business. The transfer is mainly in Bologna, but maybe in Faenza. Read also:.

Railway station in Ravenna

Ravenna train station is just 10 minutes from the historic centre. Which you can reach on your own without resorting to taxi services, it is quite easy to do this, you just need to leave the station and go through Viale Farini and go out onto Via Diaz until you reach Piazza del Popolo.

Every year, 3.5 million people pass through the Ravenna railway station, especially the permeability through the station increases markedly in the summer months.

Prices in Ravenna

As in any other town in Italy, Ravenna has a huge number of restaurants, cafes and bars. A very good restaurant, very popular with Italians and tourists, is located on Via Ponte Marino 3. The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, including the fisso menu (dish of the day). Dinner here will cost 20.00 - 25.00 euros, this includes pasta, second course, wine or beer and water.

Fisso lunches in restaurants will cost around 10.00 - 15.00 euros.

At lunchtime, while sightseeing, you can use the services of pizzerias and paninotheques. One pizza costs an average of 1.00 - 1.50, and panino or local piadine 3.50, although you can buy cheaper in salumeria. Coffee at the bar 1.50 - 2.00 euros. But you need to remember that in the center, as a rule, everything is always more expensive.

A very good ice cream shop called Sorbetteria degli Esarchi is located on Via IV Novembre 11.

The price for parking in Ravenna is 1.50 - 2.00 euros per hour, parking tickets can be purchased at newspaper or tobacco shops.

Hotels in Ravenna

Undoubtedly, an unforgettable stay in Ravenna depends on the right choice of accommodation, so start your search and compare hotel prices in advance using the most popular Booking service, or use their search form, which is located on our website :

Port of Ravenna

In terms of importance, the port of Ravenna is one of the most important in the Emilia-Romagna region, and is also among the twenty in Italy. Many cruise companies start their tourist routes from here. For example, companies such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises make trips to the shores of Greece, the island of Cyprus and Turkey.

It is also possible to visit Sicily, in particular Catania, using the services of ferries or ships.

Culinary traditions of Ravenna

Ravenna is a great place to sample some of the region's delicious cuisine. These include piada, Cappelletti with meat sauce, I already wrote about them in.

Another an indispensable dish of the inhabitants of the city are passatelli in chicken broth. They include breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, eggs and nutmeg.

Another delicious dessert considered typical of the area is caramelized figs with Squacquerone cheese.

Sangiovese is considered a typical regional wine.

Holidays and events in Ravenna

Ravenna Festival - held throughout the summer. The festival includes exhibitions, cinema, opera concerts and other dance, music and theater events. In which the best artists and conductors of international level participate.
Night mosaic (Mosaico di Notte) - special night tours of the famous monuments of Ravenna, as a rule, are also held in the summer months.
antique market or the flea market (Antiques Market) - takes place on weekends every third week of the month.

Well, these are of course just some of the events and activities.

Shopping in Ravenna

Ravenna has a huge number of shops for shopping, both expensive and not very expensive. Designer shops are on Via Cavour.

A large number of shops and various shops selling food and souvenirs can be found in the historic center of Ravenna. .

The large Mercato Comunale market, where you can find a wide range of food products, is located in Andrea Costa Square, it is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 7:00 to 14:00, on Friday from 7:00 until 16:00, and Sunday is a day off.

Weather in Ravenna

Winters in Ravenna tend to be cold due to the high humidity and fog is common here. Sometimes on Christmas and New Year, to the delight of the locals, snow can fall. And in the summer, because of the same humidity, it is suffocatingly hot here, and therefore I keep repeating that the best months to visit Italy are the end of spring and the beginning of autumn, but June can also be included here.

Sea and beaches of Ravenna

To date seaside resort Marina di Ravenna is developing dynamically, while being one of the best in Italy, and is very popular with Italians and tourists from other countries.

Here is a large marina that offers more than a thousand berths for ships up to 40 meters long, which will appeal to fans of a ride on a yacht. Wherein the pier is protected by two breakwaters total length 2.8 km

The best beaches in Ravenna are: Casal Borsetti, Marina di Romea, Marina di Ravenna, Porto Corsini, Punta Marina Terme, Lido Adriano, Lido di Dante, Lido di Classe, Lido di Savio.

In summer, the beaches of Ravenna are always full of people, all the beaches are well equipped (umbrellas, sun loungers and other services), and most importantly, the prices are not very high. There are many restaurants and trendy clubs in the area.

Things to Do in Ravenna

Not far from Ravenna (15 km) is the largest in Italy amusement park "Mirabilandia" there is everything that can give thrills to the rest - roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, attractions, various performances, laser shows. The park is open from April to the end of September from 10:00 to 18:00, as well as on weekends in October and on All Saints' Day (Halloween). Entrance 33.00 euros.

Also, using the popular online service GetYourGuide, you can pre-book an individual or group tour on the city and the main attractions, detailed information.

Also not far from Ravenna is zoo safari where you can see animals from a close distance in your own car or train provided by the zoo. You can visit the Safari Zoo from April to October from 10:00 to 16:30. Buses no. 4, no. 176 run from the Ravenna railway station to the zoo. For more information, see their website www.safariravenna.it

Among the winter activities in Ravenna you can highlight the skating rink, which is usually located at Palazzo Mauro De Andre, on Viale Europa 1.

Finally, do not forget to watch an interesting video about Ravenna.

And medieval Byzantium.

Tourist itinerary in Ravenna:

• Route length: 10 km
• Walk time: about 4 - 5 hours
• Route start: Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Via Giuliano Argentario, 22, 48110 Ravenna
• End of route: Church of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, in the suburbs of Ravenna, Via Romea Sud, 224, 48124 Classe Ravenna

1. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Mausoleo di Galla Placidia

The mausoleum of Galla Placidia began to be built around 440, however, the sister of Emperor Honorius Galla Placidia died in 450, and, most likely, was buried there. built by her order Church of Santa Croce (Chiesa di Santa Croce ), to which the mausoleum adjoins.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Behind the simple brick walls of the mausoleum lies the richest interior decoration made of mosaics - one of the world heritage sites. In plan, the building has the shape of a Latin cross. Alabaster slabs inserted into the window openings turn the sunlight into a soft golden glow that illuminates the mosaic-like finishes in an exquisite color palette. The navy blue background is carpeted with stars and flowers in light grey, gold, turquoise and reddish tones. Figures of Christian martyrs in antique draperies emerge from the deep blue, made against the backdrop of paradise landscapes with golden deer and birds.

The figures of the apostles are made in the same scale in the lunettes - semicircular sections of the end walls of the cruciform building. The lunette above the entrance depicts "The Good Shepherd in the Garden of Eden": Christ is young and beardless here and is made in a completely antique manner. The inner surface of the dome is decorated with golden stars on a blue background, in the center of the dome is a golden Latin cross.

Byzantine mosaics in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Mosaics of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia:

The mosaic decoration of the mausoleum is distinguished by rare splendor and puts it among the most important monuments of early Christian art. Mosaics, although dedicated to different subjects, form an organic whole. All of them follow the ancient Roman-Hellenistic mosaic tradition, although the origin of the masters themselves remains controversial (among the possible versions are, Mediolan, Constantino Poland, Syria, Africa). Here the Roman artistic heritage, with its meticulously executed details and plastic figures, merged with the Christian desire for absoluteness and transcendence, which created a new orimy mosaic ensemble.

Russian art historian Pavel Muratov wrote o Mausoleum of Galla Placidia at the beginning of the 20th century:

“Italian mosaicists loved few, thick and deep colors - blue, greenand winered. Unusually and somehow incomprehensibly deep very dark blue color on the ceiling of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Depending on the play of light penetrating here through the small windows, it amazingly and unexpectedly beautifully shimmers with either greenish, or lilac, or crimson hues. On this background is the famous image of the young Good Shepherd, sitting among the snow-white sheep. The semicircles at the windows are decorated with a large ornament with deer drinking from a spring. Garlands of leaves and fruits curl over low arches. At the sight of their magnificence, one involuntarily thinks that mankind has never created a better artistic medium for decorating church walls. And here, thanks to the tiny size of the tomb chapel, the mosaic does not seem to be a matter of vain and cold splendor. The air shining with blue fire, which surrounds the sarcophagus, which once contained the embalmed body of the empress, is worthy of being a dream of a fiery religious imagination. Isn't that what the stained-glass artists in Gothic cathedrals were striving for, only in a different way?

Symbolism of mosaics:

In the center of the hemispherical dome there is a golden Latin cross surrounded by eight hundred golden stars united in concentric circles. The cross and stars are set against an indigo blue background that realistically depicts the night sky. This mosaic demonstrates the triumph of Christ over death, His absolute power over the created world. Christ is symbolically shown as the Sun of truth, surrounded by His faithful, enlightened by Him and shining in the world with His light. The mosaic points to Christ as a non-evening light that darkness cannot embrace. Christ, according to the mosaicist, is the meaning and center of the existence of the universe, ready and willing to unite all of humanity around him. Emphasizing the high meaning of the mosaic, the artist directed the long end of the cross not along the long axis of the mausoleum (that is, along the north-south line), but to the east, towards which the altars in the temple were traditionally oriented istian temples.

The circle of stars surrounding the cross includes the evangelists located in the corners of the vault, represented by their golden symbolic images: a lion (Mark), a calf (Luke), an eagle (John the Theologian) and an angel (Matthew).

The ceiling in the "branches" of the mausoleum is covered with a complex mosaic ornament, symbolizing the Garden of Eden. Circles, stars and flowers are scattered on a dark blue background. Such an ornament is unusual for the western part of the Roman Empire, a distant resemblance can only be found in the Roman church of Santa Constance.

Sarcophagi of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia:

The mausoleum also contains three marble sarcophagi of the 5th-6th centuries.

Coffin halls are silent,

Shady and cold is their threshold,

So that the black gaze of the blessed Galla,

Waking up, I didn’t burn the stone.

Warfare and resentment

Forgotten and erased the bloody trail,

To the resurrected voice of Plakida

I did not sing the passions of the past years.

Alexander Blok, Ravenna

Sarcophagus of Galla Placidia

It occupies a central place, is devoid of any decor and is probably unfinished. Taking into account the unusually large size of the sarcophagus and the absence of any Christian symbols on it, the monument is attributed to a rich and noble pagan. The possibility of burying Galla Placidia in it is rejected by modern historians. However, the sources of the XIV-XVI centuries (including the Archbishop of Ravenna, Rinaldo da Concopegio) claim that through a large window in the back of the sarcophagus (now walled up) one could see the buried there lo seated on a cypress throne. Presumably, we are talking about a body buried in such an unusual way not earlier than the 13th-14th centuries with the possible intention to imitate the remains of Augusta. In 1577, out of curiosity, local boys pushed burning candles through the indicated window of the sarcophagus, which, having barely touched the cypress throne, caused a fire. Due to the fire, only a few bones, a skull and charred pieces of wood, found there during the opening of the sarcophagus in 1577 and 1898, were preserved in the sarcophagus.

Sarcophagus of Constance

Its creation dates back to the 5th century, installed in the left branch of the "cross". On its front wall is depicted Christ in the form of a lamb, his head is surrounded by a halo containing the monogram of Christ - intertwined Greek letters Χ and Ρ. The lamb stands on a rock from which four streams flow, representing the four rivers of Eden. To the right and left of the rock are two lambs already without halos, symbolizing the apostles. These images are framed by two palm trees, symbolizing the life of the righteous. In 1738, the sarcophagus was opened, and the researchers found in it two well-preserved skulls with teeth.

Sarcophagus of Valentinian

The sarcophagus dates back to the VI century, installed in the right branch of the "cross". It has a semi-cylindrical lid with a scaly ornament. The front wall depicts the Christ-lamb standing at the foot of a hill from which four heavenly rivers flow, the hill is crowned with a cross, on the crossbeam of which two doves sit. Both side walls depict a cross with a shell (often used in catacomb painting as a symbol of death from which life is reborn). In 1738, this sarcophagus was also opened, and the bones of a man and a woman were found in it.

Mausoleum opening hours:

01/11-28/02	01/03-31/03	01/04-30/09	01/10-31/10
09.30-17.00	09.00-17.30	09.00-19.00	09.00-17.30

• Entrance: full € 9,50 – reduced €8.50
• Combination ticket to visit all monuments of the Diosesa (Archbishop's Museum, Sant'Andrea Chapel and Ivory Throne, Neonian Baptistery, Basilica of Sant'Apollinaria Nuovo, Basilica of San Vitale) **Mausoleum of Galla Placidia from March 1st to June 15th - additional 2 euros.
• via San Vitale

2. Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica of San Vitale

The construction of the Church of San Vitale - one of the most beautiful churches - was begun by Bishop Eklesios during the Goths, and it was completed already in 548, when Ravenna was taken by the Byzantines.

San Vitale is octagonal in plan. Inside preserved beautiful mosaics(in the list) of the middle of the VI century, which have no equal not only in Western Europe, but also in Constantinople itself.

They, apparently, were made by Constantinople masters, whom Eklesios invited to Ravenna. In the conch (half-dome vault crowning the apse) the Savior is depicted sitting on a dark blue ball, next to it are two angels, behind them on the left is St. Vitalius, patron saint of Ravenna, and on the right - Bishop Eklesios with a model of the temple in his hands. At the bottom of the apse, on the left, the emperor Justinian is represented, surrounded by courtiers and guards, and on the right, Empress Theodora with court ladies and servants. In the lunettes, on the arches and walls of the temple, scenes from the Old and New Testaments and the figures of saints are depicted.

• Church of San Vitale
• via San Vitale
• Combined ticket - € 9,50

3 Orthodox Baptistery

Battistero Neoniano

The Baptistery of Neoniano (Orthodox Baptistery) was built by Bishop Ursius in the first half of the 5th century, in an era of fierce rivalry between various church movements and communities. The foundation of the building, octagonal in plan, went into the ground by 3 m. On the outside, apses and doors alternated. from the apses outside, only vaults are visible.

In the 2nd half of the 5th century, Bishop Neon ordered that the building be covered with a dome and the interior decorated with magnificent mosaics. In honor of Neon, the baptistery received its modern Italian name.

The dome of the baptistery is divided into 3 parts - the central circle and two concentric rings.

The baptism of Jesus is depicted in the center, in the first ring there is a solemn procession of 12 apostles carrying a crown. The second ring is divided into 8 parts, in the center there is an altar niche with a throne - a symbol of Christ the Almighty. On the sides of the thrones are gardens fenced with bars (a symbol of Paradise), on the sides of the altars are empty chairs (seats for the elite). Between the windows there are carved niches, decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the prophets.

The overall mosaic composition is connected with the theme of Heavenly Jerusalem. This is emphasized by the crowns in the hands of the apostles on the mosaic under the dome (it symbolizes that, as stated in the Revelation of John the Theologian, they will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel), four altars and four images of the throne prepared.

The under-dome mosaic is made according to the plot of the baptism of Jesus Christ. In the center of the mosaic is a medallion with a baptismal scene. In addition to (depicted naked) Jesus and John the Baptist, Jordan is present in the image of a man, with a towel in his hands. Around the medallion are the figures of the twelve apostles, on which the blessed energy descends, depicted by radial rays.

The figures of the apostles are made in full growth and shown in motion. The clothes of the apostles resemble the chitons of the Roman patricians and are made in only two colors: white (symbolizes the light of the earth) and gold (symbolizes the light of heaven). The faces of the apostles have a pronounced individuality.

• Orthodox Baptistery
• via Battistero
• daily 09.00–19.00, winter until 16.30
• Combined ticket - € 9,50

4. Tomb of Dante

Tomba di Dante

Dante's tomb is one of the main attractions. The mausoleum, built in the classical style in 1780, is located above the grave of the poet, at the intersection of Dante and Guido da Polenta streets.

Dante, who died of malaria in 1321, was buried in the church of San Francesco. The patron of the poet Guido Novello da Polenta planned to build him a magnificent tomb, but, having lost power in the city, did not implement his project. In 1483, for the burial of Dante, by order of the city head Bernardo Bembo, the sculptor Pietro Lombardi made a portrait of the poet, which has been preserved to this day.

Lost Dante

In 1519, at the request of Michelangelo, Pope Leo X agreed to the transfer of Dante's ashes, but when the coffin was brought to the city, it turned out to be empty. In the Basilica of Santa Croce Basilica of Santa Croce) a cenotaph was built, and later it turned out that the Franciscan monks from, not wanting to part with the ashes of the poet, broke through the wall of the sarcophagus and stole his remains, which were secretly buried in the Franciscan abodes in Sienzo. In 1677, the ashes of the poet were placed in a wooden shrine, and when, after 1810, as a result of Napoleon’s secularization of church property, the monks left the monastery, the coffin was hidden under Optic Braccioforte next to the mausoleum of Dante in.

The coffin with the ashes of Dante was discovered in 1865 during the repair of the territory adjacent to the church of San Francesco. The found wooden box was identified by an epitaph carved in 1677 by Antonio Santi. After that, the remains were transferred to the mausoleum, from which they were removed during the Second World War, when the city was bombed. The place where the sarcophagus was hidden is currently marked with a memorial plaque.

Mausoleum of Dante

Inside Dante's Mausoleum there is an urn made in 1483 at the direction of Bernardo Bembo. It is decorated with a Latin epitaph written in 1327 by Bernardo Canaccio:

“The rights of the sovereign, the heavens, the waters of Phlegetont, I sang, walking along my earthly vale. Now my soul has gone to a better world and is blissful, contemplating among the luminaries of its Creator, here I rest, Dante, expelled from my fatherland, my native Florence, a little loving mother.

Above the urn is a bas-relief with a portrait of the pensive Dante in front of a book stand (transferred from his burial in the church of San Francesco). Above is a gilded cross, installed in 1965 for the 700th anniversary of Dante on behalf of Pope Paul VI. On the floor in the center of the mausoleum is a bronze wreath laid on the tomb in 1921 by the Italian army. A lamp hangs from the ceiling, which is filled with oil from, brought to Ravenna annually in September, when the city passes « Dante's month» .

• Tomb of Dante
• Via Dante Aligieri, 9
• daily 09.00–12.00, 14.00 –17.00

5. Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo ( Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, 493-526) was built by the king of the Ostrogoths, the Arian Theodoric, and dedicated to the Savior. In the 2nd half of the 6th century, it was re-consecrated in honor of St. Martin, Bishop of Tours. In the 9th century, the temple was again re-consecrated, this time in honor of the local saint - the first bishop of Ravenna Apollinaris. His ashes were transferred here from a more distant basilica of the same name, located near the harbor of Ravenna, in the Classe quarter. At that time, the city basioica of St. Apollinaris began to be called "New", so as not to confuse it with Sant'Apollinare in Classe.

Basilica architecture

Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is a typical example of an early Christian basilica: three naves without a transept. Basilica of St. Apollinaria is divided by two rows of Corinthian columns made of Greek marble (you can see the engraved Greek letters in the capitals) with imposts. The altar columns are made of porphyry. Much has been preserved in the temple since the 6th century: pulpits, openwork marble fences and a relief slab.

The floor lies 1.2 m above the original level. In the 16th century, the walls had to be reconstructed, while sacrificing part of them, and the columns brought to the modern level. The coffered ceiling was made at the beginning of the 17th century.

Mosaics of the Basilica

Mosaic decoration of the Basilica of St. Apollinaria is included in the list of attractions in. The mosaics are divided into three parts. In the cleristry (section of the wall above the windows) - 26 episodes from the life and passions of Jesus Christ. Below, between the window openings, are the solemn figures of saints. Under the windows are depicted the holy martyrs and martyrs. To the left and to the right of the altar, respectively, are Jesus with angels and the Mother of God with angels, and to the right and left of the entrance are Theodoric's palace and the port in Class.

The mosaics were created in the era of Theodoric by various masters. In the 60s of the VI century, the mosaics were partially re-arranged in order to get rid of the memory of the Ostrogothic rulers of Ravenna.

Academician V.N. Lazarev notes that the mosaics of the basilica

« reveal a further departure from the Hellenistic-Roman heritage, which in many respects brings them closer to the monuments of the eastern, mainly Syro-Palestinian circle».

The transposed mosaics are less interesting than those of Theodoric; among them stands out the portrait of Emperor Justinian (as it was interpreted by the restorers of the 19th century and, without any doubt, signed by them), which a number of researchers consider to be a portrait of King Theodoric.

Upper mosaics:

The upper row of the walls of the central nave is decorated with mosaics created on the basis of the plots of the New Testament, while there are no plots associated with the crucifixion and death of Christ the God-Man (according to some researchers, these plots were undesirable among the Arians). With extremely small dimensions (it is impossible to examine them without special optical devices, standing below), the gospel mosaics are distinguished by amazing detail, indicating the skill of an unknown artist.

On the mosaics of this cycle, Christ is depicted as beardless, the expression of His face is touchingly blissful. The number of actors in the mosaics of this cycle is reduced to a minimum (47 characters for 13 mosaics). For the first time in Byzantine art, the gospel scenes are placed not in chronological order, but in the same sequence as they are mentioned in the order of Easter readings in the Church of Ravenna.

Prophets and Saints:

Under the mosaics depicting gospel stories, there are images of 36 prophets and saints (one in each mosaic), separated by window openings (a group of three saints is depicted in one block without a window, see illustration). Their figures are placed above the horizontal frieze that separates the middle tier of the walls from the lower one, which, together with the figures of birds and the grass underfoot, should form the motif of the heavenly life of the saints.

The saints face the worshipers, they are dressed in snow-white clothes, their heads are crowned with a halo, they have a book or a scroll in their hands, their faces are distinguished by individual features (at the same time, among the characters there are both young and very old faces). The absence among these faces of any recognizable features characteristic of the iconography of certain saints allows us to attribute this mosaic row to the era of Theodoric. Just as in the Arian Baptistery of Ravenna, the absence of inscriptions on the mosaics of Sant'Apollinare does not make it possible to unambiguously identify the depicted saints.

Procession of Hieromartyrs:

In the lower row of the southern (to the left of the altar) wall there is a monumental image of a procession of martyrs of 26 people. The procession starts from the building, signed as Palatium, which is identified with the palace of King Theodoric.

All the saints hold their martyr's crowns in their hands. The figures of saints are separated by palm trees. Above each saint is a (abbreviated) inscription identifying him. The holy procession, passing through the flower field, is sent to Jesus Christ sitting on the throne, surrounded by four angels. In the hand of Christ is a scepter, which, as a result of the restoration of 1860, replaced the book, opened in the words: “ Ego sum Rex gloriae» ( I am the King of glory). Palm trees and flowers point to heavenly abodes in which the saints rest. In addition, the palm tree traditionally indicates the righteousness and holiness of the depicted persons, in accordance with the verses of Psalm 91 “The righteous one blooms like a palm tree, rises like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they bloom in the courts of our God.”

All depicted saints (with the exception of Martin of Tours and Lawrence) are dressed in the same white robes - a sign of holiness.

• Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
• Via di Roma
• daily 09.00–19.00, winter until 16.30

6. Spirito Santo Cathedral

Chiesa dello Spirito Santo

Spirito Santo Church, a former cathedral church, dates back to the 5th century. This is the first church building erected King Theodoric in Ravenna.

Initially, it was dedicated to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but after the expulsion of the Arian Ostrogoths, it was re-consecrated by the Orthodox Byzantines in the name of the Holy Spirit.

• via degli Ariani
• daily 08.30–19.30,
• winter until 13.30, wed. St.

Arian Baptistery (Arian Baptistery)

Next to the Church of Spirito Santo is an octagonal Arian Baptistery (Battistero degli Ariani , 490), in the 2nd half of the 6th century turned into Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin (Chiesa di Santa Maria in Cosmedin) .

The architecture of the Arian Baptistery is similar to the Baptistery of the Orthodox, built earlier in the same Ravenna, which clearly served as a model for the thematic mosaics of the Arian temple. The wall masonry is made of thick baked bricks. Under the roof of the baptistery, a cornice with a jagged ornament was made.

In the interior of the baptistery, mosaics depicting the scene of the Baptism of Christ and the apostles are perfectly preserved. Five mosaicists took part in the creation of the mosaic. As academician V.N. Lazarev,

“compared to the mosaics of the 5th century, the colors became heavier and more colorful, the drawing (especially of the limbs) worsened, the facial features became thicker, an emphasized straightness appeared in hard folds, the forms acquired from pardoned geometric character”.

The general character of the mosaic is monumental with features of primitivism.

Mosaic at Battistero degli Ariani

The central medallion of the dome contains the scene of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. A feature of the composition is the completely naked figure of Christ (up to the genitals), probably illustrating the Arian doctrine of the created nature of Jesus, as well as the personification of the Jordan River in the form of an old man in a diad eme from crab claws and a reed wand in hand. An illustration of the Arian doctrine that Jesus received his divine essence at the very moment of baptism is the fact that the water that sprinkles Christ is poured on his head from the beak of a dove (Holy Spirit ).

Famous mosaics of the church - UNESCO monument in Italy

Around the central medallion of the under-dome mosaic, the twelve apostles are depicted walking with crowns (except for the apostles Peter with the keys and Paul with the scroll) to the prepared throne - part clockwise arrow, part counterclockwise, as a result of which the two apostles opposite the throne turn out to be with their backs to each other. In contrast to the Orthodox baptistery, all the apostles in the Arian temple are depicted with halos. The figures of the apostles are separated by palm trees.

7. Mausoleum of Theodoric

Mausoleo di Teodorico

Unlike other urban buildings made of baked bricks, Theodoric Mausoleum (520) is built from well-hewn blocks of imported Istrian limestone. The Mausoleum of Theodoric has an unusual decagonal shape.

The lower floor is encircled by ten deep niches with arched completion. The second floor, decagonal outside, is completely round inside. The building is crowned with a monolithic roof with a diameter of 11 m, weighing about 230 tons.

It was built from Istrian limestone on two ten-sided tiers, which are crowned by a ten-meter dome, hewn from a single 300-ton stone, possibly in imitation of the tents of the Germans. Since there were no means to lift such a heavy slab, the Mausoleum of Theodoric was covered with earth to the very top, after which the dome was put in place by dragging, and the earth was removed. The site for the construction of the mausoleum was chosen already existing outside the cemetery is ready.

With the transition under the power of Justinian, Theodoric's body was taken out of the mausoleum, and he himself was turned into a chapel. The porphyry sarcophagus of the Gothic ruler is now empty. The proximity of the stream led to the washing out of the foundations, which required the intervention of restorers in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, art critic Pavel Muratov, who visited the mausoleum, wrote:

“In vain did the church legend cast the soul of the king-Arian into the vent , in vain betrayed her to the devil. In the popular imagination, Theodoric remained one of the patrons and intercessors of Ravenna, no less powerful than the saints Pomuald And Apollinary. The tomb of the Gothic king is visited by all travelers who visit Ravenna. What draws them here? The memory of Theodoric can hardly be dear to anyone. And yet, a visit to this mausoleum leaves in the soul of every traveler, not a historian or an erudite, a trace deeper than simple curiosity. This is one of those places in the world where for some reason it is given to vividly feel the course of centuries, where such an abstract concept as “history” is felt with captivating power and closeness. Here we involuntarily believe in the existence of a commonality with the past, in some strange, subtle and complex connection between our fate and the fate of the legendary king.

In the center of the upper room there is a porphyry tomb, but Theodoric's ashes are not there - they scattered him. A large crack is visible inside the dome, which was probably formed during the installation of the monolith: according to legend, Theodoric was predicted to die from a lightning strike, and when he took refuge in the mausoleum during a storm, lightning pierced the huge monolith and incinerated the heretic king.

• Mausoleum of Theodoric
• Via delle Industrie, 14
• daily Apr–Oct 08.30–19.00, winter until 13.00

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Route map for Ravenna

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe

Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe - Wikiwand Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe

Sant'Apollinare in Classe (Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe) is one of the best examples of an early Christian basilica in Italy. A three-nave building of baked brick without a transept was built in 549 (almost simultaneously with the Basilica of San Vitale) over the tomb of the first bishop of Ravenna, St. Apollinaris, who began his service here.

Later, the remains of the saint were reburied in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Only restored mosaics in the apse are considered original, some of the decorations (including mosaic ones) belong to later periods.

Interior of the Basilica of St. Apollinaria

Interior of the Basilica of St. Apollinaria in Ravenna

The basilica is decorated with the latest of the Ravenna mosaics of the Justinian period (mid-VI century), preserved in its apse. Other mosaics were created in the second half of the 7th and 9th centuries. Academician V.N. Lazarev notes:

The craftsmen who worked in Sant'Apollinara in Classa are close to those masters who completed the mosaics of the presbytery in San Vitale. And in them we observe a craving for simplified forms and excessively bright color combinations. This is accompanied by a decrease in the quality of the drawing and a sluggish interpretation of carnation, in which the number of tonal shades noticeably decreases.

As the researchers note, the mosaics of Sant'Apollinare in Classe reflect the trend of the frontal depiction of figures that appeared in the post-Justinian era, during which az from the transmission of any movements and turns.

The mosaics of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, like the basilicas of San Vitale, do not represent the events of sacred history in their historical sequence, they have their purpose of illustrating dogma the Church's teaching revealed through the symbolism of Holy Scripture. Despite the use of colored glass, smalt, gold and semi-precious stones in mosaics, marble was used for faces and light clothes, which led to the appearance of pain its flat shapes. This is especially noticeable in the mosaics depicting the Bishops of Ravenna between the windows of the apse.

Art historian Pavel Muratov wrote about the basilica in 1911:

This church is in many ways reminiscent of the Basilica of San Apollinare Nuovo. It also has mosaics, but not on the walls of the main nave, but in the altar apse. These mosaics are executed later than all in Ravenna, and here this art does not stand at such a height as in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia or even in San Vitale. In addition, the local mosaics were strongly affected by restoration, which made many of their parts doubtful.

In the central nave of the basilica, on a hill, there is a large altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was created in the 11th century using materials from the altar of the 6th century. On the side of this altar, facing the presbytery, it is indicated that at this place St. Romuald of Ravenna was honored with two visions of the Mother of God (information about this was taken from Peter D amiani). Пeрeд этим жe aлтaрём нaхoдится мeмoриaльнaя плитa XVIII вeкa, сooбщaющaя бeз кaких-либo истoричeских пoдрoбнoстeй, чтo мoщи святoгo Aпoллинaрия были oбнaружeны имeннo нa этoм мeстe. On the wall of the right nave there is a memorial plaque in memory of the visit to the basilica by Pope John Paul II on May 11, 1986.

• Sant'Apollinare in Classe
• via Romea Court, Classe,
• 6.5 km south of Ravenna
• Mon-Sat 08.30–19.30, Sun 13.00–19.00

Being a hardened and stern people, they never looked for easy ways - including when building their cities. Plain? In no case. An archipelago of small islands half-submerged by the sea, indented by natural channels? Yes! Moreover, the close proximity of the coast created excellent prerequisites for the creation of a fleet. Who would have thought that after tens of centuries the situation would change completely, and Ravenna, a city that was created as a military port, would impress not with the power of warships, but with unique examples of early Christian art.

Ravenna, like, saw the light in marshy lands and in sea lagoons - until now, many of the city's buildings in their foundations keep the remains of those same wooden piles. However, the centuries went on as usual, and the ambitious plans of the Romans - who themselves are already gone as such - have sunk into oblivion along with the wooden foundations of the houses. The land was slowly reclaiming its positions, and today the distance from the city to the sea is already 7 kilometers. However, during its heyday, Ravenna was considered one of the most impregnable cities, and therefore existed in the status of the capital of the Western Roman Empire from the 5th to the 8th century AD. Later, the city fell into decay, having experienced some rise only during the Renaissance - Dante himself spent the last years of his life here. And in 1860, Ravenna became part of the Italian kingdom, and from that period continues to live quietly and peacefully according to its own, special laws of hospitality of small Italian towns.

The first impression when meeting with Ravenna, I must say, is not the most enchanting for the soul and eyes. The sea of ​​sweet speeches about the concentration of cultural and historical monuments, going off scale beyond all reasonable limits, is absolutely not confirmed at first glance. A noisy train station, unremarkable street development, the hustle and bustle of most European cities... Nevertheless, it's worth tempering your ardor and looking at Ravenna a little differently, not from the generally accepted tourist point of view. Only then, plunging headlong into the local atmosphere, you will be able to discover Ravenna with a capital "R" - a majestic city in the distant past, the capital of a dead empire, whose ghost haunts historians to this day.

The thing is that Ravenna is far from being as luxurious as her sister Venice, located a little to the north along the same Adriatic coast. When Ravenna was going through hard times, the city treasury did not have enough money for marble for finishing buildings - which, in a sense, preserved it in its original form for future generations. Built of brick, it was not subjected to dismantling of valuable rocks when it was necessary to build or restore cathedrals and palaces in Milan or Rome. Therefore, local sights really bear the imprint of the Middle Ages - the "dark" time, from which, according to the generally accepted opinion, it breathes something scary and gloomy. And although there is no smoke without fire (remember the Holy Inquisition), having been in Ravenna, you will understand that even such an era leaves something beautiful in history.

Ravenna street on a rainy day. Photo moitury.ru

In order to appreciate all this beauty with your own eyes, you need to be mentally prepared. Going on vacation to Ravenna, you need to clearly imagine that this is not a party place, and you are coming here to touch eternity.

Of course, it is best to go to the discovery of Ravenna by private car. For travelers, such an option is available, how to rent a car. By ordering a car in advance, while still at home, you can save a lot. "Italy in Russian" advises you to turn to the services of the popular rentalcars gigantic service, multifunctional and simple, which will allow you to choose the most suitable car at home and receive it immediately upon arrival in Italy.
For those who are used to convenience, we recommend ordering a taxi in Ravenna with a Russian-speaking driver. It is possible to pick up and order a taxi through the convenient Kiwitaxi service: You just need to choose where and where you need to get from. Here you can order a transfer from any airport in Italy. At the specified time, at the specified place, your personal driver will be waiting for you with a sign with your name.

It is best to start with the Church of St. Vitaliy - perhaps the most interesting building in the city, founded in the 6th century. This brick octagon looks maybe a bit cumbersome. However, it is worth going inside - and you definitely have never seen anything like this in your life ... The dome is supported by eight internal columns, around which there is a two-story bypass. On the vault - a unique mosaic of biblical motifs. Between the pillars there are two-story arcades curved towards the walls of the structure. This technique dramatically increases the interior space. It becomes completely incomprehensible to the human eye how so many interior details could fit in not the largest room. According to legend, it is here that the ashes of St. Vitaly are located - the Alexandrian monk earned money in hard labor, after which he went to a brothel. But not at all for what many thought - he gave what he received to fallen women so that they could improve their financial condition and no longer engage in their craft. When the monk died, dozens of former harlots came to honor his memory - after which all the inhabitants of the city were convinced of the greatness of Vitaly's spirit. Here, nearby, is the National Museum, which contains an extensive collection of coins of the Roman period, there are unique samples of ivory carving and ancient weapons. Across the road you can see a real monument of the 5th century - the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a Roman princess. And although most historians are sure that the ashes of Galla are not here, this makes the appearance of the structure no less impressive. Carl Gustav Jung was of the same opinion. The great psychoanalyst was generally delighted with Ravenna - to a large extent because of her mosaics, in which he saw a dialogue between the conscious and the unconscious. And he even wrote several works based on the “strange experience of Ravenna”.

The historic center of Ravenna is literally saturated with the spirit of the early Middle Ages - squat, powerful buildings stand out against the backdrop of small residential houses painted in soft colors, shops and cafes. For example, the Neoniano Baptistery in Piazza Duomo. Among all the buildings that are decorated with Byzantine mosaics, this is the oldest. Countless rites of baptism of the inhabitants of the city were held here - you can personally inspect the amazing ancient marble font. Nearby is the Archbishop's Palace, on the ground floor of which there is a museum of the same name. The most amazing and ancient exhibits (6th century) are the "Maximian Throne", made entirely of ivory, and the silver Greek "St. Agnell's Cross".

Baptistery of Neoniano. Photo artclassic.edu.ru

Well, now it's time to head to the local cult object - the tomb of the great Dante Alighieri, Tomba di Dante. Marble walls and the image of the poet on the pulpit became Ravenna's hallmark. The mausoleum was erected in the 15th century, only a century and a half after the death of the author of the Divine Comedy. Florence, in which the poet was born, realized a century later, and began to demand the extradition of the remains of Dante. Ravenna - first of all, the Franciscan monks - rested, and did everything in order not to give in. As a result, although the poet was not elevated to the rank of a saint, the worship of his talent is quite comparable. Down the street are several ancient crypts with mosaic floors. Local enterprising citizens have turned this feature into a good source of income. In these crypts, due to their location, the floors are constantly flooded with water. For the opportunity to look at the mosaic floors of the lower floor, against which goldfish swim, you will have to pay half a euro.

The tomb of Dante is one of the cult places in Ravenna. Photo saga.ua

Ravenna would not be the "sister" of Venice, if not for the water. Despite the fact that the sea is fairly remote from the city, no one canceled groundwater. They form whole lakes here, and the deep cellars of many old houses are constantly filled with water. Oddly enough, but this circumstance does not harm the condition of the structures at all, on the contrary, experts say that the drainage of swampy places could cause great damage to the architectural fund. The water level in the basements of buildings ranges from 30 to 130 centimeters, and pumps for pumping are only in the church of St. Vitaliy. In general, this is quite original - to see, for example, in the church of San Francesco, a kind of "aquarium".

The same "aquarium". Photo panoramio.com

There is also a special attraction in Ravenna - the tomb of Theodoric. This building is unlike any of the many architectural monuments of the city. White, impregnable, it is surrounded by a fence and automatic ticket control in addition to its formidable appearance. The inspirer of this (not fences and control, but a monumental exterior) was the king of the Ostrogoths Theodoric. According to the principle of the Egyptian pharaohs, the royal person decided not to delay the last refuge, and build it during her lifetime. This is perhaps the only building in the city built not from burnt bricks, but from limestone - hence the white color unusual for Ravenna. And the characteristics of the structure are also unique in their own way. What is the roof of the tomb alone - a huge stone slab, specially brought from the other side of the Adriatic Sea, from Istria. A block with a diameter of 10.5 m and a height of 2.5 m was transported suspended between two ships. After this fact, the scale of the work becomes clear, which confirms the already proven truth: Italian architects are among the best in history.

Tomb of Theodoric, illuminated by the setting sun. Photo photo.tut.ua

The only - and quite significant - disappointment awaits in Ravenna those who wish to survey the city's attractions from the top points. Despite the fact that there are quite a lot of campanillas (i.e. towers) in the city, they are closed for tourist visits. So you have to look for other ways, fully using your own imagination.

Today's Ravenna practically does not differ from other small towns in the Italian North: the center is filled with offices and shops, schools, kindergartens and other infrastructure are outside the historical part. There is not so much greenery here - the exception is the city park and the boulevard next to the station. However, the dignity of the city should not be underestimated either. It has its own, inherent only in Ravenna, little joys. Evening walks along the atmospheric ancient streets, an obligatory cup of strong coffee, visiting miniature squares where small flower and vegetable markets operate - the contemplation of modern Ravenna is no less enjoyable than the great past of this city.