Open the left menu is equal. Byzantine mosaics ravenna ravenna capital of the western roman empire

Which was the capital three times: the Roman Western Empire (402-476), the Kingdom of the Ostrogoths (493-553) and the Byzantine Exarchate (568-751).
It is difficult to say when the first settlements appeared on the site of modern Ravenna, perhaps they were Etruscans and Umbres, later the Senone Gauls lived here.
One thing is known that the sea played a key role in the creation of Ravenna, which also attracted the Romans. Octavian Augustus deployed a navy and created a hydraulic system, consisting of a canal that connected the Po River to a reservoir in the south of Ravenna, where a Class naval port was established, which could accommodate 10 thousand sailors and 250 triremes to control the eastern Mediterranean.
This suggests that Ravenna played an important role in the Roman Empire. Over time, the naval port became a commercial one.
In 402, Emperor Honorius moved his residence to Ravenna to avoid the threat of Alaric. At this time, the city expands and builds.
But at the same time, the lagoon in which the port was located falls asleep, and the port becomes useless.
In Ravenna, fate is decided and important decisions are made in the Western Empire, until in 476 the last Roman emperor Romulus Augustus was overthrown by Odoacer, the king of the Goths. Romulus was allowed to retire to the villa, south, and receive his pension.
But the kingdom of Odoacer had a short life, and already in 493 Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, moved to Italy and, having defeated the troops of Odoacer, locked it in the fortified Ravenna. Odoacer, seeing that the resistance was useless, surrendered on condition of preserving life, but after a few days he was killed. It was rumored that Odoacer was preparing a conspiracy against Theodoric, and upon learning of this, the Ostrogoth king was quick to kill. Having invited Odoacer to a feast, Theodoric killed his rival with his own hands. So the Ostrogothic kingdom was founded, which became the capital.
Theodoric worshiped everything Roman and made it his goal to instill Roman culture in the Ostrogoths.
The artistic dawn of Ravenna has begun. During this time, many churches and cathedrals were rebuilt.
But there was also a big contradiction between the Romans and the Ostrogoths: the Ostrogoths were Arians, and the Romans were in Ravenna- Orthodox. At first, Theodoric tolerated Orthodoxy, but then persecution and persecution began. And, in the end, a decree was issued that prohibited the Orthodox faith.
But at this time in 526 Theodoric died. After his death, troubles, uprisings and riots began. This was used by the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great, who decided to subjugate Italy and destroy the Ostrogoth kingdom.
The war lasted for about 20 years. And in 544 the Ostrogoths were expelled from Italy.
To solve Italian affairs, Justinian created a viceroyalty with the capital in Ravenna... The governor of Ravenna bore the title of Exarch.
In 751 the exarchate fell under the pressure of the Lombards. By the will of the king of the Franks, Pepin the Short came under the rule of the pope in 754. During these years, many works of art were created in Ravenna - mosaics, statues, the port of Klass was revived.
In the Middle Ages, it was ruled by noble families.
In 1509 the city became part of the papal region and remained there for 350 years.
During this time, a new Cathedral and numerous churches, temples, Dante's grave were built.
After a short Napoleonic conquest, she returned to the papal region and remained there until 1859, when the city joined the Kingdom of Sardinia, and in 1861 Ravenna became part of the united Italy.

Now it is an important Italian city, visited by millions of tourists to admire its sights, eight of which are protected by UNESCO:

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (early 4th century)
- Baptistery of Neonian (late 4th century)
- Archbishop's chapel (about 500)
- Basilica of Saint Appolinarius the New (early 6th century)
- Mausoleum of Theodoric (around 520)
- Arian Baptistery (early 6th century)
- Basilica of St. Vitalian (early 6th century)
- Basilica of Saint Appolinarius in Klassa (consecrated in 547)

On the way from the railway station to the city center, the first one on the way meets Church of St. John the Evangelist ( San giovanni Evangelista).

The church was built in the 5th century. Galla Placidia in memory of her rescue in 424 during a storm on the road from Constantinople. Her salvation was attributed to the intercession of John the Evangelist.
In the X century. a bell tower 42 meters high was added to the church. In the Middle Ages, a Benedictine monastery was formed next to the church. Later, the church was rebuilt several times and was badly damaged during the bombing in 1944.
The walls of the church were decorated with mosaics that depicted miraculous salvation Galla Placidia and her children. But the mosaics have not survived to this day. There are fragments of 13th century mosaics depicting animals and scenes from the Fourth Crusade.

Turning left onto via di Roma let's get to Basilica of S. Apollinare Nuovo.

The basilica was founded by Theodoric in 526, at that time it was an Arian basilica, but after the Goths desecrated the church in 561, the basilica was consecrated in the Catholic faith. In the IX century. the temple acquired the relics of Saint Apollinaris and began to be named after the saint. But since in Ravenna there was already a church dedicated to Saint Apollinarius, then this temple was called New.
The facade of the church is decorated with a portico, which appeared in the 16th century. The three-aisled temple is decorated with magnificent Byzantine mosaics.

Basilicas of St. Appolinarius New. Ravenna Italy.

Let's return by via di Roma back and turn to via Angelo Mariani, passing by the Alighier theater, we will reach Dante's tombs.

The tomb was built in 1780-81. designed by the architect Camillo Moridge.
But this was preceded by a whole series of incredible events in which Dante was implicated even after his death.
A native of Florence, Dante was not only a poet, but also an active citizen. He participated in city government and prevented a supporter of the Pope from seizing power in Florence. When the opponents won, Dante was sentenced to death.
He fled, wandered around the world and spent the last 6 years of his life in Ravenna, where he created his great "Divine Comedy"- a poem about walking in the circles of hell, being in purgatory and paradise.
Dante died in 1321 from swamp fever.
But the struggle for the bones of the great poet continued for several centuries. Florence claimed that Dante was buried in his homeland. In 1519, the poet's sarcophagus was transported to Florence, but upon opening it, they found that the coffin was empty. Enterprising Franciscan monks from Ravenna hid the remains that were secretly buried in a Franciscan monastery in Sienzo.

In 1677, Dante's ashes were placed in a wooden shrine, and after 1810, when Napoleon began to close the monasteries, the coffin was hidden under the portico of Braccioforte next to Dante's mausoleum. Until 1865, workers began to make repairs in the adjoining chapel, where a box was found with a complete skeleton and an inscription: "The bones belong to Dante".
Doctors conducted an examination and established the authenticity of the remains. The bones were put on public display for several days.
During World War II, the poet's ashes were transferred again.

The modern mausoleum has the shape of a neoclassical temple, which has a square at the base, covered with a small dome, inside there is a real grave decorated with marble, above the sarcophagus there is a bas-relief and a Latin epitaph written in 1327 by Bernardo Canaccio:

"Sovereigns rights, heaven, the waters of Phlegetonte, I sang, walking my earthly vale. Now my soul has gone to a better world and blissful, contemplating among the luminaries of its Creator, here I, Dante, rest, expelled from my fatherland, my native Florence, a little loving mother." ...

To the left of the mausoleum is Dante Museum, opened in 1921. The museum contains models of monuments to the poet, busts, reliefs, paintings, medallions, memorial wreaths, letters. The museum houses a wooden shrine, created in 1677 for the remains of Dante by Franciscan Antonio Santi, and a glass box in which his bones lay when the poet's skeleton was examined in 1865.

Let's get to piazza duomo.
Cathedral was built in the 18th century. by the architect Gianfrancesco Buanamichi. The first Cathedral on this site, called the Basilica of Ursiana, was built in the 5th century, but by the beginning of the 18th century. it almost completely collapsed. The cathedral contains sarcophagi of the 5th century, a revered wooden icon with Madonna Sudore (1300), stained glass windows by Guido Reni.

Baptistery of Neonian also called Orthodox baptistery- the oldest monument Ravenna.

It was erected at the end of the 4th century. The Baptistery is a simple domed building decorated with magnificent mosaics. The mosaic pattern depicts the scene of the Baptism of Christ in the waters of the Jordan with 12 apostles in a circle.

Archbishop's chapel, also called the chapel of St. Andrew, was built by Bishop Peter II as a personal chapel at the end of the 5th century. This is the only Orthodox monument erected during the reign of Theodoric, when the Arian cult dominated. The entire chapel is covered with mosaics.
Open: until 31 March 9.30-17.30, from 1 April 9-19.
Piazza Arcivescovado.

This is one of the most important archaeological monuments in Italy, recently discovered.
The spacious hall is located 3 meters below ground level, its floor is covered with magnificent mosaics of the 5th-6th centuries, which are woven into decorative geometric patterns, flowers and Christian symbols.
Open: March - October 10-18.30,
November - February Mon-Fri 10-17.00, Sat-Sun 10-18.00, Mon - closed.
The ticket is 4 euros.

In 100 meters it will be Church of St. Vitalian (San Vitale) was erected in 525 by the bishop Ravenna... This is one of the most important and beautiful monuments early Christianity in Ravenna.

At its base, the church has an octagon, and the number 8 symbolizes the day of the Resurrection of Christ, which was the eighth day according to the Hebrew calendar. The repetitive arches add lightness and weightlessness to the temple. The inside of the church is covered with magnificent Byzantine mosaics.

Next to the Church of St. Vitalian is mausoleum of Galla Placidia.

This small chapel was possibly dedicated to the martyr Laurentius. Lawrence was one of the most popular saints among the members of the Theodosian dynasty, whose daughter was Galla.
Inside the floor, walls, ceiling, everything is completely covered with mosaics the highest quality surpassing everything that survived in Ravenna and other Italian cities. Gold stars and a cross are scattered against the blue background of the dome, the vaults are covered with decorative patterns. There are three sarcophagi that belong to Galle Placidia, her husband Constantine III and their son Valentian III, who was killed in 455.

Galla Placidia was a Roman empress, daughter of Theodosius the Great. She played a huge role in the Western Empire.
When she was 7 years old, her father died, dividing the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern. The Western Empire was ruled by the 11-year-old brother of Galla Honorius, who, fearing the invasion of barbarian tribes into Rome, settled in a calm Ravenna.
Galla Placidia remained in Rome. And in 410, when Rome fell, Placidia was captured by Alaric, and she rolled along with the army of barbarians in the south, but Alaric died suddenly. Alaric was buried in Cosenza, at the bottom of the river.
Ataulf became his successor. He fell in love with a radiant and beautiful captive and married Gala in a legal marriage, during the wedding ceremony they were dressed in Roman clothes. They lived happily, Ataulf fulfilled any whim of Galla Placidia and even at her request saved Rome from the invasion of the Visigoths, but a few years later Ataulf was killed, and Placidia was exchanged for grain by the imperial relatives. Thus ended six years of wandering.
Upon returning to Rome, Placidia was married to the Roman general Constantius, she bore him a daughter and son Valentinian, who at the age of six became the emperor of the Western Empire, and Galla Placidia, as regent, actually ruled the empire and had a powerful influence on the Western world.

Nearby is Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, erected in the 6th century, once the church was decorated with huge mosaics, of which not a trace remained.

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Arian Baptistery.

The baptistery was built by Theodoric (493-526) next to the Arian cathedral. The baptistery became Orthodox in 561 and Basilian monks served here during the exarchate. At the beginning of the XX century. the small building was acquired by the state and restored.
The baptistery is a small octagonal brick building located in a small courtyard, when the baptistery was more impressive, but time and various owners reduced it. Inside, the dome of the Baptistery is decorated with Byzantine mosaics. The central scene depicts the Baptism of Christ: Christ stands to the waist in the waters of the Jordan, to the side of him is an old man who is most likely the god of the river and St. John the Evangelist, and around them are the 12 apostles.

Arian Baptistery.

Open: 8.30 am - 7.30 pm (admission is free)

Mausoleum of Theodoric- one of the most famous burial monuments of the Ostrogoths. It is located far from the city center, in the place where the Goth cemetery was located.
The mausoleum was built in 520, unlike other Ravenna buildings, the mausoleum is made of Istra limestone, not brick. The mausoleum has a round plan at its base and two tiers (which is typical of Roman mausoleums).
When Ravenna passed under the rule of Justinian, the body of Theodoric was taken out of the mausoleum, and he himself was converted into a chapel.

Open: until March 26 8.30-17.30
From March 27 8.30-19
The ticket is 3 euros.
Address: via delle Industrie, 14.

Basilica of Sant "Apollinare in Classe" located 5 km from the city center near the port. It was built in the 6th century. and dedicated to the first bishop of Ravenna. The basilica is decorated with the latest of the Ravenna mosaics from the Justinian period.

Open: 8.30-17.30, Sunday 13-19.30
Ticket 3 euros
Address: via Romea Sud.

Ravenna map. Italy.

Ravenna cuisine.

Kitchen Ravenna Is a typical Romagnole cuisine in which most makes homemade pasta: tagliatelli, lasagna, tortelloni with herbs and ricotta, vermesh and cappelletti in meat broth, egg pasta.

In the Emilia-Romagna region, it is the brightest gem. It seems to be the simplest structure, but no, it has imprints of hundreds, or even thousands of years. And if the stones could speak, in Ravenna they would narrate the events that 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 great state that fell soon after ...

The famous Ravenna mosaics tell their stories. The most colorful, the most skillful, the most ambitious - any epithet is superlative of this art form in Ravenna. The most famous one 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, but not far away modern park entertainment "Mirabilandia" with roller coasters, Ferris wheel, attractions, various performances, laser shows. By the way, the largest in Italy. So by listening to the stories of the past, you can have a good rest in the present.

Flights to Ravenna

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How to get to Ravenna

By plane

Closest to Ravenna major airport receiving regular flights, located in Bologna. You can also get by plane to Rimini or Venice, from where you can reach your destination by land transport.

By train

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

By bus

The bus service is carried out by the ATM company.

By car

The distance between Bologna and Ravenna is 80 km; you will spend a little over an hour on the way. Include 5 € for road tax. 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 motorway leads to Ravenna.

By sea

The port of Ravenna is one of the twenty most important in all of Italy. Many people start their routes here cruise lines: 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 suitable for the purpose of your trip. If the task is to see as many historical sights as possible, then it is better to settle in the city center. Then the minimum cost of living will be from 70-80 € per night for double occupancy (Hotel Centrale Byron 3 *, R&B Casa Aurora) and slightly more expensive (La Reunion 4 *, Best Western Hotel Bisanzio 4 *, etc.). If the distance does not matter to you, you can find a place to sleep 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 in Via Cavour. In the historic 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 in the Andrea Costa square and is usually open until lunchtime every day, except Sundays.

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

Take home some Ravenna delicacies: the region's typical caramelized figs with Squacquerone cheese. A bottle of local Sangiovese wine will be useful in your luggage on the way back.

Beach holidays in Ravenna

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

The most modern one - Lido-Adriano - is designed for a youth audience who, for complete happiness, have little sea, sun and sand, and also serve active sports. For family holidays, Punta Marina Terme is more suitable, it is quieter there due to cottage buildings surrounded by pine trees. A more sedate and wealthy public also comes here, mainly for the sake of thalassotherapy. The center is located on the beach itself.

The Romans throughout their history did not look for easy ways when it came to providing the state with housing, territory, and infrastructure. This postulate finds application when looking at the city of Ravenna, which is not for nothing called the sister of Venice. An archipelago of semi-submerged islands that interconnect big amount canals, the city became an ideal springboard for the creation of a powerful Italian fleet, which instilled fear in the Maltese and Sicilian pirates. Today, from the military past of Ravenna, only historical monuments yes the memories of the old-timers of the city. We will talk about that in a separate article.

Getting to Ravenna

For a domestic tourist, the most optimal transport is an airplane. But the Gastone Novelli airfield in Ravenna is used as a training ground. The nearest civilian terminals are: Marco Polo in Venice, Miramare in Rimini, Guglielmo Marconi in Bologna (80 km away).

You can get from Bologna to Ravenna by car in 1 hour. Moreover, tourists will have to pay not only a rental car, but also a transport tax of 5 euros. Train travel will cost 7 euros. Read,.

The distance from Rome to Ravenna is 280 km. It takes 4.5 hours to get there by car, a little less - by train. The second class ticket reaches 62 euros.

From Milan to Ravenna 288 km. If you use a car, the travel time will be at least 3 hours. The time on the train is more than 3 hours, since a change in either Faenza or Bologna is inevitable.

Ravenna train station is located within walking distance from the city center. Therefore, we strongly recommend not to stop the taxi, but to walk along the streets of the historic area.

From Moscow, you can take a ticket to Rome, where you can take a train or plane to Bologna, Rimini. In general, the transport infrastructure in the northern part of Italy receives the most flattering reviews, but you should be on the lookout, because there are a lot of street thieves in the Apennines.

Prices in Ravenna

Being hospitable and temperamental people, Italians are kind to guests. This applies equally to restaurants, bars, taxi drivers, hoteliers, ordinary residents of the country. In this regard, you should not be surprised if a good-natured souvenir seller presents you with a small trinket. Nevertheless, bargaining with representatives of the second oldest profession is a must.

As for restaurants and hotels, prices are clearly fixed. Among the restaurants, Ponte Marino 3 stands out, on the menu of which you can find traditional Italian and Mediterranean dishes. An average alcoholic dinner costs € 25. If you order a fisso (dish of the day), such a buffet will cost 10-15 euros.
In the famous pizzerias of Ravenna, you can dine on flour products made from seafood, vegetables, and a large number of specialty cheeses. On average, pizza costs 1.5 euros and coffee 2 euros. Naturally, it will be more expensive to eat in cafes located in the city center than far from the tourist trails.

Parking costs € 2 per hour (vouchers are purchased from newsstands). As for hotels, the range of prices is impressive. Tourists can take advantage of budget options like hostels for 35 euros or luxury hotels where a room can cost 150 euros.

Ravenna's culinary traditions

In a picturesque area that combines the cultural and gastronomic characteristics of the whole country, you can fully enjoy Italy. Taste Cappelletti with meat sauce, amazing piada, passatelli in chicken broth. By the way, the last dish is in high demand among Russians. Passatelli contains eggs, grated parmesan, nutmeg, bread crumbs. Among the desserts, Squaquerone is considered the king of dishes - caramelized figs with a generous handful of cheese. A hearty lunch is served with the local Sangiovese wine.

Event tourism

It is customary to visit Ravenna on special summer days, when the city receives international exhibitions, festivals, fairs, other cultural events. The Ravenna Festival attracts opera artists, figures from the film industry, theater, and stage.

Night Mosaic is a complex of fascinating excursions along the most remarkable historical sites Ravenna.

Every third week of the month, the Antique Market is held, where connoisseurs of antique interior items, dress, etc. come.

Weather in Ravenna

Central Italy tends to be chilly during the winter months, due to the region's high humidity levels. Fog and snow are frequent guests for local townspeople who celebrate such festivities as New Year and Christmas. And in summer, high humidity is by no means an advantage of Ravenna. The best time to visit the city is autumn or spring. At this time, the Marina di Ravenna resort is full of native Italians and tourists from other countries of the world.

What to see in Ravenna

Ravenna is one of the most ancient cities in Italy. She, like her " older sister"Venice, was built on swamps, which later turned into a system of canals, carving the city like patterns in the palm of your hand. Due to its inaccessibility, the city was for some time in the status of the capital of the Western Roman Empire. This significant event dates back to 5-8 centuries. Attractions here, of course , a myriad of. Let's highlight the main ones.

For young tourists, it is worthwhile to understand that a trip to Ravenna is an attempt to touch eternity and feel an unprecedented energy. the ancient world... The excursion can be crowned by the Cathedral of St. Vitaly of the 6th century. Outside, this is an inconspicuous structure, but walking inside you can appreciate the art of local architects. Columns support two-tier bypass. Mosaic on Christian motives, two-story arcades - there is no other such decoration in the whole world.

Next door is the National Museum, where the most expensive exhibit is considered to be a collection of coins from the ancient era.

The Tomb of Theodoric is a special place that is not subject to time and power. The impregnable white building is surrounded by a string of security systems. The relics of the imperious king of the Ostrogoths Theodoric rest here.

The port of Ravenna is one of the largest maritime transport facilities in the Mediterranean. From here they start cruise ships traveling to Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Sicily. The best beaches Ravenna are Lido diSavio, Punta Marina Terme, Porto Corsini, Lido di Dante, Marina diRomea, Marina di Ravenna.

Ravenna Photos

During the Umbrian and Etruscan times, Ravenna, like Venice, stood on the lagoon. Due to its strategically successful location, the city was considered impregnable - and therefore the Roman emperor Augustus laid a military and Trading port, which became a stronghold for the subordination of the Adriatic and its coasts. When Emperor Theodosius I divided the Roman Empire between his sons, Honorius, who received the Western Roman Empire, made Ravenna the capital (395) - and the city began to flourish immediately. While the Migration was devastating the rest of Italy, Honorius and his sister Galla Placidia, regent from 425-450, built a new imperial residence in Ravenna. In 476, the Germanic tribes invaded Italy. Their leader Odoacer, who expelled the last emperor of Rome, after his proclamation as king of all Italy, rules the state from Ravenna. The Eastern Roman Empire still existed and sent the Ostrogothic king (from 471) Theodoric to Italy, who held Ravenna under siege for three years; finally, in 493, forcing Odoacer to surrender the city, he then killed him at a general feast. Theodoric, brought up at the Byzantine court as a prisoner - a legendary character named Dietrich of Berne from the "Song of the Nibelungs", brought Ravenna a new upsurge. In 539, the Byzantine emperor Justinian (482-565) returned Italy to the fold of the Eastern Roman Empire, and Ravenna became the seat of the exarchs (supreme rulers of the provinces); the third period of its heyday began. It was then that the Byzantine style penetrated Western art. In 751, the Lombards put an end to the exarchate, and along with the prosperity of Ravenna. Later the city came under the rule of Venice, and from 1509 it entered the papal state, in which it remained until 1859. For a long time, the inhabitants of Ravenna lived agriculture until in the 1950s. huge deposits of natural gas were not discovered here, which led to the formation of a vast industrial belt around the city.

Ravenna landmarks

Church of San Vitale

Outside, the Church of San Vitale (St. Vitali) is a simple octahedral centric structure (brick basilica), but the interior design unexpectedly amazes with its magnificent splendor and beauty. Its construction was begun under Theodoric the Great in 526, and it was consecrated in 547 under his successor, Emperor Justinian. Eight pillars separate the central room from the bypass. A stunning impression is made by Byzantine mosaics, shining with mother-of-pearl in the light penetrating through the yellow stained-glass windows. To the left and right of the altar - the world famous mosaic images of the rulers of Ravenna - Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora, accompanied by their retinue; next to the emperor - Archbishop Maximian; in the central apse between St. Vitaly and St. Ecclesias depicts the Savior.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Behind the Church of San Vitale is the small mausoleum of Galla Placidia - the only surviving part of the disappeared palace complex. The mausoleum is a cross-domed building and was erected around 440 during the life of the empress. The interior of the mausoleum is decorated with mosaics that are about 100 years old than those of the Church of San Vitale. The mosaic walls and vault shine with the amazing deep blue of the late empire. Warm light penetrating through small narrow windows, decorated with stucco molding, illuminates the cross, symbolic images of the Evangelists and the figures of the twelve apostles, and above the entrance - a mosaic depicting Christ in the image of the young "Good Shepherd". In the central part and in the arms of the "cross" lying in the plan of the structure, there are marble sarcophagi - presumably Galla Placidia and two emperors - Constance III, her second wife, and son of Valentinian III. But the Empress herself was buried in St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, where she died in 450. An interesting museum, located in the cloisters of the monastery near the Church of San Vitale, presents collections of ancient and early Christian art. The time of the Risorgi-mento is told by a brand-new museum on the neighboring Via Baccerini Alfredo 3.

Piazza del Popolo

Focus historic center the city is the picturesque Piazza del Popolo. The Venetians erected on it in 1483 two granite columns with the saints of the city, behind it, two hundred years later, behind the columns, was built the Palazzo Comunale. Four of the eight capitals of the Palazzo Veneziano bear the monogram of Theodoric.

Cathedral and baptismal

After passing several streets, you go out to cathedral, built in 1740, on the site of the oldest church in Ravenna, founded by Bishop Ursus. Only the church tower and crypt have survived from the original building. The marble pulpit in the central nave on the right is made of 6th century slabs. with an animal pattern. In the second chapel on the right and in the right transverse nave are beautiful early Christian sarcophagi.
Next to the cathedral there is an Orthodox baptismal - an octagonal brick building of the 5th century. with marble inlays on the inner walls and magnificent mosaics, probably created around 450, that is, the oldest in Ravenna. Dome mosaic depicts the baptism of Christ, the ancient god of the river is the personification of Jordan.

Archbishop's Museum

The next treasure of early Christianity is found in the Archbishop's Museum just behind the cathedral: this is Maximilian's bishop's chair - Cattedra di Massimiliano. Created in the 6th century, it is an Egyptian ivory carving: it is a depiction of scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Amusing mosaics in the small chapel of Sant "Andrea, where Jesus Christ appears before the audience in the attire of a Roman soldier.

Church of St. Francis

On the modern Piazza dei Caduti per la Liberta stands the convent church of St. Francis with a Romanesque bell tower. Inside there are beautiful columns of Greek marble, the main altar of the 5th century. and a crypt of the 9th-10th centuries, the mosaic floor of which is 1.5 m under water.

Tomb of Dante Alighieri

Next to the church is the classic style tomb of Dante Alighieri. The poet died in 1321 in Ravenna, where he lived as an exile, after he was expelled from Florence in 1302. It was in Ravenna that he created the great "Divine Comedy". A little more about Dante can be found in the Dante Museum in the San Francesco Monastery.

Sant Apollinare Nuovo

The Theodoric Court Church stands on the very busy Via di Roma. The portico and apse were built in the 16th and 18th centuries. Twelve Byzantine marble columns each brought from Constantinople divide the interior into three naves. The walls are adorned with magnificent mosaics divided into three strips, in which the Byzantine influence is noticeable.

Ruins of Theodoric Palace

Nearby, at the corner of Via Alberoni, you can see the ruins of Theodoric's palace; a multi-layered facade with a central part protruding forward is notable.

Arian baptistery

The octagonal Arian baptistery was built under Theodoric in the 6th century. In the center of the domed mosaic, as in the Orthodox baptismal, there are scenes of the baptism of Jesus Christ. The nearby church of the Holy Spirit was formerly an Arian cathedral. Unfortunately, only the pulpit has survived from the time of Theodoric.

Tomb of Theodoric

Popular among tourists is the peculiar tomb of Theodoric, 1 km from the city center, probably erected during the life of the Ostrogoth king. Powerful hewn limestone blocks, folded without mortar, lend massiveness to the monumental circular building. The dome, weighing about 300 tons, is also hewn out of a single block of limestone. The mausoleum is more reminiscent of Syrian rather than Roman prototypes, but the frieze with an ornament in the form of tongs, on the contrary, clearly indicates a Germanic influence. The lower floor with barrel vaults is built in the form of a Byzantine cross; on the top floor there is an ancient porphyry sarcophagus. However, Theodoric's body disappeared from the tomb.

Bike rental

To everyone who is tired of the debts of walking around the city, we suggest doing like Italians: get on your bicycles! In the bureau tourist information Bicycles can be rented on Via Salara - and free of charge!

Help

Via Salara 8, 48100 Ravenna;
Tel .: 05 44 48 26 64;
Fax .: 05 44 48 26 70;
wvvw.turismo.ravenna.it

Neighborhoods of Ravena

Sant Apollinare in Classe

5 km south of Ravenna is the church of Sant Apollinare in Classe, erected next to the long-relocated port that gave it its name. It began to be built outside the city in about 535, and was consecrated in 549. The Round Tower was built in the 11th century. Byzantine marble columns divide the interior space; in the side aisles there are sarcophagi of the 5th and 8th centuries. Magnificent mosaics in the apse and on the pediment " triumphal arch"Entered the history of art. In the dome of the apse, a mosaic depicting the Transfiguration of Christ in a medallion on a cross, decorated with ninety-nine stars from precious stones, under it - the patron of the church of St. Apollinaris, appearing among the twelve snow-white sheep, symbolizing his flock. On the pediment of the "triumphal arch" there is an image of Christ Pantokrator surrounded by symbols of the evangelists, and below - the twelve apostles in the form of lambs.

Pineta di Classe

Reserved natural area Pineta di Classe, about 5 km from Sant'Apollinare in Classe, is the remains of the formerly famous pine forest, which has been greatly thinned by frost and fire. A little to the west is Mirabilandia - one of the largest amusement parks in Italy.
A chain of beaches stretches from Casal Borsetti to Lido di Savio, near Milano Marittima, all of which appeared mainly in the 1970s.

I confess right away that I have never heard of this city before. It turns out Ravenna is an absolutely amazing and unique city with a long history. This is the city where the Great Roman Empire was born and died.

Near Ravennaya there is a river with more famous name- Rubicon. It was it that Julius Caesar crossed with his legions and became emperor, although the word emperor then had a completely different meaning, this was how they expressed respect for the great commander. This was the birth of an empire.

It was to Ravenna that the capital of the Western Roman Empire was moved from Milan in 402, fleeing the raids of the barbarians. And in 472, with the overthrow of the last emperor, the existence of the Western Roman Empire came to an end. Ravenna extended the days of the emperors' reign by only 70 years.

In Ravenna, the monuments of the 5th-6th centuries AD have been amazingly preserved, and they have been preserved so well that it is simply hard to believe. Mosaics, which are about 1500 years old, look perfect, despite the wars, natural disasters and other troubles that swept more than once across the territory of Italy for a millennium and a half.

In, for example, the 12th century frescoes in the Cathedral of St. George were preserved only on 1/5 of the walls, the rest is irretrievably lost.

We parked behind the building National Museum(Museo Nazionale, Via Benedetto Fiandrini, Ravenna). Parking costs only 3 euros per day, you need to keep your ticket until you leave, the watchman checks it. A ticket to the museums can be bought in the shop opposite the Basilica of San Vitale. An adult ticket costs 9-50 euros, children are free. We had a discount, tickets cost 8-50 euros. Tickets allow you to visit the following facilities:

1. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia(built around 425-450 AD)
2. Basilica of San Vitale(consecrated in 548 after the return of Ravenna under the rule of Byzantium)
3. Basilica of Sant Appolinare Nuovo(built at the turn of the 5th-6th centuries by Theodoric, the leader of the Ostrogoths)
4. Archbishop's Museum and the chapel of the Apostle Andrew(built at the turn of the 5th-6th centuries by Theodoric, the leader of the Ostrogoths)
5. Baptistery of the Orthodox or Neonians(built at the turn of the 5th-6th centuries under the bishop of Ursa)

And if you are not an art critic, then this will be enough for one day. All these buildings are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as monuments of early Christian culture. Together with the tickets, a card is issued so that you can bypass all the indicated relics.

In the same store you can buy a book, a guide to all the monuments of Ravena in Russian, where all the religious themes of the mosaics are explained in detail (cost 6 euros). It seems to me that Ravenna is the city to visit which you need to prepare, otherwise it will not be interesting to read literature.

All the main attractions belong to the 5th-6th centuries AD, so everything is quite transparent, you don't have to jump from one century to another. From the main historical events you need to remember: first there was the reign of Gaul - Placidia, then the capture of Ravenna by the Goths under the leadership of Theodoric (he was also a Christian), later the return of Ravenna under the patronage of Byzantium in 548.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Galla Placidia (388-450) was the most interesting woman of the decline of the empire. She was the daughter of Theodosius the Great. She spent her youth in captivity with the Goths. Although it is difficult to say whether this was a captivity, Galla became the wife of the leader of the Goths - Allarich, and after his death she married his successor Ataulf. However, Attaulf was also killed just 2 years after the wedding. Placidia was exchanged for several carts of grain, so she returned to her former life with her high-ranking relatives. Then she was about 30 years old.

As befits a decent Roman matron, Galla Placidia married a commander, they had a son, at the age of 2, who became the emperor of the Western Roman Empire - Valentinian III. But in fact, Galla, who inherited energy and abilities from her crowned father, managed the affairs of the empire as a regent and very successfully.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

The mausoleum itself is rather inconspicuous from the outside, it has grown into the ground by 2 meters, but inside it is lined with dark blue mosaic without the slightest gap, the dome is like a starry sky. A very small room there are three sarcophagi: one is attributed to Galle Placidia, another to her husband Emperor Constantine III, who reigned for about six months in 421, and the third to their son, Valentinian III.

The plots of the mosaics are of the greatest value. In those distant times, the canons and dogmas of the church were not yet formed and we can touch the origins of European religious art. Artists at all times portrayed their contemporaries as Christ and the apostles, such is the property of the human mind. If you want to see what the people of the fifth century AD looked like, look at what they portrayed.

Saint Lawrence, with the same cross as Christ's in the previous mosaic, is in a hurry to burn the Arian heresy. The Arians believed that God created Christ and, accordingly, Christ is not equal to God. Then it was important, but now the majority of the world's population has never heard of the Arians.

The facts show that Galla Placidia was never buried in her tomb, she ended her days in Rome and most likely she was buried there. The tombs were opened and found that there were as many as five people, the remains date back to the 10th century, but the inhabitants of Ravenna will never agree with such statements, they piously believe that their empress found peace in Ravenna in her mausoleum.

Basilica of San Vitale

The Basilica of San Vitale is located just around the corner from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. But it was built 100 years later. Its construction was associated with the transition of Ravenna under the rule of Byzantium.

Photos are not able to convey all the radiance of the mosaics, it must be seen live. The construction and decoration were probably done by Byzantine craftsmen. The mosaics depict Justinian and Empress Theodora, surrounded by courtiers, offering gifts to the new church. These are the best imperial portraits that have come down to our time.

The Basilica of San Vitale is a piece of dead Byzantium on the shores of Italy.

Basilica of Sant Appollinare Nuovo

The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was built by the Ostrogoth king Theodoric at the turn of the 5th-6th centuries, when this barbarian leader conquered Italy (in 493) and made Ravenna his capital. Theodoric was an ardent adherent of the Arian heresy and even sought its recognition from the Pope. But after the return of Ravenna under the rule of Byzantium, in 540 the buildings of the Arians passed to the true believers.

In the 11th century, the relics of Saint Apollinarius, the first bishop of Equality from Sant'Apollinare in Classe, were transferred to the basilica, so the basilica got its name - Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.

Only on the walls of the Basilica of Sant'Appollinare Nuovo is the image of the old port of Classe and ancient city Ravenna, hiding behind the fortress walls.

Ravenna at the beginning of the first millennium of our era stood on the very coast of the Adriatic, but over a millennium and a half the coast retreated by 8 km. This is the distance that separates the city from the modern port. The sea washed up sand to the shores of the ancient city. Old Ravenna used to be like Venice with canals and bridges, now the sands have swallowed everything.

Baptistery of the Orthodox

Only in Italy has such a number of baptisteries (baptismal premises) survived; in other countries, after the 12th century, they ceased to be built as a separate building. The baptistery was built on the foundations of the former Roman baths, now the cultural layer lies at a depth of three meters from the base. It literally rooted into the ground and at the same time the mosaics are perfectly preserved.

The photograph is enlarged. John the Baptist, dressed in skins, is already a canon of medieval art, and Christ is still a typical ancient Roman image, and a little paganism - the ancient deity of the river, Jordan himself, participates in baptism. He looks like an ordinary, pagan, Roman god - with a curly beard and long white hair, in which 2 crab claws are entangled.

Archbishop's Museum and the Chapel of the Apostle Andrew

Something similar can be seen in the archbishop's museum. Christ is depicted as a Roman legionary wearing military armor.

In the open book it is written in Latin: "I am the Way, the True and the Life." With his feet, Christ tramples on the symbols of evil, the head of the lion and the snake. I have never seen such an unusual Christ anywhere else. This is possibly one of the earliest depictions of a militaristic church.

The most valuable exhibit of the archbishop's museum is the ivory pulpit, presumably donated by the Byzantine emperor Justinian.

Palace of Theodoric

There is only one facade left of the palace. The campanile of the Basilica of Saint Appolinarius is visible in the background. Ravenna is a very compact city, you don't need to get around everything on foot. In fact, the palace did not belong to Theodoric. But as with the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, it turned out that this name stuck to him. The building dates from a later period.

Theodoric was one of the educated barbarians, he was educated in Constantinople itself. During his studies, the barbarian Theodoric converted to Christianity. But despite all his education, he could not write and always drew his signature on a stencil. When I told the children this fact, they all laughed at the Byzantine education system.

In addition to the palace, his mausoleum has survived from the leader of the Ostrogoths in Ravenna. They say that Theodoric was very afraid of thunder and lightning and therefore ordered to build a mausoleum with a roof from a single piece of stone weighing 300 tons. The mausoleum looks quite ordinary and is absolutely empty, if I did not know that it is so ancient I would never have paid my attention to it.

We have heard many times that there are many falling towers in Italy, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not the only one. And in Ravenna, we really managed to see another falling tower, its base pulled together with modern rails for strengthening.

And in the cafe we ​​had a great snack overlooking the leaning tower, the menu was only in Italian, pizza and pasta in Italian will be almost the same in other European languages. I ordered fish - "salmon", but it turned out to be a pancake with fish, it was also delicious.

Ravenna used to be surrounded by fortified walls, fragments of which remain.

Ravenna seemed to us a deserted town, underestimated by tourists. There are really few people on the streets. Very good Wi-Fi in the city center, we sat in a cafe and enjoyed it. This city will be of interest to art lovers, those who are interested in all the intricacies of the formation of Christian canons, lovers of beauty of all ages.