Things to do in Italy. Maritime Ravenna sights Clubs and nightlife

Ravenna is one of the most ancient and important cities in Italy.

Ravenna is a city exceptionally rich in unique monuments of early Christian and Byzantine architecture.

Ravenna is territorially related to the Emilia-Romagna region and is located near the Adriatic Sea. The city is located on the Padan plain.

Location of Ravenna on the map

Ravenna arose as a settlement of the ancient tribes of the Etruscans, Umbra, or, possibly, the Thessalians.
Ravenna is famous for its eventful history:

• In the 1st century by order of Octavian Augustus, the military port of Classis was laid at the site of the settlement, and in the 2nd century BC BC. Ravenna was conquered by the Romans;
• In 402, the capital of the Roman Empire was transferred to Ravenna by King Ganorius;
• In the period from 450 to 470 years. in the city there is a constant change of power;
• In 493, the territory of the city was conquered by Theodoric - the leader of the Ostrogoths, and from 540 it became part of Byzantium. The Lombards conquer these lands in 751;
• During the 13-15 centuries. the city was part of the empire of K. the Great, was under the control of the feudal lords;
• 1198, Ravenna - at the head of the movement against the papal system, and in the 13th century, finally, acquires the status of a secular city;
• In 1441 the city returned under the control of the Venetian Republic; in the 16th century becomes part of the papal region;
• 1512 was marked by the battle of Ravenna. The city was ruined by French troops.

In 1636, seawater swept the center of Ravenna. Further, work was carried out to drain the terrain, thanks to which the city, and with it many of its sights, were saved.

In the 19th century the city is gradually beginning to grow rich.

sights

What is Ravenna and what is it famous for?
  Each historical era has left its mark on the architecture of Ravenna.
  Here you can admire the early Christian and Byzantine monuments; examples of Romanesque and Ostrogothic art.
  The interiors of cathedrals, palaces, museums and churches of Ravenna are richly decorated with mosaics.

Since 1996, a number of attractions in Ravenna have been included in the UNESCO heritage list.
Among them:

• Mausoleum of the sister of Emperor Ganorius Galla Placidia (circa 440);
• Baptistery of the Orthodox. Raised in ser. 5 in .;
• Basilica of San Vitale. It was built from 526 to 547; an example of early Christian architecture;
• Basilica of Sant Apollinare in Class (549);
• Arian Baptistery (late 5th century);
• Basilica of Sant Apollinare Nuovo (early 6th century);
• Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle (5-6 centuries);
• Mausoleum of Theodoric 520

You can see the sights of the city by watching the video:

Also in Ravenna there are:

• Archbishop's chapel (5-6 centuries);
• Church of San Francesco and Mausoleum of Dante;
• Brancaleone Fortress (15th c.);
• Cathedral of Santo Spirito (5th c.);
• National Museum of the city.

If after exploring the beauties of Ravenna you will have free time, you can devote it to shopping.

What to bring home?

The most interesting and original products can be found in the market located on Via IV Nevembre.

The most beautiful mosaics, which Ravenna is famous for, can be bought in various boutiques of the city, for example, in Studio Mosaico or Carrara, in Gruppo Mosaicisti.

The best copies can be purchased from the master Stefano Mazzotti.
  Master Alice will offer you luxurious ceramic dolls dressed in exclusive finely crafted outfits.

Where to stay

Ravenna as a popular tourist city offers a variety of accommodation options.
  There are 3 and 4 hotels, non-star hotels, guest houses and apartments.
Tourists from different countries recommend staying in such hotels as:

Weather

Ravenna has a mild maritime climate. The best time to travel to this town is the summer season (June - September). During this period, the residents and guests of the city are pleased with the hot weather. The air temperature rises to the level of 27-28 C. The water warms up to 25 C. Precipitation practically does not fall.

In summer, Ravenna greets tourists with hot weather.

According to meteorologists, the warmest month is August; the average t of air exceeds 28 C, and the coolest is January, the average t is about 11 C.

The rainiest month in Ravenna is October. This month is about 5 rainy days.

How to get to Ravenna

Airplane.Closest to Ravenna, 20 km, is the airport of Forlì; Bologna Airport is 80 km away.
A train.From Bologna, Venice, Verona, Rimini and Ferrara, Ravenna can be reached by train.
Car.The road from Bologna and Rimini will take 1 hour; from Ferrara - an hour and a half.
Bus.If desired, Ravenna can be reached from Rome or Milan, and in the summer season a bus runs from Forlì Airport to Ravenna.

Ravenna is located 280 km from Rome and 288 km from Milan.
From Rome you can take the train to Ravenna. Travel time is about 4 hours.
  There is also a train from Milan to Ravenna and can be reached in 3 hours, but you will have to change trains in Faenza or Bologna.

Ravenna can also be reached from. A train with a change in Foligno takes about 4 hours.

A bus runs from Perugia through Bologna with the final stop in Ravenna.
  3 hours by car. The distance between cities is a little over 184 km.

Russian tourists who want to see Ravenna can fly to Rimini, Forlì or Bologna airports, and from there get to their destination by train, bus or rent a car.

The city of Ravenna, occupying its place of honor on the map of Italy, is worth a visit to art and history lovers, as well as to anyone who wants to relax in a small Italian town and fully experience its unusual atmosphere, where antiquity meets modernity.

He managed to visit the capital several times - first the Roman Empire, then the Ostrogoth state, as well as the Landgobar kingdom and the Ravenna exarchate. Each regular ruler tried to celebrate his presence with the construction of new palaces and temples, as well as the decoration of existing ones, which made Ravenna one of the main centers of Italian architectural and mosaic art.

Once Ravenna was a rather significant military port, but over time the Adriatic Sea receded and now the city and the sea are connected only by a ten-kilometer canal.

Ravenna has become a source of inspiration for many writers and poets

The magnificent Ravenna has become a source of inspiration for many writers and poets, it is mentioned in their works Byron, Goethe, Oscar Wilde, Blok. Here he spent the last years of his life Dante - the author of the famous "Divine Comedy".

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

The main attraction of Ravenna  - The mausoleum of Galla Placidia, - the oldest urban building dating from the beginning of the V century. In fact, this building is not a real mausoleum, since it is reliably known that Galla Placidia, the daughter of the great emperor Theodosius, was buried in Rome, and the mausoleum was a chapel at the church of the palace of San Croce, built in honor of the holy martyr Lawrence - the patron saint of the emperor's family.

Outside, the mausoleum looks inconspicuous and looks more like a small fortress

Outside, the mausoleum is a nondescript structure, similar to a small fortress - powerful thick walls, narrow windows resembling embrasures. But the interior is striking in its splendor, especially in contrast to the modest appearance - the walls and arches of the room are decorated with ancient mosaics depicting Christ in the form of a good shepherd, St. Lawrence, the apostles, as well as animals, birds, elegant flowers and plants.

On the dome arch you can see a delightful mosaic ornament on a dark blue background, familiar to many from the images on scarves, panels, postcards and other souvenirs from Ravenna. Famous doves drinking from a bowl, often found on local souvenirs, also come from here.

In clear weather, when the rays of the sun penetrate through narrow windows, the walls of the mausoleum seem to be lined with precious stones - smalt cubes, of which mosaics are laid, magically shine in the sun.

Under the dome of the Galla Placidia Mausoleum - a mosaic ornament familiar to many

The mausoleum of Galla Placidia is under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The visit to the mausoleum is limited, because the interior is small, and the stream of people who want to admire the stunning mosaics does not dry out: each visitor can spend no more than ten minutes inside.

Cheap hotels in Ravenna

A few steps from the mausoleum of Galla Placidia is the four-star Hotel Bisanzio, in which tourists who plan to devote a vacation to exploring the historical sights of the city like to stay. Convenient and comfortable rooms are located in a recently renovated historic building, surrounded by a small quiet park.

Those traveling by car or planning to rent a car should be aware that the hotel is in a pedestrian zone, so you will have to walk to the nearest car park.

Hotel Bisanzio is located close to the historic sites of Ravenna

In the historical center of the city, a five-minute walk from the mausoleum is located a small cozy hotel Sant’Andrea - it is very convenient to use it as a base for visiting mosaic sights of Ravennawithin walking distance. After strolling around the city, guests can comfortably relax in the beautiful garden adjacent to this hotel.

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, erected 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, which was part of the church of Santa Croce. Later, when a street was laid in honor of Galla Placidia, it was necessary to disassemble part of the sanctuary, after which the chapel turned into a separate building. 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 found an answer.

From an architectural point of view, this is a very contrasting structure. A modest, small building with a cross-shaped shape made of red brick impresses with the splendor 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 "Mosaic of Ravenna" (includes 5 attractions) - 9.50 euros, from 01.03−15.06, you must pay 2 euros. Children under 10 are free.

The Mausoleum of Theodoric

The Mausoleum of Theodoric was built in 520 AD by the King of the Ostrogoths, who ruled in Ravenna at that time. This mausoleum is the only surviving creation of the Ostrogoths, in connection with which, in 1996, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The mausoleum is located in the middle of the 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 the traces of the cross that once decorated the upper tier, and the red bowl that served as the tomb for Theodoric. During the reign of Justinian, the remains of the Ostrogoth king were taken out of the mausoleum, after which the building was turned into a chapel.

• Address: Via delle Industrie, 14.
• Opening hours: in the 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 Theodorich. The king was a follower of the Arian branch of Christianity, which is why the baptistery received this name, but outwardly it is very similar to the Baptistery of Neon (Orthodox). In the middle of the VI century, an oratorio of the Virgin Mary was made of 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 in size and consists of two tiers. The first - 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 with a scene of the baptism of Christ, and around it are twelve apostles, separated by small palm trees.

• Address: Piazzetta degli Ariani.

Church of the Holy Spirit in Ravenna

The Church of the Holy Spirit is located literally a few meters from the Arian Baptistery. This is another early Christian building of the beginning of the VI century. The church was erected during the reign of the Ostrogoth king Theodorich. However, like many religious buildings of Ravenna, the Church of the Holy Spirit after the death of the Ostrogothic king came under the protection 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: a 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 to the service is from 10:00 to 12:00 on Sundays. Visits to tourists are prohibited.

Neo Baptistery

Neonian baptistery, baptistery of Neon or Orthodox baptistery are all the names of the same religious structure in Ravenna. The Baptistery got its name in honor of Bishop Neon. Such a step was necessary in order to be able to distinguish between themselves two baptistery in Ravenna, which are very similar in appearance to each other.

The Neon Baptistery is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as one of the early Christian buildings, also decorated from the inside with magnificent mosaics comparable to mosaics 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 there is a large octagonal font for baptism. In general, the interior is very elegant, but the outside of the baptistery looks pretty 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 Class

The Basilica of Sant Apollinare in Classe - is one of the main churches of Ravenna. It was built in the middle of the VI century at the place where the patron saint and first bishop of Ravenna St. Apollinaria. “Class” is the name of one of the districts of the city in whose territory the church is located. Today it is one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The basilica has an oblong shape, the size of the structure is 55 m. At 30m. The walls are made of thin bricks, between which a fairly thick layer of white mortar is visible. There are semicircular windows around the perimeter of the building. Near the basilica is a tall round tower.

At the entrance to the basilica, a colonnade of two rows primarily attracts attention. In this way, the inner 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 time of Justinian, in addition, sarcophagi with the relics of bishops are placed there, 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 the King of the Ostrogoths Theodorich, between the 5th and 6th centuries, as an episcopal house church. The chapel was one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as one of the early Christian buildings.

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

The Archbishop's Museum was opened in the XVII century, its exhibits are finds that were made on the territory of churches belonging to the diocese. The greatest values \u200b\u200bof the museum are the ivory throne and the silver cross, which belonged to two archbishops of Ravenna, who served in the VI 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: a single ticket of the "Mosaic of Ravenna" - 9.50 euros, reduced cost - 8.50 euros. Admission for children under 10 years old is free.

Tomb of Dante

Dante Alighieri, the author of the famous "Divine Comedy" died in Ravenna in 1321 and was buried in this 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 poet's ashes 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 in the monastery. After this, the poet’s ashes were moved several times in connection with historical events.

The tomb of Dante, in which his ashes are now resting, was built in 1780. This is a very small, but rather elegant building, made in the neoclassical style. Inside is a sarcophagus with an urn, and on the wall, transferred from the church of San Francesco, 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 X-XI centuries on the site of a small church of the V century. It was originally consecrated in honor of St. Petra, however, in 1261, after she 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, the finds of the 5th century attract attention.

The church has a rectangular base, ending with a semicircular apse. Near the basilica stands 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 level of groundwater, and real goldfish swim in the resulting water cover.
  Today the monastery is not functioning, 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 Theodorich at the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries and served as the royal church. Unfortunately, from the royal palace, next to which was the basilica, today there are only ruins.

During its existence, the basilica underwent some changes, in particular, in the X-XI centuries, a high bell tower was added, and later, in the XVI century, the facade of the building was decorated with a portico of white marble. Most of the mosaic of the Arian period has been lost for free, however, you can admire the equally beautiful works of later times.

Of particular interest to tourists are frescoes (in the first chapel from the entrance), which depicts scenes of 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: a single ticket of the "Mosaic of Ravenna" - 9.50 euros, reduced cost - 8.50 euros. Admission for children under 10 years old is free.

Basilica of San Vitale

The Basilica of San Vitale is the most beautiful building 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 VI century. The architecture of Byzantium made a great impression on the bishop, in connection with which, he decided to realize all the most beautiful of what he saw in his native city. No doubt he succeeded. The white marble walls, the abundance of light, the unusual design, the amazing beauty of the mosaics, whose stories and craftsmanship can be talked about for hours, will not leave indifferent any tourist who has crossed 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: a single ticket of the "Mosaic of Ravenna" - 9.50 euros, reduced cost - 8.50 euros. Admission 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 of 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, a Venetian palace was erected next to the square, where the city hall was located.

Over the centuries-old history of 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 important geographical and political significance. And in 1946, Piazza del Popolo got its current name.

• Address: Piazza del Popolo

Cathedral of the Resurrection

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is the main religious building of Ravenna. The city cathedral was built on the site of the first cathedral, erected at the turn of the VI and V 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.

Nevertheless, some details from the ancient building have been preserved, so four columns of the 5th century adorn the facade of the building. They are mounted in a three-arch portico. In addition, sarcophagi were preserved (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 are of particular value. The cathedral is quite large, it consists of three naves, where the central nave reaches 60 meters in length.

• Address: Piazza Duomo.

Archaeological Site of Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra

Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra is a rather new archaeological discovery. In 1993, traces of ancient mosaics were found during the construction of an underground garage. This place is called the carpet museum, but not a single carpet is there. The fact is that the floor is decorated with amazing mosaic ornaments, when you look at it it seems that the patterned carpet actually lies 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 photographs taken in the museum are obtained in high quality.

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

National Museum

The National Museum is housed in a former monastery, and is 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 has a collection of Roman coins. The ark (V century) with interesting carvings is of particular importance to the museum.

The painting in the museum is represented by various frescoes of the Middle Ages, of which eight frescoes, which were executed 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 to every tourist who wants to get acquainted with the history of the beautiful city of Ravenna.

• Address: Via San Vitale, 17
• Admission: Adult -5 euros, preferential -2.50 euros, under 18 years old - free
• Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:30, the ticket office closes at 19:00, closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1 and December 25

Classens Library

The Classensee Library is an unusual library. This is the preserved library of monks, which was created in the XVII century. It belongs to the Abbey of Di Classa, and the books filling 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 asset consists of various codes, incunabula, rare and ancient books, historical paintings and photographs. In total, if we take into account modern literature, the classroom library fund totals about 800 thousand units.

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

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

Fortress Brancaleone

The Brancaleone fortress was built 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 can withstand even the strongest onslaught of the enemy.

The walls have four towers (two round at the edges and two semicircular in the middle). The citadel, which has four towers, creates an even stronger impression. All towers of the fortress and the citadel 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 a baby.

At the end of the twentieth century, the territory of the fortress was improved: they built a playground, built a stage for musical performances, and conduct annual film screenings 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 roomy auditorium with a capacity of 56 seats.

The planetarium building is a one-story building. The lower part of the building is lined with large white shawls imitated in marble. The main entrance is located under a canopy, which is held by four columns painted black. The planetarium dome has an irregular hemispherical shape, slightly angular faces.

Inside, the dome is represented by many stars, planets and other space objects. When the light turns off and the celestial lights light up, and the mechanism automatically sets the whole structure in motion, there is no 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 the 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 believed that this amusement park is the largest and most interesting in all of Italy. It is spread over 850 thousand square meters, and is divided into three parts, where most of it is given for parking spaces, 300 thousand square meters is a theme park, and 100 thousand is a water park. The number of visitors every year only increases.

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 the practically largest ferris wheel in Europe, the London attraction is more.

Every tourist planning a vacation in Ravenna must definitely 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.
• Tickets: adults - 34 euros, children - 28 euros (height below 140 cm and age under 10 years), 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 attracted diving enthusiasts for more than fifty years. In 1965, an accident occurred on the Paguro platform during operations at the methane field. After the disaster, the platform plunged to the bottom of the sea, to a depth of about 25 meters. Since then, the remains of Paguro have attracted outdoor enthusiasts.

As a rule, tourists go there in order to take a closer look at the rare underwater inhabitants who found their refuge on the wreckage of the platform. Visibility under water is different: from a few decimeters to 18 meters. At a 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: Marina di Ravenna Port

Garden of Forgotten Plants

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

Once the city administration, together with the People's Bank of Ravenna, thought about a wonderful gift to the inhabitants of their native city, they wanted to create a place where they could relax from the hustle and bustle with time. So the Garden of Rasponi appeared.

A distinctive feature of this green corner in the abundance of a variety of 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 enjoyable. In addition, the famous Ravenna sights are located very close to the garden.

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

Garden of the Palazzo della Provincia

The Palazzo della Provincia Garden is a very interesting place where stone historical elements and a fresh, lush plant world 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 after that, in 1922 it was completely absorbed by the fire. However, some elements have survived and are now of historical value.

One of the remains of ancient culture is Crypt Rasponi, a mosaic preserved on the floor, which dates back to the VI century, 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 modern 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 House

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

The poet’s life in this period was filled with many events of various emotional colors, perhaps due to this the years spent in Ravenna turned out to be very fruitful in terms of Byron’s creative successes.

Gvichchioli Palace was built in the 16th century by the Ozio family from Milan and originally had the name Palazzo Ozizo, but in 1802 it was sold to the Gvichchioli family and has since its current name. In 1843 it was sold to the Rasponi family, and after 1921 it became state property, in 1990 the palace passed into the administration of 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 in which the art museum is located is itself an architectural heritage 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 building in the Renaissance style, inside which is a beautiful courtyard surrounded by an elegant colonnade.

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

• Address: Via di Roma, 13
• Entrance: full 3 euros, preferential 2 euros
• Working hours:
    Tue, Thu and Fri 9.00 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. / 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
    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: Aug 15, December 25, and January 1

TAMO Museum (Tamo Museo del Mosaico)

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

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

The TAMO Museum is worth a visit to 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
• Admission: 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 staying here for a while, you will be surprised to note that you absolutely do not want to leave here. Ravenna will slowly and gradually conquer your heart and leave an indelible mark on your soul.

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

Ravenna, like it, saw the light on swampy 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, centuries took their course, and the ambitious plans of the Romans - which themselves were no longer left as such - had sunk into oblivion along with the wooden foundations of the houses. The land was slowly gaining ground, and by now 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 a certain rise only during the Renaissance - here Dante himself spent the last years of his life. And in 1860, Ravenna became part of the Italian kingdom, and from this period continues to live quietly according to its own special laws of hospitality of small Italian towns.

The first impression when I met Ravenna, I must say, is not from the most bewitching soul and eyes. The sea of \u200b\u200bsweet speeches about the concentration of cultural and historical monuments that goes beyond all reasonable limits, at first glance, is absolutely not confirmed. A bustling train station, an outstanding street development, the bustle of most European cities ... Nevertheless, it is worth tempering your ardor and looking at Ravenna in a slightly different way, not from a generally accepted tourist point of view. Only then, having plunged headlong into the local atmosphere, can you discover Ravenna with a capital “P” - a magnificent 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 north on the same Adriatic coast. When Ravenna was going through hard times, the city treasury did not have enough money for marble to decorate buildings - which, in a sense, kept it in its original form for future generations. Built of brick, it was not subjected to dismantling of valuable breeds of stones, when in Milan or Rome it was necessary to erect or restore cathedrals and palaces. Therefore, local attractions really bear the imprint of the Middle Ages - the "dark" time, from which, according to conventional wisdom, it blows with something scary and gloomy. And although there is no smoke without fire (recall the Holy Inquisition), having visited Ravenna, you will understand - 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 - this is not a party place, and you go here to touch eternity.

Of course, to go to the opening of Ravenna is best in a personal car. For travelers, the option available is how to rent a car. Ordering a car in advance, while still at home, you can significantly save. "Italy in Russian" advises you to turn to the services of the popular giant Rentalcars service, multifunctional and simple, which will allow you to choose the most suitable car at home and get it immediately upon arrival in Italy.
For those who are accustomed to convenience, we recommend ordering a taxi in Ravenna with a Russian-speaking driver. You can 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 indicated time, at the indicated 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. Vitaly - perhaps the most interesting building of the city, founded in the 6th century. This brick octagon may look a little bulky. However, it’s worth going inside - and you have never seen such a thing in your life ... The dome is supported by eight internal columns, around which there is a two-story detour. On the arch is a unique mosaic of biblical motifs. Between the pillars there are two-story arcades curved to the walls of the structure. This technique dramatically increases the internal space. It becomes completely incomprehensible to the human eye how many interior details could not fit in the largest room. According to legend, it is here that the remains of St. Vitaly are located - the Alexandrian monk earned money in hard work, and then went to a brothel. But it’s not at all what many people thought about - he gave it back to the fallen women so that they could improve their financial condition and not be engaged in their craft anymore. When the monk died, dozens of former harlots came to honor his memory - after which all the inhabitants of the city became convinced of the greatness of the spirit of Vitaly. Here, nearby, is the National Museum, which contains an extensive collection of coins from the Roman period, there are unique examples of ivory carvings and ancient weapons. Across the road you can see a real monument of the 5th century - the mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Roman princess. And although most historians are convinced that the ashes of Gallus are not here, this view of the structure remains no less impressive. The same opinion was shared by Carl Gustav Jung. The great psychoanalyst in general was delighted with Ravenna - in no small measure 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 historical center of Ravenna is literally saturated with the spirit of the early Middle Ages - squat, powerful buildings stand out against the background of small residential houses painted in soft colors, shops and cafes. For example, the Neoniano Baptistery on the Piazza Duomo. Among all the buildings that are decorated using Byzantine mosaics, this is the oldest. Countless rites of baptism of the city residents were held here - you can personally inspect the amazing ancient marble font. Nearby is the Archbishop's Palace, on the ground floor of which the museum of the same name works. The most amazing and ancient exhibits (6th century) are the “throne of Maximianus”, made entirely of ivory and the silver Greek “Cross of St. Agnell”.

Baptistery of Neoniano. Photo artclassic.edu.ru

Well, now it's time to head to the local religious site - the tomb of the great Dante Alighieri, Tomba di Dante. Marble walls and the image of the poet at the department became the hallmark of Ravenna. 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 return of the remains of Dante. Ravenna - primarily the Franciscan monks - rested, and did everything in order not to yield. As a result, although the poet was not elevated to the rank of saint, worship of his talent is quite comparable. Down the street there are several ancient crypts with a mosaic floor. Local entrepreneurial citizens have turned this feature into a good source of income. In these crypts, because of 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 iconic places of Ravenna. Photo saga.ua

Ravenna would not be the “sister” of Venice, if not for the water. Despite the fact that the sea is pretty far from the city, nobody canceled the 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 state of structures at all, on the contrary, experts say that draining marshy places could cause great damage to the architectural foundation. The water level in the basements of buildings ranges from 30 to 130 centimeters, and pumps for pumping stand only in the church of St. Vitaly. In general, it 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 a special attraction in Ravenna - the tomb of Theodoric. This building is not like any of the many architectural monuments of the city. White, impregnable, in addition to its formidable appearance, it is still surrounded by a fence and automatic ticket control. The inspirer of this (not fences and control, but a monumental exterior) was the King of the Ostrogoths Theodorich. According to the principle of the Egyptian pharaohs, the royal lady decided not to drag out the last refuge and build it during her lifetime. This is perhaps the only building in the city, built not of burnt brick, but of limestone - hence the unusual white color for Ravenna. And the characteristics of the building 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. The 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 scope of the work becomes clear, which confirms the already proven truth: Italian architects are among the best in history.

  The tomb of Theodoric, lit by the setting sun. Photo photo.tut.ua

The only - and quite significant - disappointment awaits in Ravenna those who want to see the city sights from the highest points. Despite the fact that there are 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 is practically no different from other small towns of the Italian North: the center is filled with offices and shops, schools, kindergartens and other infrastructure is located outside the historical part. There are not so many greens here - the exception is the city park and the boulevard near the station. However, the dignity of the city is also not worth it. Here are their own, inherent only to Ravenna, little joys. Evening walks through the atmospheric ancient streets, a compulsory cup of strong coffee, a visit to miniature squares where small flower and vegetable markets operate - contemplation of modern Ravenna is no less fun than the great past of this city.

And medieval Byzantium.

Tourist route in Ravenna:

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

1. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Mausoleo di galla placidia

The mausoleum of Galla Placidia began to be built around 440 years, however, the sister of the emperor Honorius Galla Placidia died in 450 in, and, most likely, was buried there. by ee the order is built church of santa croce (Chiesa di santa croce ), which adjoins the mausoleum.

Behind the simple brick walls of the mausoleum is the richest interior decoration of the mosaic - one of the World Heritage sites. In terms of building, it has the form of a Latin cross. Alabaster plates, inserted into window openings, turn sunlight into a soft golden glow, highlighting the mosaic finish of an exquisite color palette. The dark blue background is covered with a carpet pattern of stars and flowers in light gray, golden, turquoise and reddish colors. The figures of Christian martyrs in antique draperies, made against the backdrop of paradise landscapes with golden deer and birds, come out from the dense blue.

In the same gamut the figures of the apostles are made in lunettes - semicircular sections of the end walls of a cross-shaped building. In the lunette above the entrance, “The Good Shepherd in the Garden of Eden” is depicted: Christ is young and beardless and executed in a completely antique manner. The inner surface of the dome is painted with gold stars on a blue background, in the center of the dome there is a golden Latin cross.

Mosaics of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia:

The mausoleum of the mausoleum is notable for its rare splendor and places it in the row of the most important monuments of the early Christian art. Mosaics, although dedicated to various plots, form an organic whole. All of them follow the ancient Roman-Hellenistic mosaic tradition, although the origin of the very masters remains controversial (including the Middle, Medium, Minor). Here, Roman art inheritance with its carefully executed parts and plastic figures merged with the Christian impulse for mobility and mobility.

Russian art critic Pavel Muratov  wrote about mausoleum of galla placidia  at the beginning of XX century:

“The Italian Mosaichists loved a little, deep and deep colors. - blue, greenand winered. Unusually and somehow incomprehensibly deeply dark blue color on the cemetery of the mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Depending on the game, light penetrating here through a small window, it is amazingly and unexpectedly overlooks the light green, but the light green. On this background is a well-known image of a young Shepherd seated in the midst of a white sheepskin. Semicircles at the windows will decorate a large ornament with deers drinking from the source. Garlands of leaves and fruits curl along low arches. At the sight of their greatness, it is involuntarily thought that mankind has never created the best artificially poor remedy for the decoration of church walls. And thanks to the tiny size of the gravestone part of the mosaic, it does not seem to be a matter of vain and cold splendor. The air shining with a blue fire, which is surrounded by a sarcophagus, has never contained an imperial emperrix, it is worth being dreaming of an indigenous plumeria. Isn’t it what the artists of the colored glasses in the Gothic cathedral were striving for, just in a different way? ”

Symbolism of mosaics:

In the center of the hemispherical dome is placed a golden Latin cross, surrounded by a pair of golden stars, united in a center circle. A cross and stars are placed on an indigo-blue background that realistically depicts a 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, encircled by His faithful, enlightened by him and shining in the light of His world. The mosaic points to Christ as a flickering light that cannot encompass darkness. Christ, in the mind of the mosaic artist, is the meaning and center of existence of the universe, ready and willing to unite all mankind. 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), and in the east, apart from the time, it is chrome-plated.

The circle of stars surrounding the cross includes evangelists located in the corners of the vault, represented by their golden symbolic images: lion (Mark), taurus (Lion), tin

The ceilings in the “milestones” of the mausoleum are covered with a complex mosaic banner, symbolizing the Garden of Eden. On a dark blue background scattered around, stars and flowers. Such an option is unusual for the western part of the Roman Empire, a distant similarity 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.

Silent halls,

Tenist and cool their threshold,

To the black gaze of the blissful Galla,

Having woken up, the stone did not burn.

War of abuse and resentment

Forgotten and erased the blood trail,

To the resurrected voice of Placida

Do not sing the passions of the summer.

Alexander Blok, Ravenna

Sarcophagus of Galla Placidia

It occupies a central location, is deprived of any kind of decor and is likely to be incomplete. Taking into account the unusually large sizes of the sarcophagus and the absence of any kind of Christian symbolism on it, the monument is attributed to the rich and famous pagan. The possibility of the burial of Galla Placidia in it is rejected by modern sources. However, sources of the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries (including the apishbishop of Pavenna Rinaldo da Concoregio) confirm that a large amount of ground bite was overcooked (it was slightly crushed). Presumably, the talk is about a body buried in such an unusual way not earlier than the XIII-XIV century with a possible intention to imitate the remains of Augusta. In 1577, the local little boys, out of curiosity, slid through the indicated window of the sarcophagus burning candles, which, barely touching the Cypriot 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 Constation

Its creation dates back to the V century, is set in the left branch of the “cross”. On his 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 is standing on a rock from which four streams flowing, depicting four rivers of Eden flow out. To the right and to the left of the cliff there are two lamb already without halo, symbolizing the apostles. These images are framed by two palms, symbolizing the life of their partners. In 1738, the sarcophagus was opened, and the researchers found in it two well-preserved skulls with teeth.

Sarcophagus of the Valentinian

The sarcophagus dates back to the VI century, is installed in the right branch of the “cross”. It has a semi-cylindrical cap with a scaled design. The front wall depicts the Lamb-Christ, standing at the foot of the hill, from which flow four Paradise rivers, the hill is crowned with a cross, on which there are two pigeons. A cross with a sink is depicted on both side walls (the symbol of death, which was often used in catacomb painting, from which life is reborn). In 1738, this sarcophagus was also opened, and the bone remains of a man and woman were found in it.

Opening hours of the mausoleum:

• entrance: full € 9,50   - preferential € 8.50
• Combined ticket for visiting all diosese monuments (Archbishop's Museum, Sant Andrea chapel and ivory throne, Neon Baptistery, Basilica of Sant'Appolinaria Nuovo, Basilica of San Vitale) ** Mausoleum of Galla Placidia from March 1 to June 15 - an additional 2 euros.
• via San Vitale

2. Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica di san vitale

The construction of the church of San Vitale - one of the most beautiful churches - began by Bishop Ecclesius, still at the Goths, and it was completed already in 548, when Ravenna was taken by the Byzantines.

San Vitale is octagonal in plan. Inside, beautiful mosaics  (in the list) the middle of the VI century, which are not equal not only in Western Europe, but also in Constantinople itself.

They, apparently, are made by Constantinople masters whom Ecclesius invited to Ravenna. In the conch (the semicupole vault crowning the apse) the Savior is depicted sitting on a dark blue ball, next to him are two angels, behind them to the left is St. Vitaly, the patron of Ravenna, and on the right is Bishop Ecclesius with a model of the temple in his hands. At the bottom of the apse, on the left, is represented by Emperor Justinian surrounded by the court and the guard, and on the right is Queen Theodore with the court ladies and servants. In the lunettes, on the arches and walls of the temple, plots of the Old and New Testaments and figures of saints are depicted.

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

3 Baptistery of the Orthodox

Battistero neoniano

The Baptistery of Neoniano (Orthodox Baptistery) was built by Bishop Ursius in the 1st half of the 5th century, in the era of fierce rivalry of various church movements and communities. The foundation of the octagonal building plan went into the ground at 3 m. On the outside, the apses and doors alternated. From the apse, only the arches are visible.

In the 2nd half of the 5th century, Bishop Neon ordered to cover the building with a dome and decorate the interior 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 center circle and two concentric rings.

The center depicts the baptism of Jesus, in the first ring - the solemn procession of the 12 apostles bearing the 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 (symbol of Paradise), on the sides of the altars are empty chairs (a place for the elite). Between the windows there are carved niches decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the prophets.

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

The domed mosaic is based on 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, there is Jordan 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 depicted by radial rays descends.

The figures of the apostles are made in full growth and shown in motion. The clothing of the apostles resembles the tunics of the Roman patricians and is made only in two colors: white (symbolizes the light of the earth) and gold (symbolizes the light of heaven). The faces of the apostles have a pronounced personality.

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

4. Tomb of Dante

Tomba di dante

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

Dante, who died in 1321 from malaria, was buried in the Church of San Francesco. The sponsor of the poet, Guido Novello da Plenta, planned to build him a magnificent tomb, but, losing his authority in the city, did not carry out his own project. In 1483, for the burial of Dante, by order of the mayor of Bernardo Bembo, the sculptor Pietro Lombardi was made to wear a poet, which has been preserved until now.

Missing Dante

In 1519, at the request of Michelangelo, Pope Leo X agreed to transfer the ashes to Dante, but when the coffin was brought to the city, it turned out to be empty. In the Basilica of Santa Croce ( Basilica di santa croce) the cenotaph was set up, and later it was ascertained that the monks of the Franciscans from, not wanting to get out of the way of the poet, tried the wall of the sarcophagus and cut out its octopus, which secretly cut the bluebrows. In 1677, as a result, he was placed in a wooden boat, and when, after 1810, as a result of complete secularization, the monks were very likely to be taken.

The coffin Dante was discovered in 1865, during the time of the repair of the territory, which privileges the Church of San Francesco. The found wooden box was identified by the epitaph cut in 1677 by Antonio Santi. After this, the machines were transferred to the mausoleum, from which they were withdrawn during the Second World War, when the bombardment took place. The place where the sarcophagus was taken away is currently marked by a memorial deck.

Mausoleum of Dante

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

“Sovereign law, heaven, water of Phlegetont, I sang, walking with my earthly vale. Now my soul has gone to a better world and is blissful, contemplating in the midst of light my Creator, here I am resting, Dante, expelled from the homeland, native Florence, little loving mother. ”

A bas-relief with a portrait of a thoughtful Dante is placed above the urn in front of a book holder (transferred from his burial in the Church of San Francesco). Above is a gilded cross installed in 1965 on the occasion of 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 from the Italian army. An icon lamp hangs from the ceiling, which is filled with oil from, which is transported to Ravenna annually in September, when it takes place in the city « Dante 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 di 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, ee was re-sanctified as part of St. Martin, Bishop of Tours. In the 9th century, the church was re-consecrated again, for this time, in honor of the local saint - the first bishop of Ravenna Apollinaria. His ashes were brought here from a more distant single basilica located near the harbor of Ravenna, in the quarter of Klass. Then the city basioics of St. Appolinaria began to be called “New,” so as not to confuse it with Sant Apollinare in Class.

Basilica architecture

Sant Apollinare Nuovo is a typical example of an early Christian basilica: three naves without a transept. St. Basilica Apollinaria is divided by two rows of Corinthian columns from Greek marble (one can notice the engraved Greek letters in capitals) with imposts. Altar columns are made of porphyry. Much has been preserved in the church since the VI century: departments, openwork marble fences and a relief plate.

The floor lies above the initial level of 1.2 m. In the XVI century, the walls had to be reconstructed, with this having sacrificed part of them, and the columns were brought to the current 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 on the list of attractions in. Mosaics are divided into three parts. There are 26 episodes from the life and passions of Jesus Christ in the cleristory (a section of the wall above the windows). Below, between the window openings, are the solemn figures of the saints. Beneath the windows are holy martyrs and martyrs. The left and right from the altar, respectively - Jesus with the angels and the Virgin with the angels, and to the right and left from the entrance - the palace of Theodoric and the port in the Class.

Mosaics were created in the era of Theodoric by various masters. In the 60s of the VI century, mosaics were partially shifted to erase the memory of the Ostrogothic rulers of Ravenna.

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

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

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

Top mosaics:

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

On the mosaics of this cycle, Christ is depicted as beardless, His expression is kindly and gracious. The number of characters in the mosaics of this cycle is minimized (47 characters per 13 mosaics). For the first time in Byzantine art, gospel scenes are not placed in chronological order, but in the order they are mentioned in the order of Easter readings in the Church of Ravenna.

Prophets and saints:

Under the mosaics on the gospel stories are images of 36 prophets and saints (one in each mosaic), separated by window openings (in one block without a window a group of three saints is depicted, see illustration). Their figures are placed above the horizontal frieze that separates the middle tier of the walls from the lower, which, together with the figures of birds and grass underfoot, should form the motive of the heavenly being 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 (in this case, both young and very old faces are found among the characters). The absence among these persons of any recognizable features characteristic of iconography of certain saints allows us to attribute this mosaic series to the era of Theodoric. As in the Arians' Baptistery of the Ravenna, the absence of inscriptions on the mosaics of Sant'Apollinar does not allow us to unambiguously identify the depicted saints.

Procession of the Holy Martyrs:

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

All saints hold their martyrdom in their hands. The figures of the saints are separated by palm trees. Above each saint is an identifying (abbreviated) inscription. A holy procession, passing through a flower field, goes to Jesus Christ sitting on a 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 words: “ Ego sum rex gloriae» ( I am the King of Glory) Palm trees and flowers point to the 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 verses 91 of the Psalm “The righteous blooms like a palm tree, rises like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, they bloom in the courts of our God. ”

All the saints depicted (with the exception of Martin of Tours and Lawrence) are dressed in identical 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, dates from 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 consecrated by the Orthodox Byzantines in the name of the Holy Spirit.

• via degli Ariani
• daily 08.30-19.30,
• winter until 13.30, sun. St.

Octagon is located next to the Church of Spirito Santo baptistery Arian (Battatto degli ariani , 490), in the 2nd half of the VI 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 Orthodox Baptistery, erected earlier in the same Ravenna, which explicitly served as a model for thematic mosaics of the Armenian temple. The wall masonry is made of thick burnt bricks. Under the roof of the baptistery, a cornice with a toothed mount is made.

In the interior of the baptistery, mosaics with a depiction of the scene of the Baptism of Christ and the apostles were perfectly preserved. Five mosaic works took part in the creation of the mosaic. As noted by Academician V.N. Lazarev,

“In comparison with the mosaics of the V century, the colors were made more heavy and mottled, the picture worsened (especially the torsion), the features of the face were enlarged, the bumps were slightly thickened.

The general character of the mosaic is distinguished by its morality with features of primitivism.

The central medallion of the dome contains the scene of the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. Osobennostyu kompozitsii yavlyaetsya polnostyu obnazhonnaya figupa Hpista (vplot do genitaly) vepoyatno illyustpipuyuschaya apianskuyu doktpinu o tvapnoy ppipode Jesus, takzhe pepsonifikatsiya peki Iopdan in obpaze staptsa in diademe of kleshney kpaba and tpostnikovym zhezlom in puke. The illustration of the Armenian doctrine that Jesus had a divine essence at the time of baptism was given the divine essence, is the fact that the water that strengthens the Church of God is poured out (I say).

Vokpug tsentpalnogo medalona podkupolnoy mozaiki izobpazheny dvenadtsat apostolov, iduschie with ventsami (kpome apostolov Petpa with keys and Paul svitkom CO) to ppestolu ugotovannomu - part of Po chasovoy stpelke, part ppotiv chasovoy, vsledstvie chego two apostola nappotiv ppestola okazyvayutsya spinoy d.pugoy to porphyry intrusions. Unlike the famous baptistry, all the apostles in the Armenian temple are depicted with nimbuses. Figures of the apostles are divided by palm trees.

7. The Mausoleum of Theodoric

Mausoleo di teodorico

Unlike other urban buildings made of burnt bricks, the mausoleum of Theodorich (520) is composed of well-hewn blocks of imported Istrian limestone. The mausoleum of Theodorich has an unusual decagonal shape.

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

It is built from the Istrian limestone on two ten-tiers, which completes a ten-meter dome, carved out of a whole 300-ton stone, possibly imitated by a seal of tombs. Since there wasn’t any ready to lift such a heavy plate, Theodorich’s mausoleum was bombarded with earth to the very top, after which the dome was put in place by suction, and the earth was removed. The place for the construction of the mausoleum was already selected already existing outside the cemetery is ready.

With the transition to the power of Justinian, Theodorikh’s body was removed from the mausoleum, and he himself was converted into a chapel. The porphyry sarcophagus of the Gothic ruler is now empty. The proximity of a hand led to the erosion of foundations, which was required in the 19th century by the intervention of restaurants. At the beginning of the 20th century, the art historian who visited the mausoleum, Pavel Muratov wrote:

“Purely church legend threw the soul of the apian king   in the gut , to the point of betraying her to the devil. In the homeland, Theodorikh remained one of the patrons and patrons of the Pavenna, not less powerful, than the saints   Romuald   and   Apollinapius. The tomb of the Gothic king is visited by all the travelers who are in Pavenna. What attracts them here? Theodorech's memory can hardly be for anyone. And yet, a visit to this mausoleum leaves in the soul of every traveler, not a source of history and not erudite, the track is more deep than curiosity. This is one of those places in the world, where it is sometimes possible to vividly feel the course of the ages, where such an abstract concept, like “history”, is felt with breathtaking power and intimacy. Here, we unwittingly believe in the existence of a community with the past, in some strange, subtle and complicated connection between our destiny and the fate of the king’s king. ”

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

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

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Ravenna Route Map

Basilica of Sant Apollinare in Class

Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe

Sant Apollinare in Classe (Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe) is one of the best examples of the early Christian basilica in. A three-phase burnt brick building without a transept was built in 549 (almost simultaneously with the Basilica of San Vitale) over the grave of the first bishop of Ravenna, St. Apollinaria, who began his service here.

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

The interior of the Basilica of St. Apollinaria

Basilica is adorned with the most recent days from the Ravenna jesus of the Justinian period (mid-VI century), preserved in its apse. Other mosaics were created in the second half of the VII and IX centuries. Academician V.N. Lazarev notes:

The masters who worked in St. Apollinar in Classe are close to those masters who performed the tombs of the sanctuary in San Vital. And in them we observe a craving for simplified forms and for excessively bright color combinations. This is accompanied by a decrease in the quality of the picture and a sluggish treatment of the carnation, in which the number of toned shades is noticeably reduced.

HOW otmechayut issledovateli, mozaiki Sant-Apollinare-yn-Klasse otrazhayut poyavivshuyusya in posleyustinianovskuyu epohu tendentsiyu frontalnogo izobrazheniya figures under kotoroy proiskhodit otkaz From peredachi kakih libo dvizheny and povorotov.

Mozaiki-Sant Apollinare-in-Klasse, HOW and baziliki San Vitale-ne predstavlyayut sobytiya svyaschennoy istorii their istoricheskoy posledovatelnosti, they are normally imeyut svoey tselyu illyustratsiyu dogmaticheskogo ucheniya tserkvi, raskryvaemogo cherez simvolizm Svyaschennogo Pisaniya. Despite the use of colored glass, smalt, gold and semi-precious stones in mosaics, the person was also lightly dressed. This is especially noticeable in the mosaics with the image of the Evanesian bishops between the windows of the apse.

The art historian Pavel Muratov in 1911 wrote about the basilica:

This church recalls the Basilica of San Apollinar Nuovo much. It also has tricks, but not on the walls of the main nave, but in the altar apse. These mosaics are performed the same way, all in Ravenna, and this art is not worth such a height, like in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia or even in San Vitale. In addition, the rest of the mosaic has been severely affected by the restoration, which made many of their dubious parts.

In the central nave of Basilica, at the height of a large altar, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was created in the 11th century, when it was used for small On the other side of this altar, converted to persecution, it is indicated that at this place Saint Romuald was reminded of two kinds of the Divine Name (reminder). In front of this same altar, there is a memorial plate of the 18th century, which has been provided without any historical means, that much of the power of holy Apollinaria was shared. On the wall of the right nave there is a memorial plaque in memory of the visitation of the Basilica in the reign of John Paul II on May 11, 1986.

• Sant Apollinare in Class
• via Romea Sud, Classe,
• 6, 5 km south of Ravenna
• mon-Sat 08.30–19.30, Sun 13.00 –19.00