Ravenna Storico - Mausoleum and Basilica

We woke early and attended breakfast in la sala colazione across the hallway. It was a bigger brekky than what we are used to but out of politeness for the effort in preparing it, we availed ourselves, one of four couples this morning.

We then headed out for the day to begin our Ravenna history adventure. The Emperor Claudius came here to celebrate his triumph in Britannia, so Ravenna has a history in both antiquity and in the medieval period (and still going). After purchasing tickets that would get us into the five main sites, we headed straight to Galla Placidia’s Mausoleum that she herself had had built. Galla Placidia, wife, daughter, sister and mother to emperors and Queen of the Visigoths no less, died in in Rome and sadly her remains were lost to time. She never ever rested in her extraordinary mosaic mausoleum. It is a dark space but beautiful with alcoves and arches and cut translucent stone. And of course, the mosaics. Out of this world.

After the Mausoleum, on the same grounds, we visited the extraordinary Basilica of Saint Vitale. Construction began in 532 and ended in 547. It is a UNESCO World heritage site as an example of Byzantine art. Walking in from outside, I had the fourth jaw-drop moment of this trip. Wow. It really does have the wow factor. The mosaics are gorgeous, the columns and capitals are massive, the painted ceiling launches skywards forever, the polygonal nave and sanctuary area more Byzantine than Roman. Beautiful in every vista.

We had a wander through the National Museum afterwards, not part of the big five, and were delighted by 1st and 2nd century artifacts, steles, capitals, funerary figures, tools and implements. Just amazing. We spend a few euros in the gift and book shop after. A cool refreshing drink was needed, then into another bookshop, this one associated with the basilica. We bought T shirts each, some odds n ends, and I bought a little mosaic-like jug as an objet d’art.

Dinner tonight again in the Piazza del Popolo after a restful afternoon back at Casa Masoli, and then home. It’s still hot outside, so we’re not venturing out again. A lovely day.Leer más