Poles love Italy. However, they rarely visit this old city full of monuments. It's a pity.
Thanks to the pontificate of the Polish Pope, a huge number of compatriots saw Rome and the Vatican. For years, many tourist offices have been organizing stays on Adriatic and Mediterranean beaches in the summer, and skiing in the Alps in winter. The so-called detours have their beaten paths, i.e. Venice, a few hours in Florence and Rome. Those who venture further south pay tribute to those who died at Monte Cassino, a glance at Naples, a stroll through the extremely fascinating Pompeii, sometimes Capri and Sicily.
Cradle of Byzantine art
Ravenna is still being neglected. Wrong, because the city is known all over the world for its very valuable masterpieces of Byzantine art, and magnificent mosaics can be found in all art history textbooks of that period. Ravenna became an important center as early as 49 BCE, when Caesar united his troops there to cross the Rubicon. When Emperor Constantine moved his seat from Rome to Byzantium, there was a development of mosaic art, magnificent, richly gilded. The peak of splendor and we alth, but also the beginning of the decline, falls on 402 CE, when the city becomes the capital of the Western Roman Empire. That is why it is worth taking a detour from the motorway when going to the Apennine Peninsula and stopping in this beautiful city.
This you have to see:
Mausoleum of Gala Placidia (Mausoleo di Galla Placidia):
Galla Placidia is the daughter of the Great Eastern Emperor Theodosius. She had an extremely turbulent life: she was captured by the Goths, she married her captor Ataulf, she accompanied him in battles, they also ruled together in the kingdom of the Goths. After her husband was murdered, she was forced to marry a Roman general. When their son became emperor, she took over the power of the Western Empire as regent.
Although there is a so-called Galli's sarcophagus, her remains unlikely to rest there. However, the whole is decorated with wonderful mosaics, the oldest and the most complete from the Raven cycle. You can admire here, among others the famous mosaic of the Good Shepherd and the Golden Cross in the sky full of stars.
New St. Apolinius (San Apolinare Nuovo):
Basilica built according to the Arian ritual by Theodoric, king of the Goths in the first quarter of the 6th century. The interior is harmonious and simple - three aislesseparated by twelve columns. As in every Ravenna basilica, it is decorated with beautiful, rich mosaics. Here they cover the entire length of the nave. They depict a procession of martyrs, others recall old Ravenna.
Neo-Baptistery (Battistero Neoniano):
This is the oldest existing monument in Ravenna, probably the extension of the Roman bath, on which Bishop Orso (who lived in the 4th century) had it erected Baptistery for its great Basilica (demolished in 1734). Here a complex ritual of baptism was performed. The faithful undressed, washed and were anointed with oils. These procedures were followed by baptism - three times immersing in a bathtub, preceded by the renunciation of Satan.
Archbishop's Museum (Museo Arcivescovile)
There are valuable collections of papyri, parchments and important documents for the history of the city. And also wonderful mosaics with the famous Praying Mother.
But the most important work is the ivory throne of an archbishop from the 6th century. As can be seen from the inscription on the throne, it is probably a gift from the Emperor Justinian.
St. Vitus Cathedral (Basilica San Vitale)
The construction was started in 525 by the Roman emperor Theodoric, it was completed in 548. It is said that a rich “sponsor”, a goldsmith, allocated 26,000 gold bars for its construction. This extremely interesting architectural object (octagonal dome) is a typical structure for the Eastern rite, in the interior of the mosaic, among others. performances of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.
Opening hours of all facilities(from March 15 to September 30): 9.00 am - 7.00 pm
Ticket prices:8 , 50 euros, reduced 7.50
Also worth visiting:Theodoric's Palace and Mausoleum, St. Francis, Dante's Tomb.
Detailed information (also about contemporary Ravenna) can be found on the city's website, in the tabs turismo and cultura. There is also an English language version to choose from.