Ravenna and the Byzantine flavor of italy. Open left menu ravenna ravenna byzantium

Everything that is minute, everything that is perishable
You buried it for centuries.
You sleep like a baby, Ravenna,
In the hands of a sleepy eternity.
A. Blok, "Ravenna"

Ravenna - millennia of history

It is believed that these lands were originally owned by the Etruscans, or perhaps by the Umbres, due to the proximity of their territories. The name of this important Italian most likely goes back to the Latin root rava-, which in Umbrian means “a ravine washed by streams of water” or “channel, swamp” and the addition of the Etruscan ending -enna. Since prehistoric times, the natural landscape of these places has been distinguished by many rivulets that carry their waters into the Adriatic Sea, forming swamps and lagoons up to the mouth of the Po River.

In the II century BC. all the lands of the Padan plain were captured and colonized by the Romans.

Due to the specifics of the local landscape, swamps and many small river flows, these lands were accessible only from the sea. That is why the emperor of the Roman Empire Octavian Augustus ordered to deploy a navy here and build a naval port. Drainage and reclamation works were carried out and a military port was built Classis... According to the description of the historian Pliny the Elder, the naval port accommodated 250 ships and 10,000 sailors to control the northern waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Over time, a city grew around the port. During the Roman Empire, thanks to the port, Ravenna became an important point for the commercial movement of goods throughout the Mediterranean.

The last emperor of the united Roman Empire died in 395 Theodosius the Great... After his death, the empire was divided into western and eastern, and the sons of Arcadia and Honorius inherited parts of the empire. Arcadius was proclaimed emperor of the East, Constantinople was the capital, and Honorius was the West, with its capital in Milan. In 402, after the siege of Milan by the Visigoths, the emperor of the Western Roman Empire, Honorius, moved the capital to Ravenna.

Ravenna became the permanent residence of the emperor, therefore it gained great importance as the political, economic and cultural center of the empire. During this period, the city is experiencing a construction boom, although due to the silting up of rivers and lagoons, the port becomes underutilized and loses its importance.

In Ravenna, the fate of the Western Empire was decided. In 476, its last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the leader of the German mercenaries, Odoacer. This was the end of the history of Ancient Rome, although the history of Ravenna does not end there. In 493, after a long siege, the city was conquered by the Ostrogoths. Theodoric, and five years later the Byzantine emperor Anastasius recognized him as king and ruler of Italy with the capital in Ravenna. Ravenna was conquered in 540 Justinian and introduced into the Byzantine Empire.

About two hundred years have passed and Ravenna again found itself in the center of historical events. The city was conquered by the Lombards. In 751 at the behest of the king of the Franks Pipin Korotkogo Ravenna came under the control of the Pope, but received autocephaly and became the seat of kings. The archbishops of Ravenna received generous gifts from the emperors of the Saxon dynasty and were used in open confrontations with the popes. During this period, the city was gradually ravaged: many mosaics, marble decorations, friezes and statues disappeared, and the port of Classis was finally forgotten, plundered and abandoned.

During the Middle Ages, Ravenna came under the control of the archbishops, and later into the hands of noble aristocratic families. One of them was the family yes Polenta... With this family, the great Florentine found his last sad refuge poet Dante Alighieri... He died of malaria and was buried in Ravenna.

In the middle of the 15th century, Ravenna was subordinated to the Venetian Republic and remained under its rule until 1509. At the same time, many palaces in the Venetian style were built in the center of the city, and the famous fortress was erected to defend the city. Brancaleone(photo on the left - click). When Julius II ascended the papal throne, he conquered all of Romagna. Ravenna has since languished quietly for the next 350 years. The city gradually sank into water due to the swampy fields surrounding it, until in May 1636 the sea flooded the very center. Dad intervened Clement XII Corsini... New drainage and reclamation works were carried out, canals were laid, a pier, a new Cathedral were built and Dante's tomb was reconstructed. In 1861, Ravenna became part of the Kingdom of a united Italy. After the Second World War, Ravenna was awarded the title of Honorary City and was awarded the Gold Medal for courage and military valor in the War of Independence - for the sacrifices of its people and participation in the partisan struggle during the Second World War.

Ravenna in a glow of mosaics and ancient monuments - attractions

Ravenna boasts monuments and structures from the early Christian period, as well as Byzantine architecture and beautiful mosaics. In 1996, the following facilities were incorporated into UNESCO World Heritage Site:

Basilica of San Vitale and Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Outwardly, they outwardly look very modest. Simple brick structures, like all other Byzantine buildings in the city. But once you cross their threshold, the reason for their worldwide fame becomes obvious. characterized by an octagonal shape and emphasizes the influence of Constantinople. Founder of the Basilica, Bishop Ecclesias, visited there and could admire the beauty of the majestic Hagia Sophia. In the apse, the basilicas shine with their unique beauty of mosaics.

The structure of the building is complex, it is crowned with a faceted drum, on which a dome with a diameter of 16 meters rests with the help of eight central supports. Thanks to the supporting pillars, a rounded structure is formed inside the temple, on the second tier of which there are choirs. The entire structure appears to be magical due to the artfully unique lighting and decoration.

Inside Mausoleum of Galla Placidia , deepened by 1.5 meters due to the rise of the cultural layer over the centuries, except for the marble basement of the early 20th century, everything has been preserved in the form in which it was conceived and implemented in the 5th century. The earliest Ravenna mosaics cover the inner surface of the mausoleum, where golden light penetrates: alabaster windows let it through, which creates an extraordinary setting. The first minutes you need to be in the semi-darkness for your eyes to get used to, and then you can see and appreciate the unique mosaics, their decor and colors. It is better that the front door remains closed: then not a single detail will escape and the real masterpiece of the Mausoleum above the front door will become obvious - the image of Christ in the robe of the Good Shepherd.

The mausoleum is built in the shape of a cross: the dome in the center is supported by sails, and the branches of the cross connect the vaults. Mosaics cover the entire interior space and are distinguished by rare beauty and splendor. They contain different plots, but organically form one whole.

The Italian mosaicists loved a few, thick and deep colors - blue, green and wine red. Unusually and somehow incomprehensibly deep is a very dark blue color on the ceiling of the Galla Placidia mausoleum. Depending on the play of light that penetrates here through small windows, it amazingly and unexpectedly beautifully shimmers with greenish, then purple, then crimson shades.

Russian art critic Pavel Muratov - about the mausoleum of Galla Placidia.

There are four sarcophagi inside the mausoleum. To whom they belong is not established exactly. And although the mausoleum was built for herself and her family by Galla Placidia herself, it is known that she died in Rome in 450 and was buried in the family tomb of the emperor Theodosius - Santa Petronila in Rome. Researchers claim that her ashes were later transferred to Ravenna. For a long time, the mausoleum was a chapel-chapel dedicated to St. Lawrence, who was deeply revered in the family of Galla Placidia.

Information for visitors

A sign at the entrance warns of a stay of 5 minutes. Entrance fee: € 9.50 total cost; concessional € 8.50. The ticket is valid for 7 days and also allows you to visit the Basilica of Saint Apollinarius Nuovo, the Orthodox Baptistery and the Archbishop's Museum.

Via S. Vitale, 17 ( 400 meters from Piazza del Popolo, a short walk in the pedestrian zone, the nearest parking in Largo Justiniana). Phone for inquiries: +39 0544 541688. Open: 01/11 to 28/02 daily from 09:30 to 17:00; from 01/03 to 31/03 - daily, from 09.00 to 17.30; from 01/04 to 30/09 daily, from 09.00 to 19.00; from 01/10 to 31/10 from 09.00 to 17.30.
The Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia are closed on 25/12.

The Baptistery (photo on the left) is the oldest surviving building in the city and the most significant monument of Byzantine mosaics. The octagonal shape reminds us of the Byzantine influence. The brickwork exterior is unadorned. Archaeologists claim that the baptistery was erected on the foundations of ancient Roman baths of the 4th-5th centuries, and the time of its construction is associated with the reign of Bishop Ursus. The baptistery received a different name from the bishop of Neon, it was he who ordered the craftsmen to decorate the interior space with amazing mosaics in the period from 451 to 475 BC.

It can be seen that the current cultural layer is three meters higher than the original, and this makes one think about the past. Going inside, we see the columns of the Ionian order in the window openings, mosaics and images of the prophets on the bas-reliefs. All interior decoration was supposed to emphasize that baptism is one of the first sacraments of Christianity. And in the center there is an octagonal font made of porphyry and marble. The baptismal font was rebuilt in the 16th century, but the original pulpit of the 5th century, carved from a single piece of marble, has survived.

The dome mosaic reproduces the biblical story on the themes of the Baptism of Christ and Heavenly Jerusalem, as described in the last book of the Revelation of John the Theologian. Above the arches of the first tier, there is a floral ornament in the form of spirals of acanthus on a blue background and images of prophets, and between the arches there are candelabra, thrones and the episcopal throne.

Orthodox baptistery - photo

Information for visitors

Address: Via Baptistery, 1 ( 300 meters from Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Kennedy). Phone: +39 0544 541688. The baptistery is open 01/11 - 28/02 from 10:00 to 17:00; 01 / 03-31/03 from 09.30 to 17.30; 01/04 - 30/09 from 09.00 to 19.00; 01/10 - 31/10 from 09.30 to 17.30. Closed on 25/12 and 1/1. Entrance fee: € 9.50 total cost; € 8.50 concessional. The ticket is valid for 7 days and also allows you to visit the Basilica of Saint Apollinarius Nuovo, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Basilica of San Vitale and the Archbishop's Museum.

Where to stay in Ravenna

Hotels and apartments in Ravenna Palazzo Bezzi Hotel NH Ravenna Grand Hotel Mattei La reunion Best Western Hotel Bisanzio Albergo cappello Antica Ravenna Residence Hotel Centrale Byron Hotel Sant "Andrea Hotel Diana

Mosaics of Ravenna - video

Basilica of Sant'Apolinare in Classe (outside the city walls)

The Basilica (left - click) was built in 549 over the tomb of Saint Apolinarius - the first bishop of Ravenna. The construction of the Basilica of St. Apolinarius began at the initiative of Bishop Ursinos, funded by the Greek merchant Julian Argentarius. The main relic of the basilica is the relics of St. Apolinarius. Honored as a martyr. At the time of the danger of ruin and enemy raids in the 9th century, the relics of the saint were transferred inside the city walls, to the Basilica of Sant Apolinare Nuovo. In 1748, the relics of the saint were transferred to the place of their original burial and placed in the central altar.

In the conch of the apse, the basilica is decorated with the latest Ravenna mosaics from the period of Emperor Justinian the Great. They miraculously survived after the sack of Ravenna by the Venetians in 1449. Mosaic masters used smalt, colored glass, gold and semi-precious stones, but marble was used for faces and clothes, so the shapes seem flatter.

How to read the Mosaic? The mosaic tells about the Biblical event of the Transfiguration of the Lord, it is personified in the mosaic as a cross adorned with precious stones, and a medallion with the face of Christ is visible at the intersection of the cross. Peter, John and Jacob, present at this event, are depicted as lambs standing at a distance. In heaven - the prophets Elijah and Moses, who speak of the death of Christ. And at the very top is the blessing right hand of God the Father. The scene is depicted in the Garden of Eden, in the center is Saint Apolinarius and 12 sheep, which are a symbolic depiction of the apostles.

It is noteworthy that in 1001, in a monastery built next to the basilica, Emperor Otto III spent the time of Lent: the emperor expelled from Rome was deeply worried about the collapse of the plan to restore the Roman Empire. His mentor was the hermit Romuald of Ravenna, who urged the emperor to go to a monastery. His prophecy was this: "If you go to Rome, you will not see more Ravenna." But the emperor began to prepare a campaign against Rome and ... died in the next year 1002. A plaque in the left nave of the basilica recalls this event.

Mosaic portraits of the great bishops of Ravenna are placed between the windows of the apse, while mosaics on the side walls reflect the themes of the Old Testament and the Granting of Privileges of the Church of Ravenna. In the side aisles there are medieval sarcophagi, where the bishops of Ravenna are buried. The sarcophagi are perfectly preserved, you can read about the history of the basilica, as well as admire their extraordinary decor.

Information for visitors

Address: Via Romea Sud Classe ( short bus or car ride 8 km. south of Ravenna). Phone +39 0544 473569. Monday to Saturday open from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm, Sunday morning Mass is held from 08:00 to 10:00: visits are suspended and open from 13:00 to 19:30. Entrance fee: € 5 full ticket; € 2.50 concessional.

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 Umbras, 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 also became a commercial one.
In 402, Emperor Honorius moved his residence to Ravenna to avoid the threat of Alaric. At this time, the city is expanding and building.
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, defeating 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 hand. 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 great 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 Klassa 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 under the protection of UNESCO:

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (early 4th century)
- Baptistery of Neonian (end of IV 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 salvation 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 depicting the miraculous rescue of 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-nave 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 involved 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 Pope's supporter 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, staying 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 the Second World War, 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 is blissful, contemplating among the luminaries of my Creator, here I, Dante, exiled 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... It is one of the most important and beautiful monuments of 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 Laurentia. Lawrence was one of the most popular saints among members of the Theodosian dynasty, whose daughter was Galla.
Inside, the floor, walls, ceiling are all completely covered with mosaics of the highest quality, surpassing everything that has been preserved 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 Galla in a legal marriage, during the wedding ceremony they were dressed in Roman clothes. They lived happily, Ataulf fulfilled every 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, the church was once 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 in size, 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 waist-deep 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
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- This is a typical Romagnole cuisine, in which most of it is homemade pasta: tagliatelli, lasagna, tortelloni with herbs and ricotta, vermesh and cappelletti in meat broth, egg pasta.

During the Umbrian and Etruscan times, Ravenna, like Venice, stood on the lagoon. Due to its strategically good location, the city was considered impregnable - and therefore the Roman emperor Augustus founded a military and commercial port here, 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, raised as a prisoner at the Byzantine court, 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 penetrates into 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 in 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 was consecrated in 547 under his successor, Emperor Justinian. Eight pillars separate the central room from the bypass. A stunning impression is made by the 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 striking 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

The heart of the historic city center 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 come out to the 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 there are beautiful early Christian sarcophagi.
Next to the cathedral there is an Orthodox christening - 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 vestments 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 Dante Alighieri's tomb in classic style. 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". You can learn a little more about Dante at 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, 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; notable is the multi-layered facade with the central part protruding forward.

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 neighboring 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 king of the Ostrogoths. 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! Bicycles can be rented from the tourist information office in 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

Outskirts 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. The magnificent mosaics in the apse and on the pediment of the "triumphal arch" have entered the history of art. In the dome of the apse there is a mosaic depicting the Transfiguration of Christ in a medallion on a cross, decorated with ninety-nine stars made of precious stones, under it is the patron of the church of St. Apollinaris, appearing among 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

The Pineta di Classe nature reserve, about 5 km from Sant Apollinare in Classe, is the remnants 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.

Ravenna (Italy) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Ravenna with descriptions, guides and maps.

Ravenna city

Ravenna is a city in northeastern Italy in the Emilia-Romagna region. It is located on a low-lying plain near the confluence of the Ronco and Monte rivers, ten kilometers from the Adriatic Sea, with which it is connected by a canal. Ravenna is a city with an interesting and rich history, a real treasury of art, history and culture. Eight sights of late Antiquity are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Ravenna is one of the largest cities in the Emilia-Romagna region. It is conveniently located between Bologna and San Marino, as well as close to Florence and the Adriatic resorts, making it a very popular tourist destination. But what makes Ravenna unique are the sights of the period of ancient Byzantium, which are among the best preserved in Italy. In addition, the city is known as the place of death of the legendary Dante Alighieri - one of the most mysterious poets of the Middle Ages, the founder of the modern Italian language.

Geography and climate

The province of Ravenna is located in the east of the Emilia-Romagna region, 10 km from the Adriatic coast. The city is connected to the sea by the Cagnano Canal. The province is located on the Padan plain in its low-lying part.

The climate of Ravenna is typical of the southeastern Po Valley with a maritime influence. Summers are quite hot with an average temperature of 23-25 ​​degrees. Winter is mild with an average temperature of 3-5 degrees. Although cold easterly winds can bring frost and snowfall.

Practical information

1. Population - 171 thousand people.
2. The area is 653.82 square kilometers.
3. Language - Italian.
4. Currency - Euro.
5. Time - Central European UTC +1, in summer +2.
6. Visa - Schengen.
7. There are many small stylish shops in the historic center. Although here you will not find big shops and shopping centers like in Milan or Rome.
8. Ravenna is a city friendly to budget travelers. There are many small pizzerias and trattorias that offer delicious and inexpensive Italian cuisine.

History

Ravenna is an ancient city with a rich and complex history. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, from the beginning of the 5th century, the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, later the Ostrogoth state and the kingdom of the Lombards.

Initially, the Etruscan and Umbrian tribes lived on the territory of the province. Ravenna became part of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century BC. Under Octavian Augustus, a port was built here, which later grew into a city. In 402, after the Visigoth siege of Mediolan (Milan), Ravenna became the capital of the Western Roman Empire. In 476, the empire ceased to exist. Also, this date is considered the end of the Antiquity period.

At the end of the 5th century, Ravenna was conquered by the Ostrogoth king Theodoric, who made the city the capital of his state. But the Ostrogoth state did not last long. Already in 540, Ravenna became a province of Byzantium. In the middle of the 8th century, the city was conquered by the Lombards. Although this kingdom also did not last long. In the middle of the 9th century, Ravenna came under the control of the Pope.

From the 9th to the 13th century, the city was ruled by archbishops. In the 13th century, Ravenna became the fiefdom of Traversari, and later da Polenta. In the 15th century, Ravenna became part of the Venetian Republic. At the beginning of the 16th century, the city again fell under the rule of the Pope, and was also plundered and burned by French troops. For the next three centuries, Ravenna was part of the Papal States, until in the 19th century it became part of a unified Italy.

How to get there

Forlì, 20 km from Ravenna, has a small airport serving several local destinations. Major airports are located in Bologna, Venice and Florence. It is easy to reach the city by car via the A14 motorway. There is also a train station, the main directions of which are Bologna and Rimini.

sights

Ravenna is home to magnificent sights of late Antiquity, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ancient churches and basilicas, old streets and wide squares. But this city is famous not only for monuments of history and culture. Nearby are the resort towns of the Adriatic, which can offer an excellent holiday.

The Neon Baptistery (also often called Orthodox) is the oldest building in Ravenna and an extremely important religious site. The baptistery was built in the 5th century on the territory of a complex of Roman baths. The structure has an octagonal design and a rather simple appearance.

But the main treasure is hidden inside, which houses a stunning series of ancient Byzantine colored mosaics depicting religious scenes such as the baptism of Christ and the procession of the twelve apostles.

The Basilica of San Vitale is another ancient structure located near the Baptistery of Neon. The construction of the church dates back to the first half of the 6th century. The basilica has a similar exterior and architecture, in which a large octagonal central dome stands out. The interior of San Vitale has some amazing mosaics and decorations that are considered one of the finest examples of Byzantine art in Italy.

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ravenna, built in the 40s of the 5th century. Simple on the outside, this structure offers magnificent interior pieces that are considered one of the finest preserved and artistically perfect examples of mosaics in Italy. The mausoleum was created for the sister of the emperor of the Western Roman Empire Honorius, but in the end she was buried in Rome.

The Basilica of Sant Apollinare Nuovo was built by the Ostrogoth king Theodoric. The church is located in the eastern part of the old town, which is easily accessible on foot. There is a large bell tower to the right of the building, and the front entrance is decorated with stone arches. Inside, the basilica boasts a magnificent mosaic decoration documenting the stylistic, iconographic and ideological evolution of Byzantine wall mosaics from the era of Theodoric to Justinian. The mosaics depict scenes from the New Testament.

The Basilica di San Francesco is located between the Neon Baptistery and the Basilica of San Apollinare. The church was built in the 9th century and the bell tower in the 10th century. Despite the fact that the interior of the basilica is rather simple, it attracts visitors with the mysterious crypt and the tomb of the bishop.

Theodoric Mausoleum is the burial place of the Ostrogoth king, who chose Ravenna as the stronghold of his kingdom. This 1500-year-old building is located in the park of the same name. The roof of this structure is made of Istrian stone. The interior of the tomb is quite simple.

Dante's Tomb is a simple marble structure that houses the remains of one of Italy's most legendary poets. The mausoleum was built much later than Alighieri's death.

The Arian Baptistery was built at the turn of the 5th-6th centuries by Theodoric. This inconspicuous building is located in the immediate vicinity of Piazza del Popolo, next to the Chiesa dullo Duto Santo church. The inside of the baptistery is beautifully decorated with mosaics. Particularly impressive is the very detailed ceiling mosaic depicting the baptism of Jesus Christ.

The Archbishop's Chapel is a chapel of equal bishops, built at the beginning of the 6th century under Theodoric. The interior is beautifully decorated with mosaics.

Sant Apollinare in Classe is a 6th century basilica located outside the old town. It was built over the grave of the first Bishop of Equality, Saint Apollinaris. It is a masterpiece of Byzantine art. The interior of the church is decorated with mosaics from the Justinian period.

• National Museum in the building of an old Benedictine monastery. It displays an excellent collection of art, artifacts and relics from different periods of the region's history.
• Marina di Ravenna is a yacht dock northeast of the city. On the northern edge is the harbor with many fishing and sailing boats, and on the southern edge is a long stretch of beach with beautiful golden sand.
• Cesenatico is a charming seaside resort town southeast of Ravenna, half an hour's drive away.
• Piazza del Popolo is one of the busiest and most significant squares in the city. Located in the center of the historic Old Town, a short walk from the Basilica of San Francesco and the Basilica of San Apollinare. The area stands out for its beautiful architecture and many restaurants.
• Mirabilandia is a theme park with a variety of attractions. One of the most visited in Italy.
• The Municipal Tower is 39 meters high, built in the 12th century. Located at - Via Ponte Marino, 2.

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 is applied when looking at the city of Ravenna, which is not for nothing called the sister of Venice. An archipelago of half-flooded islands, which are connected by a large number of canals, the city became the ideal springboard for the creation of a powerful Italian fleet, which instilled fear in the Maltese and Sicilian pirates. Today, only historical monuments and memories of the old residents of the city remain from the military past of Ravenna. 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 exceeds 3 hours, as a change is inevitable in Faenza or Bologna.

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, there are clearly fixed prices. Among the restaurants, Ponte Marino 3 stands out, in 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 paths.

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 offered with the local Sangiovese wine.

Event tourism

It is customary to visit Ravenna on special summer days, when the city hosts international exhibitions, festivals, fairs and 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 to the most remarkable historical sites of Ravenna.

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

Weather in Ravenna

During the winter months, central Italy tends to be quite chilly, due to the region's high humidity levels. Fog and snow are frequent guests for local townspeople who celebrate such festivities as New Years 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 that carved the city like patterns on 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 the 5-8 centuries. There are, of course, a myriad of attractions here. 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 the unprecedented energy of the ancient world. The excursion can be crowned with the Cathedral of St. Vitaly of the 6th century. Outside, this is an inconspicuous building, 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. This is the starting point for cruise liners making trips to Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Sicily. The best beaches in Ravenna are Lido diSavio, Punta Marina Terme, Porto Corsini, Lido di Dante, Marina diRomea, Marina di Ravenna.

Ravenna Photos