OUR MONUMENTS
Ravenna is proud to posses 8 monuments listed by Unesco as
World Heritage Sites:- The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia - The Cathedral
Baptistery - The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo - The Church of San Vitale
- The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe - The Oratory of Sant’Andrea - The
Mausoleum of Theodoric
- The Baptistery of the Arians
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CHURCH OF SAN VITALE: belonging to the 6th century, celebration of the Byzantine Empire’s power. Inside it is possible to admire the most important mosaic complex of the paleochristian art representing scenes from the Bible and the famous imperial suites of Justinian and his wife Theodora. |
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SO CALLED MAUSOLEUM OF GALLA PLACIDIA: funerary monument dating back to the 5th century. Small building with a latin cross shape, originally part of the church of Santa Croce. Its external simplicity contrasts the luxury of its internal mosaic decoration. |
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BASILICA OF SANT’APOLLINARE NUOVO: Imperial Basilica of Theodorician court. It is very rich of history: a synthesis of the Ostrogoths reign and the Byzantine Empire. Originally consecrated to the Arian cult, in the Byzantine period it was reconsecrated to the catholic religion. |
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BASILICA OF SANT’APOLLINARE IN CLASSE: Basilica of the 6th century, built in a period of intense building activity, wanted by bishops and by the court of Constantinople. It rose in a place of the primitive burial of Sant’Apollinare, first bishop of Ravenna |
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CATHEDRAL BAPTISTERY: it is the most ancient paleo-christian monument of Ravenna, probably dating back to beginning of the 5th century. This building was part of the first Christian complex of the town including the bishop’s Palace and the Basilica Ursiana. |
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BAPTISTERY OF THE ARIANS: it represents an important proof of the Ostrogoths dominium and the Arian cult. Originally in this zone the Basilica dedicated to the Goths’ Resurrection, nowadays dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and the Arian bishop’s Palace rose. |
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ORATORY OF SANT’ANDREW: private chapel of the Catholic bishops, built during the Theodorician period as part of the ancient bishop’s Palace. |
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MAUSOLEUM OF THEODORIC: located at about 1 kilometre from the historical centre, in the zone of the ancient Goth’s cemetery, this Mausoleum with its severe and powerful size and its apparent simplicity, is a unique proof of architecture in the Ostrogoths Period. |
Besides these monuments, essential to know the town and the paleo-christian art, Ravenna offers other interesting and charming places to keep on your sightseeing.
Set up in the Archbishop’s Palace, created
in the 18th century in order to collect the precious materials coming from the
demolition of the ancient Basilica Ursiana.
The museum takes pride in the famous ivory desk of the bishop Massimiano,
masterpiece of the paleo-christian ivory sculptor.
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Built in the 18th century where the ancient
Basilica Ursiana rose. Inside some important paintings of Guido Reni, a
wonderful Byzantine ambo belonging to the 6th century and some paleochristian
sarcophagi.
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Set up in the ancient Benedictine complex
next to the Church of San Vitale, the museum houses various collections, such as
ivories, icons, ceramics, coins, bronzes.
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Built in the 5th century, restored many
times during the centuries, nowadays it is very attractive for the tourist for
its medieval crypt always flooded by water.
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Small building in neoclassical style where
Dante’s bones are buried. Every year, on the second Sunday of September, people
of Florence and Ravenna remember the death of the poet with a ceremony that
takes place in this zone.
CHURCH OF SANT’AGATA MAGGIORE
The church dates back to the 5th century and is dedicated to the sicilian Saint
Agata. Originally this church rose near the Padenna River that crossed the town.
Inside it is possible to admire a wonderful ambo of greek marble.
Built in the 5th century by the Empress
Galla Placidia to solve a vow, this church preserves some mosaic pavements of
medieval origin.
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It is the ancient church of San Salvatore.
On the superior floor it is possible to admire fragments of mosaic pavements
coming from the original Theodoric’s Palace.
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Built in the 16th cent by Lateranensi monks,
its facade belongs to the 2nd half of the 18th century. Inside: Greek Madonna, a
very precious Byzantine bas-relief.
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Set up in the ancient monastery, inside some
important collections of paintings coming from different Italian zones. In a
room the famous funeral statue of Guidarello Guidarelli.
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Fortress built during the Venetian Dominium.
In 1512 it was involved in a famous battle of international importance. Nowadays
it is a public park.
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On the superior floor of the ancient
monastery of San Francesco, it contains 2000 medals and about 100 bronzes; in
the southern side there is the Dantesque Library.
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It is one of the most important libraries in
Italy, it dates back to the 16th cent .
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It was the ancient Arian Cathedral, built by
Theodoric at the beginning of the 6th century. During the Byzantine period it
was consecrated to the catholic cult.
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It represents the hearth of the town. Very
interesting the Venetian Palace and the two columns with the statue of saint
Vitale and Saint Apollinare
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Built in the 19th cent by Medusa brothers.
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Wonderful square next to Piazza del Popolo.
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Nowadays only a few traces remain of the
ancient church built by Giuliano Argentario in the 6th century. The original
mosaic, sold by the court of Prussia in the second half of 19th century, today
is exposed in the State Museum of Berlin.
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Built in the 13th cent, restored in 1374 and
at the beginning of the 18th century, originally it was part of an huge
monastery.
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This new and extraordinary monument (inaugurated
by the President of the Republic in October 2002) further enriches Ravenna’s
already magnificent collection of precious treasures. It is one of the most
significant Italian archeological sites to be discovered over the last few
decades. An underground space is the scene of 14 wonderful mosaic pavements
dating back to the 5th-6th centuries A.D., such as the “Dance of the Genius of
the Seasons” and the “Good Shepherd”.
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