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From Venice we took a train south to Ravenna. Not one of the most well known Italian cities, Ravenna is nevertheless an outstanding showcase of art, history and culture. From the 5th to 8th century AD, Ravenna was in turn the capital of the Western Roman Empire, of King Theoodoric of the Goths, and of the Byzantine empire in Europe. It’s now a world heritage listed location, primarily because of the astonishing 5th and 6th century mosaics that adorn the interiors of several of its ancient buildings. We’ve seen mosaics before, but never mosaics like this. Fine, big, bright, and seemingly as dazzling as the days they were painstakingly designed and assembled by prodigious talents 1,500 years ago!
In Ravenna you can also visit Dante’s tomb. We did. Dante found himself on the wrong side of some nasty politics and was exiled from his hometown of Florence, facing burning at the stake if he returned without paying a large fine imposed upon him. This he refused to do on principle, and he ended his days in 1321, in Ravenna. The penitent Florentines continue to this day to provide the oil for the small lamp that burns above his tomb.
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