- Mausoleum of Theoderic
The architecture is quite unusual, probably from Syria or Asia Minor. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
The bottom part of the mausoleum is decagonal in shape. The dome has a twelve-fold symmetry. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
Another corner, another Saint. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
The dome is made of a limestone monoblock, brought from Istria. With a diameter of 10.76 metres, it weights over 230 tons. Not two windows are the same. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
There is a large porphyry bathtub in the top floor. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
- Mausoleum of Theoderic
What a monumental piece. It used to be at the sea, now multiple kilometers inland. - The Arian Baptistery
More unidentified apostles. Are we supposed to tell them apart based only on their beards? Another mystery are the (greek?) letters on their coats. - The Arian Baptistery
The medallion shows the young Christ in the middle, river Jordan on the left (with red crab claws?) and John the Baptist on the right. Above Christ is a dove (the Holy Spirit). One does not often see a naked Christ. - The Arian Baptistery
Only the ceiling remains decorated - but what decoration it is! Basically: the baptism of Jesus and twelve apostles. - The Arian Baptistery
Saints Peter and Paul lead a procession of five apostles towards the cross on an empty throne (representing God the Father?). In this Arian baptistery, the Father is above the Christ, possibly indicating the Arian beliefs. Saint Paul on the left, Saint Peter on the right. The rest I don't know. - The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Andrew - The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Bartholomew - The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Jacob - The Orthodox Baptistery
The central image depicts the Baptism of Christ, Saint John the Baptist on the left and a small Jordan on the right. The bearded heads are not original though. And the apostles are named. Funnily, some have golden tunics with white pallium and other vice versa. - The Orthodox Baptistery
What a masterpiece this is! Multiple circles of mosaic depict the central baptism, followed by the twelve (named!) apostles and the outer circle shows richly decorated thrones and altars. This mosaic is a few decades older than the Arian one. - The Orthodox Baptistery
Another empty throne, awaiting Christ's Second Coming. - The Orthodox Baptistery
Hm, is this an optical illusion? Because sometimes I see birds and sometimes fish. - Museo Arcivescovile
The entrance to the museum. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Six female martyrs: Daria, Perpetua and Felicitas. On the other side are Eufemia, Eugenia, and Cecilia. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
The dome is decorated with four angels pointing towards IX, and the four symbols of the evangelists. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Depiction of young Christ with Saint Peter and Saint Paul. - Museo Arcivescovile
Pulpit - ambo (597) shows plenty of animals as well as Saints John and Paul. Made out of a reused old sarcophagus. - Museo Arcivescovile
- Museo Arcivescovile
- Museo Arcivescovile
Cross of Agnellus, details of the silver medallions. - Museo Arcivescovile
The cathedral, the baptistry on the right, and the Museo Arcivescovile on the left. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Accidentally discovered in the 1993/94. But what do you do when you have multiple layers of history stacked on top of each other? You decide to display the prettiest? This one certainly is worth displaying! - Ravenna
What lovely messages all over the town. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
What lovely mosaic floors of private villas. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
- Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
I wonder if the red and blue were always that pale or were they more vibrant. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
What a lovely private building, dating from the 5-6th century. The villa had at least 14 rooms, this one was probably a new reception room. In the centre, there is The Dance of the Seasons. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
- Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original). Spring on the left, Autumn with the crown is in the front, Winter in the back and Summer is missing. A personification of Time plays a pan flute. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), the musician. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), Autumn. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
The Good Shepherd, depicted as a pretty well-off young man with fancy shoes and stockings. This mosaic was found on a different (older) level that the previous ones. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Bottom: Theoderic's palace and the town of Ravenna (PALATIVM and CIVITAS RAVENN). Middle: more unnamed prophets and evangelists. Top: the way of the cross, Resurrection: the women at the tomb, The road to Emmaus, Jesus appearing to the apostles. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Top row is the life of Jesus, middle row the saints, prophets and evangelists, bottom row are the famous processions. Apparently Pope Gregory ordered the mosaics to be blackened, not to distract the worshipers. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The town of Classe (only partially original). Middle: unknown prophets and evangelists. Top: The paralytic at Bethany, The Gerasene Demoniac, The paralytic at Capernaum, The Sheep and the Goats This side shows a much younger beardless Jesus. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Let's go: bottom line: Saints Valeria, Crispina, Lucia, Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes, Agatha, Pelagia and Euphemia. middle: unnamed saints, prophets, evangelists... carrying scrolls or codices. top: the woman at the well, the woman with the flow of blood, Jesus cures the blind, (partial) the calling of Peter and Andrew. - Classe
My guess would be that the difference in green background also means the border between the original and restored mosaics. - Maritime Alps
I think this is the border between sunny Italy and cloudy France. Towards Monte Frisson. - Maritime Alps
I think Cima Ventosa is in the front left. I'd kind of like to know which mountains are in the background: Mercantour, Queyras, Ecrins in the clouds? - Above the clouds
Il fait toujours beau au-dessus des nuages :-) - Antibes
A lovely morning in Antibes. - Èze
I know, I know, Èze is famous for its views... but I love Èze in fog even more :-) - The hills above Èze
Apparently there is wildlife in these woods. A boar or a fox could be 5 m away and I probably wouldn't notice it! - Schwammerlturm
The tower was originally built in 1268 and rebuilt in 1615. The first time I'm seeing the tower with blue background, so far only at night and/or rain. - St Francis Xavier church
The St Francis Xavier church was built between 1660 and 1665.