- Pomposa Abbey
The front facade of the church, showing two griffins eating the fruits from the tree of life. - Pomposa Abbey
Frescoes in the refractory by Pietro da Rimini (probably 1318). This parts depicts Last Supper. Note the circular table (pre-renaissance depiction) and the animal they are eating. What is it?!? - Pomposa Abbey
Another fresco from the refractory: The Redeemer between the Virgin Mary and the barefoot Baptist, Benedict (left) and Guido di Pomposa (right) by Pietro da Rimini (probably 1318). - Pomposa Abbey
The Crucifixion in the Chapter House, by a direct student of Giotto, probably between 1310 and 1318. - Pomposa Abbey
Another Last supper, this one in the church. And again, I wonder which animal they are eating. - Pomposa Abbey
Ah, the apocalypse. One of the seven-headed beasts. But the real beast here is you, Alesso Bersano. - Pomposa Abbey
The Last Judgement. The patriarchs of the Church welcome the souls of Limbo towards bliss. By Andrea de Bruni. - Pomposa Abbey
The unfortunate ending of Saint Eustace and his family in a brazen bull. Yes, this was a torture device: one was locked in the bronze bull and then fire was lit underneath the bull... - Pomposa Abbey
The Last Judgement. The Lucifer. Nuff said. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The mosaics in the mausoleum are from the year 450. Let that sink in. The year 450. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The decoration in the dome: starry ceiling and the symbols of the Evangelists. Underneath are the apostles. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
What an insanely beautiful piece of work! - Basilica of San Vitale
- Mausoleum of Theoderic
Mausoleum of Theoderic. The Ostrogothic king Theoderic moved the capital to Ravenna and died here in 526. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
The top of the mausoleum has 12 'ears' that were needed to lift the gigantic dome, decorated with the apostles' names. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
The top floor of the mausoleum has some outside decoration, probably Gothic. Not Gothic as Gothic but Gothic as of Goths. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
A cross was added later to the gigantic dome. - The Arian Baptistery
Another apostle with a very unusual beard - or rather mustache and sideburns. This could be Ostrogothic fashion (it certainly isn't Roman). - The Arian Baptistery
They look very much alike, but the hair and beards are different. So in principle, one could tell them apart. - The Arian Baptistery
One of the younger apostles. - The Arian Baptistery
Could be Saint Andrew. - The Orthodox Baptistery
The next circle has four Gospels on altars and four empty thrones with crosses and garments. - The Orthodox Baptistery
The next layer beneath the mosaics and between the windows are stucco reliefs of the 16 prophets of the Old testament. They used to be coloured! - The Orthodox Baptistery
All of the prophets carry either books or scrolls. I love how their feet are hanging over the frame. - The Orthodox Baptistery
Above the prophets' heads there are other biblical scenes. Here Christ on the throne is giving the cross to Saint Peter. The scallops in between symbolise the resurrection. - Museo Arcivescovile
A falling Erote, from the 1st century. - Museo Arcivescovile
Two Erotes around a basket full of fruits. - Museo Arcivescovile
This is ... something old. And pretty. - Museo Arcivescovile
Immortal peacocks on a sarcophagus. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
The ceiling in the narthex. Plenty of different birds, most notably the famous ducks, and the white lilies. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Narthex of the chapel depicting Christ dressed as Roman emperor, standing on a lion and a snake (Psalm 91). His book says EGO SVM VIA VERITAS ET VITA - I am the way, the truth, the life. The top part is original mosaic, the bottom part is just painted! - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Apse of the chapel is also painted. Not a mosaic. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
I told you it was fake. Just painted on the wall. Oh well. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
One of the angels on the ceiling. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Jacob - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Mark's lion holding the thickest Gospel - despite Mark's Gospel being the shortest of all four. - Museo Arcivescovile
Paschal calendar from the 6th century used to determine the date of the Easter for about a hundred years in advance. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), Winter. I don't quite know what the crown is about. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Christ on the throne with four angels. Unfortunately not all is original, Christ's right side and the two right angels are 19th century reconstructions. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
A procession of 26 martyrs, including Saint Apollinaris, led by Saint Martin of Tours. Following are Pope Clements, Pope Sixtus, Saint Laurentius (in gold), Saint Hippolitus, Pope Cornelius (who is pointing towards), Saint Cyprian ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Iohannes, his brother Paulus, Vitalis (the basilica Vitalis), Gervasius, Protasius, Ursicinus, Namor, Felix ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels. Plenty of roses and lilies everywhere and the typical gold Byzantine background. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Walking towards the Madonna is a procession of 22 virgins, led by the Three Magi. These are Saints Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes (with a lamb), Agatha. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The merchant vessels of Classe, which used to be a port that time. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
6th century censorship. When the church became Orthodox, they 'erased' the Arians/Goths from the images, leaving only their praying hands. One can still see their halos above the curtains. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Vincentius, Pancratius, Chrysogonus, Protus ... And these are not all of them. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
I love their fashion sense. They all wear Phrygian caps and - quite unusually -fancy trousers. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Saint Calocerus (Calogero!), died in 130, a martyr from the times of Hadrian. Apparently remembered on February 11th. - Classe
Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe was consecrated on 9 May 549 by the bishop Maximian. - Classe
I took this picture because of the lion. Then I noticed the bull... Holy cow, what did they do to its face? - Classe
The Hand of God. In the old times, depicting God was unacceptable, so only his hand was shown. - Classe
What a lovely detail. - Classe
The later sarcophagi were decorated with simpler patterns, like these immortal peacocks drinking from the fountain of life. - Classe
The church windows are made of alabaster. - Museo Arcivescovile
The Ivory Cathedra, Throne of Maximianus, the first archbishop of Ravenna (546-557). Made of ivory! - Museo Arcivescovile
Throne of Maximianus with his monogram M and X, showing Saint John the Baptist and the four evangelists. - Museo Arcivescovile
Throne of Maximianus, the old testament. Here Joseph is taken from the well and a goat is killed. - Museo Arcivescovile
Throne of Maximianus, old testament, showing the life of Joseph and his tricks with cups in the grain. - Museo Arcivescovile
More old testament scenes, depicting the story of Joseph. The central shows the reunion of Joseph and Jakob and the bottom the Pharaoh's dream. - Museo Arcivescovile
An altar by Matteo Magnante (2010) in the front. An old clergy cope in the back. - Doggo!
Another old barn transformed into a new house. Is that a dog-shaped opening? - Old houses in Mareson
- Pomposa Abbey
What a lovely peacock. A peacock is apparently considered incorruptible, representing the yearning for heavenly beatitude. - Pomposa Abbey
This Benedictine monastery dates probably to around 600. It was definitely already big and super important in 874. It is built like a typical Romanesque abbey. The campanile is from 1063. - Pomposa Abbey
Frescoes in the refractory. - Pomposa Abbey
The Chapter House with early 14th century frescoes by a direct pupil of Giotto. In the center is Saint Guido, the Abbot of Pomposa (970-1046), on the left Saint Paul and on the right a pair of prophets, Moses and David. Note the horns on Moses :-) - Pomposa Abbey
Another fresco in the Chapter House, this one depicts Saint Benedict. - Pomposa Abbey
In the apse, Christ sits on the throne surrounded by musician angels and saints. Below is the procession opened by the Virgin Mary with St. Benedict. The Abbot Andrea, who ordered the work in 1351 is kneeling down on the left. The bottom part tells the story of Saint Eustace. Fresoes by Vitale da Bologna. - Pomposa Abbey
Ah, the Last Judgment. The Hell is interesting as there are people actually being tortured. Often they are just being taken by all sorts of cute creatures. - Pomposa Abbey
Some of the frescoes are even older, from the 10th century. - Pomposa Abbey
The church is full of 14th century Bolognese school frescoes, depicting Old Testament, New Testament and the Apocalypse. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was built between 425 and 450. Galla Placidia was the daughter of the Roman emperor Theodosius I. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
My favourite part of the ceiling. So intense. Unfortunately, the illumination of the whole mausoleum was almost nonexistent... - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Deer drinking water. At first I thought they were eating watermelons :-) And then there are two more apostles around the chi-rho-alpha-omega sign. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Either Saint Lawrence or Saint Vincent. And come fantastic decorative mosaics. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Each side has two apostles and a pair of doves. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Above the entrance, there is the mosaic of the Good Shepherd. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Plenty of sarcophagi around here. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaics here are just insanely beautiful. - Basilica of San Vitale
What a difference between the two sides! Separated by the great arch, decorated with fifteen mosaic medallions: Jesus Christ in the centre, the twelve Apostles and Saint Gervasius and Saint Protasius, the sons of Saint Vitale. - DSC 4622
Abel sacrificing a lamb to God, and the King of Salem, Melchizedek, offering a loaf of bread. And another God's hand coming from the blue and pink clouds. Heh, Abel has a cottage and Melchizedek a palace. - Basilica of San Vitale
More apostles. And more fish :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
The apostles, decorated with fish! Fish! - Basilica of San Vitale
Part of the Sanctuary. - Basilica of San Vitale
The richness of the mosaic work in crazy. Down to the tiniest details! - Basilica of San Vitale
Probably the most famous mosaic in the church: Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian I, holding the Eucharistic vessel. On the right might be Antonina, Belisarius’ wife, and other unnamed women, on the left is a court official and an eunuch. The detailing on the dresses (including the Tree Magi!) is insane. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian, who ruled the Roman Empire between 527 and 565, and his court. On the right side are the bishop Maximian, a deacon with the Bible, and a subdeacon with a thurible. On the left are probably generals Belisarius and Narses, and some soldiers. Justinian wears red and purple shoes, which only emperors were allowed to wear. And he stands on someone's foot :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
The Lamb of God, supported by four angels standing on blue globes. And plenty of animals, my favourite being peacocks. - Basilica of San Vitale
A young Christ, two angles, St Vitalis on the left and bishop Ecclesius on the right. The bishop offers the church to the Christ, while St Vitalis, covering his hands with a veil, receives the crown of martyrdom. Christ holds a scroll closed with the seven seals of the Apocalypse. - Basilica of San Vitale
Under the arch: Abraham and Sarah feeding the three strangers at Mambre and the Sacrifice of Isaac, with God's hand stopping Abraham from killing Isaac. Over the arch: the prophet Jeremiah, two angels holding a shield, Moses receiving the Law on Mt Sinai. - Basilica of San Vitale
The construction started in 526 on the orders of Bishop Ecclesius of Ravenna. Bishop Maximian completed the construction in 547. The building is octagonal, with the entrances next to the altar. So... strange. - Mausoleum of Theoderic
The gigantic building is made of carefully carved stones. What an insane precision! - Mausoleum of Theoderic
- Mausoleum of Theoderic
- Mausoleum of Theoderic
The lower floor of the mausoleum. - 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.