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Centuries Ago, A Golden, Sumptuous Age In Ravenna


Viggen

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The Golden Age of Ravenna in the sixth century was just that. Acres of glittering gold mosaics covered the walls, ceilings and domes of basilicas, churches, mausoleums and palaces. Only a fraction of them survive, but those that do have the power to astonish, their precious metals and gorgeous array of colors imprisoned in millions of glass tesserae, shining as brightly as they did a millennium and a half ago. The Roman emperor Honorius took refuge here from invading armies in 402. Despite his reputation for decadence and folly, his choice to make Ravenna his new capital was a wise one. Its surrounding lagoons and marshes secured its landward side, and its port of Classe kept the sea route open to Constantinople and the still thriving empire in the east.

 

full article at Herald Times

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The Church of San Vitale doesn't look like much (to me) from outside, but it is magnificent inside. The mosaic referred to is bright and I believe tells the story of the coronation of Justinian. The baptismal fountain has a story to it, which I don't remember. It is also situate in an odd position.

 

The city functioned as the Byzantine Exarch's seat in Italy for some time.

 

My memory fails me; perhaps the memory's of others will be jogged.

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