Mosaic Temple | Ravenna

An overnight visit to Ravenna with my son Ludovico and his friend became an unexpected journey into the birthplace of mosaic mastery. What was designed as a pitstop on our way to Croatia, this small Adriatic city provided a beautiful cultural detour.

With nonchalance that characterizes many Italian gems, Ravenna’s ancient city center has several exquisite mosaic wonders. After a long drive from Rome, we welcomed long walks around the city, following the trail of ceramic pixels. The Basilica and adjacent mausoleum are for sure crowd pleasers. I was floored instead by the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and its stunning mosaic processions on either side of the nave. When we visited, the church was emptied of all seating, which created an atmosphere of an ancient temple more than a Catholic church.

Above the colonnades are depictions of two processions, on the left, female and on the right, male. What struck me were the details illustrated by the mosaic squares: gorgeous architecture; waves; the varying designs on people’s garments. The scene was awe-inspiring – I imagined what it would be like to be looking at eye level at these stunning murals, instead of from below.

Soon, we made our own procession out of town. Eyes filled with gorgeous squares, precursor to the digital pixel, I waved goodbye to another cultural discovery in my adopted country.