Ravenna

Just a quick word about the beautiful madness of the mosaics in the ancient buildings of Ravenna.

We stopped one night on our way to Assisi and saw only 5 of the many Roman/Ostrogoth/Visigoth/Lombard Churches and Basilicas.

The effect of the mosaics is dazzling. Tiny squares of glass arranged by long forgotten artists into portraits and animals, sprays of flowers, stars, stories, sandals, shadows, peacocks and ships, golds, greens, crimsons, blues.

We looked up the history of the place and the buildings and it was similarly dazzling in its complexity and detail. Look up Galla Placidia and you’ll see what I mean.