Ravenna: Architecture and Mosaics of San Vitale - David Henderson

The tranquil atmosphere of the small Adriatic city of Ravenna as it appears today belies its important role during one of Western history’s principal watersheds: the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. As Christianity spread and Gothic tribes invaded the Italian peninsula, Ravenna flourished for a time as an imperial capital. Its monuments bear witness to that period in which the ancient world was transformed into what would become medieval Europe. The final phase of the city’s role as an outpost of Constantinople’s authority began under the rule of the Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora, resulting in some of its most impressive building projects. San Vitale’s architecture and iconography proclaim the eventual triumph of this regime, speaking eloquently of a new relationship between power and faith. Its innovative design and profusion of lustrous mosaics make it one of the most significant examples of the Byzantine style in Italy. https://www.asatours.com.au/