Inspired by Chris’s recent photo-blogging post, I thought I’d share a less well known little gem about (the original) Ravenna: not a byzantine church interior full of mosaics, but the submerged crypt of an early medieval Church (the Basilica of San Francesco), populated by goldfish (and the inevitable coins thrown in for good luck).
Incidentally, it’s also the church where Dante Alighieri’s funeral was celebrated (he was exiled in Ravenna).
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Chris Bertram 01.21.25 at 3:23 pm
Lovely! Ravenna was on my to-visit list a couple of years ago, but we ended up not being able to fit it in. Next time!
oldster 01.21.25 at 6:29 pm
The ancient ruins of Ravenna are stunning. The mosaics are of the highest quality. The modern town is perhaps not as pleasant as some Italian towns, but the train connections are good and Bologna is only 1 hour away.
New old things are constantly being found — when we were there a few years ago, there was a new museum showcasing a Roman mosaic from a large villa, which had been uncovered not long before.
We did not see this submerged crypt on our visit — I’ll try harder next time.