Print this page Italian City Seminars: Ravenna, City of Mosaics

Tucked away near Italy's Adriatic coast, Ravenna is one of the country's hidden treasures. For a time it was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, and later the centre of Byzantine rule in Italy. Today it is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage-listed monuments, filled with some of the most dazzling mosaics ever made. In this one-day Saturday seminar, we'll travel together through Ravenna's long and fascinating history, from its Roman beginnings to its golden age of Byzantine splendour, and on to its transformation in the 20th century. We'll take an in-depth look at its remarkable buildings and their glittering decoration, including the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Baptistery of Neon, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, San Vitale and Sant'Apollinare in Classe. We'll also explore lesser-known mosaics from the Fascist era and what they tell us about art and politics.

Whether you've been to Italy many times or are dreaming of your first visit, join fellow art and travel lovers for a relaxed, friendly day of discovery. Bring your questions, share your own travel stories, and see why Ravenna is worth the journey.

DELIVERY MODE

Face to face

COURSE OUTLINE

This one day seminar takes you to Ravenna, home to eight UNESCO-listed monuments. We begin with the Roman city’s origins of the city before taking an in-depth look at the architecture and mosaic decorations, including: 

• The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, 
• The Baptistery of Neon, 
• Saint Apollinaire Nuovo, 
• San Vitale
• Saint Apollinaire in Classe
• The Fascist era mosaics of the former War Veterans’ Association. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Know the history of Ravenna’s urban development from Roman times to the 20th C
• Understand the formal, material and compositional aspects of Byzantine mosaics
• Show awareness of the relationship between art and contemporary geopolitics