Ravenna is on Italy's tourist map for one reason: its 1,500-year-old churches decorated with the richest collection of Byzantine mosaics anywhere. While locals go about their business, busloads of ...

The tiny colored glass and gold-leaf mosaic pieces here are practically as brilliant and beautiful as they were in Justinian’s time. Justinian turned Ravenna into a pinnacle of civilization.

Pre-dating Justinian, the mosaics here are purely Roman. Even Jesus is dressed in gold and purple, like a Roman emperor. The art of mosaic making is still alive and well in Ravenna.

The tiny colored glass and gold-leaf mosaic pieces here are practically as brilliant and beautiful as they were in Justinian’s time. Justinian turned Ravenna into a pinnacle of civilization.

Predating Justinian, the mosaics here are purely Roman. Even Jesus is dressed in gold and purple, like a Roman emperor. The art of mosaic making is still alive and well in Ravenna.

Pre-dating Justinian, the mosaics here are purely Roman. Even Jesus is dressed in gold and purple, like a Roman emperor. The art of mosaic making is still alive and well in Ravenna.

Gold mosaics achieved this most beautifully, furthering the sense of a transcendental atmosphere. In Ravenna, the mosaics of Justinian and his wife, Theodora, are particularly splendid.

But Ravenna’s three great rulers, Galla Placidia, Theoderic and Justinian, embellished the city with exceptional mosaics and for this reason Ravenna is a major tourist attraction.

The tiny colored glass and gold-leaf mosaic pieces here are practically as brilliant and beautiful as they were in Justinian’s time. Justinian turned Ravenna into a pinnacle of civilization.

Pre-dating Justinian, the mosaics here are purely Roman. Even Jesus is dressed in gold and purple, like a Roman emperor. The art of mosaic making is still alive and well in Ravenna.

Pre-dating Justinian, the mosaics here are purely Roman. Even Jesus is dressed in gold and purple, like a Roman emperor. The art of mosaic making is still alive and well in Ravenna.

The tiny colored glass and gold-leaf mosaic pieces here are practically as brilliant and beautiful as they were in Justinian's time. Justinian turned Ravenna into a pinnacle of civilization.