River Countess Cruise Photos

From: Uniworld River Countess cruise review

Day 5: Ravenna (2)

The first stop on our walking tour was the Basilica di San Vitale, a couple of blocks from the bus drop-off point. The church, which dates to the middle of the 6th Century, is world-famous for its mosaics.

Most of the church's mosaics were created during the Byzantine period, nearly 1,500 years ago. (The mosaics are made of tiny pieces of colored or gilded glass called tessere.)

The floors of the St. Vitale Basilica are made of marble tiles in different shapes and colors.

After visiting the church, we went outside and followed a path to the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, which is is even older than the Basilica di San Vitale.

The mausoleum was built for the sister of a Roman Emperor who ended up dying (and being interred) elsewhere. It was constructed around 425 to 450 AD.

The mausoleum's interior is decorated with mosaics from the middle of the First Millennium AD. (The bottom photo is an extreme close-up of blue and gilded tessere. Every tiny glass tile has its own unique shape.)