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| Ravenna is a quiet
and attractive north Italian town that all but conceals an extraordinary
ancient history. For several centuries it was the capital of
Western Europe. In 402 AD Flavius Honorius chose Ravenna to
be the centre of the Roman Empire. In 476 the barbarian leader
Odoacer took the city from the Romans. He in turn was ousted
in 493 by the Ostrogoth emperor Theodoric, who made it the headquarters
of his Gothic empire. And after Theodoric's defeat by Belisarius
in 540 for two hundred years Ravenna was the seat of the Byzantine
Emperors' viceroys in Italy.
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This noble history
explains why the historic centre of Ravenna contains a unique
collection of buildings dating from the fifth and sixth centuries.
Eight of these are on UNESCO'S World Heritage list, of which
seven are decorated with magnificent and beautifully preserved
mosaics, many of them displaying early Christian iconography
that is unusual and fascinating. They are:
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from the fifth century,
the mausoleum of Galla Placida; |
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and the baptistery of Archbishop
Neon; |
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from the sixth century,
the basilica of St Apollinare Nuovo; |
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the Arian Baptistery; |
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the chapel of St Andrea; |
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the church of San Vitale; |
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and the basilica of St
Apollinare in Classe. |
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| Most impressive
of these, perhaps, is the astonishing Byzantine church of San
Vitale. Its fame throughout Christendom led it to be used as
the model for Charlemagne's cathedral in Aachen. The superb
mosaics of Ravenna's religious buildings will be the focus of
this study visit, but there are also domestic mosaics visible
in the remains of secular buildings from the imperial past,
as well as interesting museums and art galleries. |
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| Dante's tomb is
in Ravenna; it was here that he finished his Divine Comedy
and died in 1321. Some five centuries later the English poet
Byron lived in one of the city's palaces while he conducted
his affair with Teresa Guiccoli, an episode explored in Iris
Origo's biography The Last Attachment (1971). |
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| As on former trips
to Ravenna there will be the chance to spend an afternoon in
Rimini. The focus of this visit will be the Tempio Maletestiano,
Alberti's reworking of a Gothic church in Renaissance style.
Though never finished, this building occupies a special place
in the history of architecture. Inside is a small fresco by
Piero della Francesca, but pride of place is taken by the tombs
of the notorious condottiere Sigismondo Malatesta and his wife
Isotta degli Atti, surrounded by beautiful bas-reliefs by Agostino
di Duccio. Sigismondo's implacable enemy, Pope Pius II, furious
at the paganism of the monuments, called the church 'a temple
of devil-worshippers'. |
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| Present-day Ravenna
is a smart and pleasant town, with an historic centre composed
of charming pedestrian streets and squares. Our small three-star
hotel is only a short walk from the main sites. Estimated group
size is twelve persons. |
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| As on former Learn
Italy trips to Ravenna, we will be given on-site information
about the history and art of the city by an official local guide,
Signora Verdiana Baioni, who speaks excellent English. Martin
Gray will be the tour organiser. |
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Per person,
single use of double room:
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| Per person,
sharing a double room |
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| three nights bed and
breakfast in a three-star central hotel in Ravenna; |
| transfers by coach between
Bologna airport and the hotel; |
| entrance to the UNESCO
heritage sites; |
| return train tickets
to Rimini; |
| two dinners; |
| services of an expert
guide and a tour organiser in Ravenna. |
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| The flight to Italy
is not included. A suitable flight, most probably from Gatwick
to Bologna, will be chosen as soon as there are enough participants
to make the visit viable. At the time of writing tickets cost
about £130. Places on this study weekend will be restricted
to the first twelve applicants. |
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If you wish to
join this study week, please contact Martin Gray
at
01865 860984 or
enquiries@learn-italy.com
to receive a booking form.
Places on the holiday will be first-come, first-served,
based on receipt of the booking form and deposit.
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Guideline prices, excluding flights:
