Up close in Ravenna

Detail of mosaics in Basilica di San Vitale, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

From Dante’s tomb in Ravenna, Italy. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Mosaic in Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe, near Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Detail from the ceiling of the Arian Baptistery, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Detail from the ceiling of the Arian Baptistery, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Decoration inside Basilica di San Francesco, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Detail from the ceiling of the Arian Baptistery, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Through Ravenna

Basilica of San Vitale and the National Museum of Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Neonian Baptistery, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Fragment of a maiolica plate, second half of the 15th century. Ravenna National Museum. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Flooded crypt of the Basilica di San Francesco, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Sixth century Byzantine mosaics in Basilica di San Vitale, Ravenna. The mosaic medallions along the central arch depict Jesus, the Twelve Apostles, and the two sainted sons of Saint Vitale, Gervasius and Protasius. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Ravenna National Museum. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Ravenna National Museum. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Ravenna National Museum. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Portico in the Ravenna National Museum. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Goldfish in the flooded crypt of the Basilica di San Francesco, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Mosaics in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Ravenna National Museum. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.

Campanile of San Vitale, Ravenna. Photo by Renée DeVoe Mertz.