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The remains of 8th-century Ravenna
Among the many wonders that make Ravenna one of Italy's most important cities of art is the ancient Palazzo di Teodorico, or rather, what remains of Ravenna's 8th-century architecture. These are the remains of a wall that has stood for centuries, a stone's throw from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.
It is not clear what the purpose of the building was, of which we can now admire only part of the façade, but some scholars have suggested that it may have been a guardhouse built to guard the entrance to the palace that stood a short distance away and of which we no longer have any trace. Others believe that it is the portico of the façade of the early medieval church of San Salvatore ai Calchi. What we do know is that, contrary to previous assumptions, the building was never the residence of Theodoric the Great.
Today, thanks to extensive restoration work carried out since the late 20th century, visitors can admire the exquisite floor mosaics spread over two floors, which were discovered in the largest archaeological area during excavations in the 19th century.
Via Alberoni, corner of Via di Roma, 48121 Ravenna RA, Italy
