{"id":1450,"date":"2016-01-09T23:35:06","date_gmt":"2016-01-09T22:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ravennacityguide.it\/en\/?p=1450"},"modified":"2016-09-28T18:13:41","modified_gmt":"2016-09-28T16:13:41","slug":"the-starry-sky-of-galla-placidia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ravennacityguide.it\/en\/the-starry-sky-of-galla-placidia\/","title":{"rendered":"The starry sky of Galla Placidia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Night and day<\/div>\n
You are the one<\/div>\n
Only you beneath the moon<\/div>\n
and under the sun<\/div>\n
Whether near to me or far<\/div>\n
It's no matter darling<\/div>\n
where you are, I think of you.\"<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
It is said that Cole Porter was inspired by the Mausoleum of Galla Placida for the\u00a0composition of his song \"Night and Day\". Whether it\u00a0is reality or legend, it is certain that\u00a0inside this small monument you feel wrapped in a beautiful starry night, and daylight is\u00a0dazzling when you exit from this small treasure as\u00a0to awaken from a dream.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Outside it is simple and without frills, nothing lets you prefigure the wonder that lies inside.\u00a0Then, entering in the mausoleum the atmosphere of a\u00a0quiet night envelops you. The warm<\/div>\n
light that filters from the alabaster windows slightly lights up the sky of wonderful mosaic,\u00a0dominated by the dark blue and gold of 570 stars.<\/div>\n
The mausoleum was commissioned by Galla Placidia (386-452), the sister of Honorius, the\u00a0Western Roman Emperor who moved the capital from Milan to Ravenna, but never held her remains which are probably in Rome.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
The representations inside the mausoleum celebrate\u00a0the victory of life over death; at the\u00a0center of the dome the cross of Christ triumphs as\u00a0a path to resurrection and eternal life.<\/div>\n
The arches are decorated with tiles of rich colors,\u00a0red, yellow, green, blue ... a real explosion\u00a0of color.<\/div>\n
The doves depicted on the lawn between the Apostles\u00a0symbolize the souls in front of the\u00a0source of divine grace. Over time they have become\u00a0a symbol of our city as well.<\/div>\n
Two lunettes stand out above the others: the lunette of the Good Shepherd that represents a\u00a0beardless Christ between the sheep and the Saint Lo\u00a0renzo martyr lunette.<\/div>\n
The Good Shepherd scene is remarkable for the sinsity and royalty in which he is\u00a0represented, in an unnatural pose but far from rigid and hieratic iconography.<\/div>\n
Around him sheep in a field of vivid green tiles.<\/div>\n
Saint Lorenzo instead comes into the scene running,\u00a0with the cross of Christ on his shoulder,\u00a0as he approaches the point of martyrdom.\u00a0As Christ triumphed with the cross, so Lorenzo will<\/div>\n
have salvation from the cross.\u00a0Beside him the Gospels symbol of the Faith.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Do not rush to get out, take another minute, enjoy\u00a0the magical night of Galla Placida that\u00a0fascinated D'Annunzio, Porter and many other visitors ... in this garden of mosaic there are<\/div>\n
deer, fruit, apostles, enchanting colour ..... the\u00a0stars.<\/div>\n
Then, suddenly, the light.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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