On to Ravenna, the City of Mosaics

Our driver for the ride from Bologna to Ravenna was a cheerful fellow who once had worked at a Pizza Hut in Franklin, VA. Small world, eh? We stayed at the Palazzo Galletti Abbiosi, a boutique hotel originally the home of a Ravennati noble family. The Ravenna weather was still a bit gloomy, but didn't dampen the charm of the palazzo.

Main staircase

Murano glass chandelier

Palazzo chapel

Sitting room

Palazzo courtyard

Our time in Ravenna allowed for a visit to the main attractions: the Tomb of Dante (father of the modern Italian language) and a few of the great mosaic basilicas of the 6th century.

Tomb of Dante (with Alpini veterans on holiday)

Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

Basilica grounds

Christ mosaic

We would be remiss if we failed to mention the vintage hand-powered Berkel & Parnall's meat slicer tucked away in the corner of the hotel dining room. It was made in England likely before World War I. Emilia-Romagna celebrates its cured meats, most famously mortadella. So it would be no surprise the Abbiosi family cooks would have a proper meat slicer in the kitchen.