The Mosaics of Ravenna in Photos

In Ravenna, look up. A gold cross hangs in a midnight-blue vault, apostles circle two baptism scenes, and an emperor and empress appear in facing panels at San Vitale. These photographs bring the fifth- and sixth-century mosaics of Ravenna and nearby Classe close enough to see how the tiles give a face its expression or turn a ceiling into a sky. Start with the dark blues of Galla Placidia, then follow the gold across baptistery domes, church walls and apses. Each caption names the building and gives you a detail to look for.