Ravenna: Art and History (1991)

Ravenna: Art and History by Giuseppe Bovini was published by Longo in Ravenna in 1991. A new version, updated by Wanda Frattini Gaddoni, appeared in 2008. It is helpful and informative.

With 160 pages this book presents the major sites and museums in Ravenna with text and illustrations. Most illustrations are in colour, but a few are in black-and-white. The total number of illustrations is 115.

The book is divided into 21 chapters. Here is the table of contents:

* A Historical Survey

* The So-Called Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

* Piazza del Popolo

* Basilica di San Vitale

* The Church of the Holy Spirit and the Arian Baptistery

* Basilica di San Giovanni Evangelista

* Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

* The So-Called Palace of Theodoricus

* The Academy Gallery

* Mosaic Art Still Alive in Ravenna

* The Tomb of Dante and Dante’s Zone

* Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe

* The Neonian Baptistery next to the Cathedral

* The Museum of the Archbishop and the Chapel

* The Mausoleum of Theodoricus

* The Dante Centre

* The Church of St. Francis

* The Cathedral

* The National Museum of Ravenna

* The Mosaics of the Archaeological Site in Via Massimo D’Azeglio

* The 14th Century Frescoes of  Santa Chiara

The old version from 1991 is out of print, but the new version from from 2008 is still available (in several languages). I like this book. The text is short and clear, and the illustrations are excellent.

If you wish to know about Ravenna – in particular the beautiful and well-preserved mosaics – this book is highly recommended. If you are planning a trip to Ravenna, this book can help you prepare your visit. After a visit the book will be a wonderful souvenir.

PS. # 1. If you come to Ravenna today, you will find that many other books about the city and its monuments are available (in several languages), for instance Ravenna: Mosaics and Monuments also written by Bovini and also published by Longo.

PS. # 2. If you are looking for more information about Ravenna, I can suggest the following books: Ravenna in Late Antiquity by Deborah Mauskopf Deliyannis (hardcover 2010, paperback 2014) and Eternal Ravenna by Massimiliano David (2013).

 

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Giuseppe Bovini,

Ravenna: Art and History,

Longo, 1991, updated and reprinted in 2008, 160 pages

 

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