Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Early Christian mausoleum in Ravenna, Italy.
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is an early Christian tomb in Ravenna, Italy, dating from the 5th century. The small cruciform building contains mosaics depicting saints, religious scenes, and a star-studded vault.
The building was constructed between 425 and 450 as a chapel for the Church of Santa Croce. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the structure remained standing and later acquired its current name.
The name links to Galla Placidia, a Roman empress, though her burial never took place here. Visitors can observe how soft light filters through alabaster windows and makes the gold mosaics glow.
The building can be visited daily and is located near the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. The interior is small, so only a few visitors can enter at the same time.
Three ancient sarcophagi stand inside, though none of them holds the remains of Galla Placidia. The blue coloring of the mosaics comes from a rare mineral that was imported from the eastern Mediterranean during late antiquity.
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