Palace of Theoderic, 6th century royal palace in Ravenna, Italy.
The Palace of Theoderic is an early medieval royal complex in Ravenna, Italy, whose surviving remains include floor mosaics and masonry from the early 6th century. The site brings together building techniques from the late Roman and Byzantine traditions in a single structure.
Theoderic the Great had the complex built as the seat of his Ostrogothic Kingdom in the early 500s. After the kingdom fell, parts of the structure were taken apart and the materials were carried away to other regions.
The palace takes its name from Theoderic the Great, the Ostrogothic king who made Ravenna a meeting point between two worlds. Visitors can still walk past surviving floor mosaics that show the decorative language common to both Roman and Byzantine craftsmanship.
The remains are laid out in an archaeological area with information panels that help you get your bearings. The ground can be uneven in places, so sturdy footwear is a good idea, and some sections may not always be fully open.
Archaeologists found lead pipes on the site marked with Theoderic's name, which helped map out the original layout of the complex. Inscribed pipes of this kind are a rare find and one of the few direct traces a ruler left in the physical fabric of a building.
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