I am in Ravenna

It was a long day of travelling to the Istanbul airport, a flight to Venice and then 3 hours in a bus to Ravenna. This hotel is very swish - even has a bidet, fridge, but safe is too small for my computer. But there is is great desk I am typing on.

We called into Abbey Pomposa which was on the way. An 8-12th century abbey of Benedictine monks who did a lot of fresco work. As well apparently they created modern music, but I missed the details. 

The interior of the chapel

It was in ruins/ignored till the new Italian government in the 19th century decided to develop as a bit of tourist thing, but it was not very touristy - quite nice. The Abbots Guido (I think Guido is Italian for George because of sculpture see below) were into music, several were saints and there was this lovely relic of one. The doctors on the tour (there are five) debated which bone it was - femur looked too short to me. You decide.

Abbot Guido's bone

The monastery, and importantly, campanile (bell tower) date from 1062, but it seems that as they rebuilt parts of it they decided to become a bit more ornate. Note the increasing number of columns at the windows as you go up the tower.

Pomposa Monastery



Note the coloured bowls plastered into the building. These are all different, and some are patterned. A Byzantine influence said the tour leader.

St George killing the dragon, of course

Fact check: Guido is not Italian for George, Guide or Guy is a more correct approximation. Italian for George is Giorgio.

Domenica and her husband are also in Italy! She called me just now, so no time to write any more before dinner in 5 minutes.


We were the only non-locals!

Comments

  1. PAMApril 30, 2026 at 6:57 PM

    Very good nan but give make stories more funny please

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousApril 30, 2026 at 10:54 PM

    The brickwork at the monastery is beautiful. With patterns reminiscent of the tile work in Istanbul it seems to me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SPMay 1, 2026 at 10:01 AM

    Love the decorations around the bone, he must have been quite a small man if that is his femur

    ReplyDelete

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