Ravenna is a famous town: its monuments are known in all the world and its name is, therefore, synonym for mosaic and Byzantine art. On all the shelves of specialized and nonlibraries there are a lot of volumes and magazines which are about the art and history of Ravenna, with monographs and photos; so why a new guide of Ravenna?
The books about Ravenna belong to two very distinct categories. There are the works of experts who examine Ravenna’s artistic heritage in great detail as well as its historical events and archeological discoveries: thus they are products destined to be read by a distinct minority.
There are even the so-called popular guides, characterized by numerous photographs and a very brief text, often only containing the minimum, sometimes not without mistakes.
To this second group belongs the greater part of the material at present on sale, which is all very similar and leaves a sense of dissatisfaction in the visitor.
Unfortunately in Italy, unlike in anglo-saxon countries, scientific information is considered by experts as having little importance with the unfortunate result that it is often in complete and vague.
This is because, contrary to general belief, writing a simple and popular talk, requires a good knowledge of the subject enabling the speaker to explain it easily and completely.
This volume is not destined for an extremely specialized public, who will find such information elsewhere, but to those who, without identifying with the so-called «cultural visitors» wish to have, however, a more complete and exact image without being long-winded about the town of Ravenna and its surroundings such as Classe and its monuments, but also the other artistic and cultural aspects of the region.
The contents are exaustive and up-to-date and undoubtly the author will revise any future editions.
