RAVENNA, Emilia-Romagna — We stepped inside the Church of San Vitale in Ravenna with Professor Robin Cormack, one of the world’s leading authorities on Byzantine art and author of Byzantine Art for Oxford University Press. Standing beneath mosaics consecrated in 547 AD, he told us why this small city holds a place in art history that Rome, Florence and Venice cannot match. From the shimmering gold tessera covering every surface to the famous panels of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, he brought one of the ancient world’s greatest achievements back to vivid life. King Charles made a special pilgrimage here during his 2025 royal tour of Italy, and it’s easy to see why once you walk inside.