Mausoleo di Teodorico

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Mausoleum of Theodoric, city of Ravenna, Emilia Romagna.

Historically and architecturally distinct from Ravenna's other Unesco sites (there are no mosaics here), this two-story mausoleum was built in 520 for Gothic king Teodorico, who ruled Italy as a Byzantine viceroy. It is notable for its Gothic design features and throwback Roman construction techniques: the huge blocks of stone were not cemented by any mortar. At the heart of the mausoleum is a Roman porphyry basin recycled as a sarcophagus. It's 2km from the city center; take bus 5.

There's free admission on the first Sunday of the month in winter only.

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