The Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto is one of the most important Baroque religious monuments in Ravenna, distinguished by its monumental façade, rich interior decoration, and centuries-long connection with the spiritual life of the city. Located along Via di Roma, in the southeastern area of Ravenna’s historic center, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto stands slightly apart from the dense medieval core, opening onto a wide rectangular square that enhances its architectural presence. Built over a long period between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto reflects the ambitions and devotion of the Canons Regular of Santa Maria in Porto, a religious community deeply rooted in Ravenna’s history. The church is especially renowned for housing the Greek Madonna, an early medieval marble bas-relief associated with an ancient local tradition of miraculous origin, which remains a focal point of devotion to this day. Despite suffering periods of decline, suppression, and wartime damage, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto has preserved its artistic and architectural integrity. Today it functions as an active parish church and a significant cultural landmark, offering visitors insight into Ravenna’s Baroque heritage, monastic history, and enduring Marian devotion. Read more [...]