Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy Jan. 6, 2025

Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy

In the Italian province of Ravenna lies the Basilica of San Francesco, recognised for its beauty and historical significance. This Romanesque church, originally built in 450 CE, features a sturdy square bell tower added in the 9th century, enhancing the basilica"s exterior. Its design features three naves, divided by two rows of 12 columns each. Featured in today"s image is the basilica"s real showstopper: the basement crypt or a burial chamber is a stunning model of early religious design. Complete with vaulted ceilings that slope down into rows of stone columns, its floor is a work of art itself. It"s inlaid with beautifully intricate mosaic tiles that have withstood the test of time.

© Andrea Pucci/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

‘The hills have a power to soothe and heal which is their very own.’
Jan. 6, 2024Vermilion Lakes, Banff
Jan. 6, 2026Nuuk, Greenland

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul 16, 2026Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Aug 25, 2026Atlantic puffin in Elliston, Newfoundland
Apr. 8, 2025Paro Tsechu Festival, Bhutan
Jan. 1, 2024Happy New Year!
Dec. 24, 2023Christmas Eve
Come on, guys, this way!
Feb. 28, 2026Oloupena Falls, island of Molokai, Hawaii, United States
Dec. 7, 2024Lake Ontario, Toronto, during winter
Dec. 4, 2024Wildlife Conservation Day
Apr. 7, 2025Whistler World Ski & Snowboard Festival
Jun. 14, 2025Cinque Torri, Dolomites, Italy
Feb. 18, 2025The Great Blue Hole, Belize
Apr. 6, 2025Yellow warbler
Nov. 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Nov. 16, 2024Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
Jun. 25, 2025Glastonbury Festival begins
Jun. 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Gateway to Iberia
Feb. 22, 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
A road not for the faint of heart
Oct. 15, 2024Great wildebeest migration at Mara River, Kenya
Jul. 12, 2024Mount Rainier National Park
Jan. 8, 2024Bernina Pass, Graubünden, Switzerland
Sep. 17, 2025A young bull moose, Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
Apr. 5, 2026Easter Sunday
Oct. 20, 2024International Sloth Day
Feb. 26, 2024Grand Canyon National Park, USA
A sky full of stars
Sep 4, 2026Westerheversand Lighthouse, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
A kiss and a sigh