Ravenna is known for its golden mosaics constructed in the Byzantine era between late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. The finest examples of Byzantine artwork outside of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) and Eastern Europe, the early Christian monuments of Ravenna were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO due to their outstanding universal value in 1996.

Mosaics are an art form utilizing small pieces of colored stone, glass, or other materials, known as tesserae. The materials are affixed to a surface to create a pattern or picture.