Il Pavimento at Porta Adriana: the contemporary mosaic captivating Ravenna

An artwork that has “stirred something in the city”

In Ravenna, a UNESCO World Heritage city renowned worldwide for its ancient mosaics, something extraordinary is happening. Beneath the arches of Porta Adriana, one of the city’s historic gates, a new mosaic masterpiece has been born that in less than two weeks since its inauguration is already on everyone’s lips: Il Pavimento by artist Nicola Montalbini.

Inaugurated on October 17, 2025, as part of the 9th Biennale of Contemporary Mosaic, this 50-square-meter mosaic carpet is winning over citizens, tourists, merchants, and administrators. The success is such that a campaign has already begun to make it permanent, despite its scheduled removal on January 18, 2026.

A journey through time via tiles and memories

Il Pavimento is not just a simple mosaic: it is a journey through time and the city’s memories, a work that dialogues with Ravenna’s great mosaic tradition while reinterpreting it with contemporary language.

Walking beneath the arches of Porta Adriana, you’ll find yourself surrounded by fantastic creatures and symbols laden with meaning:

The four sentinels at the corners

Bear, Lion, Tiger, and Ostrich watch over Il Pavimento as silent guardians. Inspired by ancient hunting mosaics, these animals—once innocent victims—here see their wounds healed, transforming into symbols of justice and redemption.

Monsters and mythological creatures

From the Kantharos of Boxford, pigeons drink in search of peace. The mermaid Electra, echoing the triton from the Cathedral of Otranto, embodies Ravenna itself: just as the Little Mermaid renounces her voice for a terrestrial life, so the city has drained its waters, losing its vital element.

Facing her, the Peacock reassembled like an avian Frankenstein from a fragment of the Basilica of Ca’ Bianca, with its head reattached in a play between ancient and contemporary.

The beating heart: the Bell Tower

At the center rises the Bell Tower of San Giovanni Evangelista, affectionately called “Millo” in honor of Mario, the artist’s grandfather. An ice cream maker and post-war rebuilder of the bell tower, Mario hid a box with his name in the cement, a secret kept for generations and now celebrated in this mosaic.

The goddess and the cosmic worm

Tyche, the goddess of fortune with a turreted crown, emerges from the waters like a Lovecraftian creature, protector of the city discovered in Classe in 1970. Beside her, Pelagio, the gigantic worm from the Basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista (1213), composed of fragments from the floor of Classe, grazes on red rockroses with its head crowned by a phoenix.

Personal memories and collective recollections

Montalbini has woven personal memories into the grand history: the Ravenna archaeologist Maria Grazia Maioli, recently deceased; his beloved cat Trilli peeking from a corner; and of course his grandfather Mario, the ice cream maker who helped rebuild the city.

A collaborative work born from teamwork

“Teamwork was fundamental, because you can’t do something like this alone,” Montalbini emphasizes. Indeed, Il Pavimento is the fruit of an extraordinary two-year collaboration:

• The Gruppo Mosaicisti Ravenna by Marco Santi and the marte association
• The Academy of Fine Arts of Ravenna with students: Roberta Casadei, Francesca Fantoni, Lorenzo Baruzzi, Chiara Cappucci, Yinzhuoran Cheng, Martina Di Mattia, Mattia Farinelli, Chiara Ferraresi, Xia Lingjie, Hernan Lombardo, Marica Zanga
• Curated by Daniele Torcellini and Eleonora Savorelli
• Supported by the Municipality of Ravenna and sponsors Mapei and Profilpas

“It’s a punk work destined for the city”

The success has been immediate and overwhelming. Countless positive comments both in person and online. The civic lists Viva Ravenna and La Pigna have called for it to become permanent, merchants in the historic center have started a petition, and the municipal administration has expressed its support.

Montalbini, happily surprised, comments: “It has stirred something in the city. It’s a punk work destined for the city, and if the city wants to keep it, I’ll be happy, but I don’t want to impose any decision—that’s up to the community.”

Culture Councilor Fabio Sbaraglia stated: “The Municipality is not opposed to extending the installation. But the area is protected, and evaluations are subject to the approval of the Superintendency.” The ball now passes to the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape.

Why visit Il Pavimento now

Time is running out: the work is visible until January 18, 2026, unless the citizens’ mobilization succeeds in making it permanent. But don’t wait until the last days!

This is the perfect time to:

• Discover a work that is already making history in contemporary mosaic art
• See how Ravenna’s millennial mosaic tradition is renewed in the 21st century
• Participate in a special moment for the city, when a work of art becomes a catalyst for collective discussions and passions
• Photograph and share an installation that is conquering social media and the hearts of Ravenna’s residents

Ravenna: much more than Il Pavimento

Il Pavimento is only the latest marvel of a city that is an open-air museum. Ravenna safeguards eight UNESCO monuments with the finest Byzantine mosaics in the Western world, ancient churches, Dante Alighieri’s tomb, centuries-old pine forests, and a port on the Adriatic Sea.

But Ravenna is not just the past: it’s a living city with a vibrant cultural scene, excellent restaurants where you can taste piadina and cappelletti, historic markets, and an enviable quality of life.

Experience Ravenna with someone who truly knows it

To discover Il Pavimento and all of Ravenna’s treasures in the best way, trust the experience of a professional tour guide.

Cinzia Tittarelli, licensed tour guide, will accompany you on a journey that goes far beyond standard tourist routes, revealing:

• The hidden meanings of Il Pavimento and its connections to ancient mosaics
• The secret stories of UNESCO monuments
• The lesser-known but unmissable corners of the city
• The best places to eat and shop like a true Ravenna local

A guided tour transforms a visit into an unforgettable experience, allowing you to grasp nuances and connections that you might miss on your own.

Il Pavimento at Porta Adriana awaits you, but perhaps not forever. Ravenna certainly does, with all its millennial treasures and contemporary surprises.

Come discover why this city continues to amaze the world, one mosaic at a time.