Chiesa di San Romualdo

The former abbey church of San Romualdo stands beside Ravenna's Biblioteca Classense, whose collections grew from the books of the Camaldolese monks. Designed by Luca Danesi, the church is now used for musical and cultural programmes.

Why it matters

San Romualdo links the history of the Camaldolese community with the development of one of Ravenna's major civic libraries. After monks moved their books inside the city following the Battle of Ravenna in 1512, the monastery's collection became the foundation of the Biblioteca Classense.

What to notice

The brick façade remains austere and unfinished, with a raised portal and a large rectangular window. Inside the single nave, Camillo Morigia's altar was built for the relics of San Severo, with marbles by Toschini and Baroni. Giovanni Battista Barbiani's frescoes depict the Ecstasy of San Romualdo and the Immaculate in glory with the four evangelists. The square bell tower rises beside the transept. The former sacristy, now the library's Sala Muratori, preserves another link between the two institutions.

Context and history

The Camaldolese community settled in Ravenna after the 1512 battle, bringing books from Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Luca Danesi designed the church, whose first stone was laid in 1630; Cardinal Capponi consecrated it in 1637. After the monastery was suppressed in 1798, the building served as a museum, gym, war memorial and Museo del Risorgimento before becoming a concert venue. Paintings once collected by the abbey, including works by Guercino, Vasari and Cerquozzi, are now held in the city's picture gallery.