About
Goldfish swim in a shallow pool of sea water in this ancient crypt, which is more of a wishing well than a burial ground.
The world-renowned Basilica de San Francesco, constructed between the 9th and 10th centuries, is an architectural marvel and a UNESCO protected landmark. An exceptional feature of this church is its wondrous underground crypt, which has been flooded by the adjacent marshes and now serves as a shallow goldfish pond. This crypt features a design typical of religious burials at the time: vaulted ceilings merging into rows of stone columns with floors adorned in mosaic tile patterns. Although some of these tiles have been lost, restorations in 1977 have saved most of them. It is said that this site holds the remains of Bishop Neon, who lived during the 5th century in Ravenna. The crypt is especially remarkable due to its remarkably good preservation.
