Arian Baptistry

The Arian Baptistry, located near the railway station of Ravenna, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites declared in 1996.

Presumably commissioned by King Theodoric at the end of the 5th century AD, when Arianism was the official religion of the court, the baptistry was intended to serve as a liturgical complement to the nearby Arian Cathedral. It was reconsecrated to Orthodox worship by the order of Justinian in the mid-6th century, becoming an oratory dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Over the centuries, it underwent various transformations and changes in use, until it was restored and preserved as Italian state heritage in 1914.

The original appearance of the baptistry, taller and with an external ambulatory, is difficult to imagine today. Inside, the dome adorned with mosaics depicting the baptism of Christ is the only part remaining of the ancient stuccoes and ornaments. These mosaics bear witness to the worship of Theodoric’s court and feature iconography similar to that of the Neon Baptistry, but with some peculiarities related to Arian worship.