New Basilica of Saint Apollinaris
The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, located halfway along Via di Roma in Ravenna, is one of the oldest and most significant monuments in the city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Built in the 5th century by the Gothic king Theodoric as a palatine chapel, the basilica was initially dedicated to the Savior and then, after the Byzantine conquest, consecrated to Orthodox worship and dedicated to Saint Martin.
Its exterior architecture is simple, with a brick facade and a cylindrical bell tower dating back to the 9th or 10th century. Inside, one finds one of the most famous mosaic cycles in the world, dating back to the early Christian and late antique period, depicting Christological scenes and offering valuable testimony to the evolution of Byzantine mosaic art.
A peculiar detail of the mosaics is the realistic representation of the city of Classe, with its walls and harbor, and of Theodoric's Palace, alongside more solemn and spiritual representations of religious figures. This blend of realism and symbolism gives the mosaics extraordinary artistic and historical value.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is one of the most precious treasures of Ravenna, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Commissioned by Queen Galla Placidia in the first half of the 5th century as her tomb and dedicated to her mother, father, and husband, the building has a simple exterior structure, but internally it is covered with extraordinary mosaics that convey a magical atmosphere.
The interior of the mausoleum is clad in yellow marbles at the bottom and mosaics on the upper area, decorating walls, arches, lunettes, and the dome. These mosaics, blending Hellenistic and Christian traditions, depict iconographic themes related to the victory of eternal life over death.
The dome is dominated by a golden Latin cross against a starry sky background, while the lunettes depict the apostles and symbolic scenes related to baptism and divine grace. The floral and geometric decorations transform the atmosphere of the mausoleum into a hymn to light and eternal life.
Baptistry of Neon
The Baptistry of Neon, also known as the Orthodox Baptistery, is one of the oldest monuments in Ravenna and is part of the circuit of early Christian buildings declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Probably built in the early 5th century at the behest of the episcopate of Ursus, the baptistery underwent significant renovations under Bishop Neon (450 - 475 AD), which led to the creation of the rich internal mosaic decoration that characterizes it.
The building has an octagonal shape with alternately straight and apsidal sides, and the interior is divided into two orders of overlapping arches, with a tripartite decoration that includes marbles, stuccoes, and mosaics of Hellenistic-Roman influence.
The baptistery's dome is particularly famous for its mosaics, which follow an ascensional iconographic program from the exterior to the center. The outer band is decorated with natural motifs, empty thrones, and altars with Gospels, while in the middle band emerge the figures of the twelve apostles. At the center of the dome, a large medallion depicts Christ immersed in the Jordan River with John the Baptist, constituting the oldest mosaic representation of Christ's baptism in a monumental building.
San Vitale
Mausoleum of Theoderic
Il Mausoleo di Teodorico, situato fuori dal centro storico di Ravenna, è un'iconica costruzione funeraria realizzata dagli Ostrogoti intorno al 520 d.C. e inclusa nell'elenco dei siti italiani Patrimonio dell'Umanità dell'UNESCO. Questo monumento rappresenta una fusione tra la tradizione costruttiva romana e influenze orientali, testimoniando l'incontro tra l'antico popolo romano e i Goti.
Costruito interamente in blocchi di pietra d'Aurisina, il mausoleo ha una struttura complessa con due ordini sovrapposti, entrambi decagonali. La cupola monolitica che lo sovrasta, con le sue dimensioni sorprendenti e le iscrizioni dei nomi di apostoli ed evangelisti sulle anse, è un elemento distintivo dell'architettura.
All'interno, il piano inferiore presenta nicchie su nove lati, mentre il decimo lato ospita l'ingresso. Si ipotizza che la cella inferiore fosse destinata a luogo di culto o tomba per i familiari di Teodorico, mentre quella superiore potrebbe aver contenuto la sua salma.
Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe
The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, located approximately 8 km south of Ravenna, is one of the eight monuments that make up the UNESCO site of the city. This impressive basilica, with its distinctive cylindrical bell tower, was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.
Built to house the remains of Sant'Apollinare, the patron saint of Ravenna, the basilica stands on a cemetery area used between the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD and was funded by Julian the Silversmith by order of Bishop Ursicinus. Consecrated in 549 AD under the archbishopric of Maximian, the basilica is considered the largest example of early Christian basilica.
One of its most distinctive elements is the magnificent polychrome mosaics in the apse, depicting Sant'Apollinare and other Christian symbols. The mosaics also include a variety of plants, rocks, and birds, as well as representing important figures of the Ravenna church. The hand of God and a cross adorned with precious stones emerge above a paradisiacal landscape, while the face of Christ with the Greek apocalyptic letters Alpha and Omega is found within.
Archbishop’s Chapel
The Archbishop's Chapel, or Chapel of St. Andrew, located on the first floor of the Archbishop's Museum in Ravenna, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Built in the early 5th century AD by order of Bishop Peter II, it is the only Orthodox monument still existing in the city, created during the time of Theodoric as a private oratory serving the Catholic bishops. After the city's conquest by the Byzantines, the chapel was dedicated to St. Andrew, whose relics arrived in Ravenna from Constantinople around the mid-6th century.
The mosaic decoration of the chapel is a hymn to the Savior, with the dominant presence of Christ as a warrior, the cross on his shoulder, and the monogram, confirming a clearly anti-Arian iconographic interpretation. Images of martyrs, apostles, and evangelists underline the concept of glorification, in stark contrast to Arianism. The Latin inscription in the vestibule reflects the triumph of Catholic orthodoxy over the Orthodox light, opposing Arianism.
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.