The Basilica of San Vitale is a church in Ravenna, located in Via San Vitale, a few meters away from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. SHORT HISTORY OF THE BASILICA OF SAN VITALE The Basilica of San Vitale was built by Bishop Ecclesio, starting with 532, and completed by his successor, Archbishop Maximian, in 547, when Ravenna was already ruled by the Roman Emperor Justinian. An exemplary masterpiece of early Byzantine art, the basilica was included in 1996 on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites entitled Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna. ARCHITECTURE OF THE BASILICA OF SAN VITALE The Basilica of San Vitale combines Roman architectural elements (the dome, the portals, the towers) with Byzantine elements (the polygonal apse, the capitals, the bricks). From the geometric shape of the main nucleus, emerge rigorously defined bodies – the raised tiburium (lantern tower), octagonal, and the apse, polygonal on the outside, semicircular on the inside, and flanked by two small rooms. The interior is accessed through two portals – one aligned with the apse, the other oblique. Consequently, also the narthex (antechamber), instead of being tangent to the front side of the octagon, is arranged obliquely. The interior space Read more [...]