Basilica of San Vitale: the octagonal church symbol of Byzantine art

In the heart of the city of Ravenna, halfway between the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra, is the beautiful Basilica of San Vitale. A living testimony of the finest Byzantine art, known and appreciated by important historical figures. Even Charlemagne, the great emperor, chose this church as a model for his Palatine Chapel, demonstrating the particularity of its forms and the undeniable beauty of the internal mosaics.

The Basilica of San Vitale has always represented a symbol of recognition for the inhabitants of Ravvena. Its imposing structure stands to protect the surrounding space, to remember the delicacy of past architecture and the artist's mastery.

When visiting Ravenna, it is impossible not to stop and look at the Basilica. The exterior and the interior deserve to be remembered and to be visited live, so that you can observe every little detail.

The history of the basilica

The Basilica of San Vitale was commissioned in 525 AD, at the behest of Archbishop Ecclesio. Its construction required the payment of a substantial sum of money, well 26 thousand gold coins made available by the banker Giuliano Argentario. Works and checks took years and years, up to 547 AD when Bishop Massimilano consecrated the basilica. The emperor of that year, Justinian, decided to dedicate the church to San Vitale, a martyr considered with great respect.

The choice of the saint was not only linked to the Christian spirit but also to a small "coincidence" (more likely a legend of the time). Apparently, the remains of St. Vitale himself were found in the same place where work on the church began in the 5th century. The construction was carried out in silence, in order to respect the spirit of the saint and to ensure his future benevolence.

The architecture and the exteriors

The structure of the Basilica of San Vitale is based on two prismatic bodies created by the use of red bricks. Both are octagonal, one higher - where the central dome is located - and one slightly lower.

To the east of the building is the apse, which is semicircular inside and polygonal outside. The apse is flanked by two small rooms with rectangular niches and two circular sacristies. On the opposite side is the ancient entrance, marked by the presence of large forceps.

The exterior of the Basilica is bare of excessive decorations and sculptures. The long and thin laterzi bricks create an elegant and balanced profile, which fits perfectly with the octagonal shape of the structure.

The interiors and the best-known works

The interiors of the Basilica of San Vitale are characterized by the presence of works with attention to the smallest details. From the frescoes of the asp to the beautiful central vault, completed in the seventeenth century.

Colorful mosaic decorations are combined with smooth marble surfaces that reflect the light coming from the windows. The same columns, whose purpose is to support and surround the central nave, are decorated with very special basket capitals.

Two other rooms deserve a closer look.

The first area is that of the apse, where the emperors Theodora and Justinian are represented together with Archbishop Maximian through the use of a "golden", mystical, and delicate background.

The second one is the area of the presbytery in front of the altar, where it is possible to observe the representation of a circular labyrinth, entirely made of marble. Visitors often get lost trying to find their way out, immersed in the beauty of the art and its profound expressiveness.