The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo stands on Via di Roma in Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the city's best-known Byzantine monuments, and it makes a rewarding stop for anyone interested in early Christian art.
What to see inside
The basilica is best known for its mosaics. Along the walls of the nave run long processions of figures in mosaic, set in the sixth century. They are the main reason visitors come, and they repay slow looking: the rows of figures, the richness of the gold ground and the way the procession seems to move along the walls. The building's Byzantine character is clear throughout.
A building with two histories
The basilica was built by Theodoric the Great, and it was first used as an Arian cathedral. It was later converted to Catholic use, so its interior reflects more than one period of religious life in Ravenna. This layering is part of what makes the visit interesting, as the church has been adapted over time rather than kept in a single form.
Planning your visit
- Address: Via di Roma 53, 48121 Ravenna RA, Italy
- Phone: +39 0544 541688, if you want to check details before you go
- Nearby: The basilica sits within Ravenna's historic centre, so it pairs naturally with the city's other Byzantine monuments, which are close enough to visit on foot.
For visitors drawn to mosaics and the Byzantine period, the basilica is a clear reason to spend time in Ravenna, and the city around it offers plenty more to see.
