The Basilica of San Vitale is by far one of the greatest masterpieces of Byzantine architecture and art still in existence. It was Bishop Ecclesius who wanted its construction, but it was his successor Maximian who saw the completion of the monumental work.

The magnificent Mausoleum of Galla Placidia hides, inside a seemingly simple and modest building, a real treasure: some of the most beautiful mosaics from the Byzantine era.

The Neonian Baptistery, or the Orthodox Baptistery, owes its name to Bishop Neon, who, around 450 A.D., had the existing building altered, replacing the roof with the present dome and having the magnificent mosaic decoration made. It is interesting to note that the small temple, built on a much older Roman building, had been used as a baptistery a few decades earlier by Bishop Orso.

The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, dating from the early decades of the sixth century, was commissioned by the Ostrogoth king Theodoric, who was faithful to the Arian cult, but around 561 it was reconsecrated to the Catholic faith. King Theodoric built the basilica as a palatine chapel, since his royal palace stood next to it, but when his reign ended, the church was first consecrated to St. Martin and then to St. Apollinaris, who had been the first bishop of Ravenna.

The Mausoleum of Theodoric, the only evidence in Italy of the funerary art of the Ostrogoths, was built near a necropolis around 520 at the behest of King Theodoric. Seen from the outside, the building is massive and imposing, but softened by arched niches carved along its sides. The structure has a ground floor with a decagonal base. The upper level has the same base but a smaller diameter, and a round dome.