Description of the attraction
The Basilica of Sant Apollinare in Classe is a striking example of early Byzantine art. It was built in the 6th century on the site of the grave of the first bishop of Ravenna, Saint Apollinaris. The relics of the saint were discovered here during construction, and then they were kept inside the basilica for a long time. However, in the middle of the 9th century, due to the threat of enemy raids, they had to be moved inside the city walls, to the Basilica of Sant Apollinare Nuovo. They remained there until 1748, when the remains of the saint were returned to their original place and placed in the main altar of the temple. In 1996, the Basilica of Sant Apollinare in Class was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The luxurious mosaic decoration of the basilica was created over several centuries - from the 6th to the 9th century. Later, a side-altar, a narthex and a bell tower were added to the church. Unfortunately, after the Venetian attack on Ravenna in the middle of the 15th century, only fragments of the original mosaics remained - in the apse.
The basilica building was built of thin adobe bricks. The façade is decorated with double arches with pilasters and semicircular windows. Inside, the main nave is framed by 24 columns, standing on square bases and topped with Byzantine-patterned capitals. The marble for these columns was brought from the Greek island of Proconessos, and above them are frescoes depicting the bishops of Ravenna.
Among the attractions of the Basilica of Sant Apollinare in Classe are the 11th century altar of the Virgin Mary in the central nave, 10 medieval sarcophagi and a small marble urn of the 4th century with a touching inscription: “Licinia Valeria Faustina Italica, resting in peace, who lived one year, six months, six days, beloved daughter from grieving parents."
