Description of the attraction
The Orthodox Baptistery, also named after Neon, is the oldest building in Ravenna, decorated with Byzantine mosaics. In 1996, it was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The octagon-shaped baptistery was built in the 4th-5th centuries on the foundations of ancient Roman baths, and was originally called the Orthodox Baptistery. It got its second name from the name of the Bishop of Neon, by whose order in the second half of the 5th century its interior was decorated with mosaics. It is interesting that today the building of the baptistery is three meters lower than it was originally - it "plunged" into the cultural layer.
The interior of the baptistery is decorated with mosaics, Ionic columns and high-reliefs depicting prophets - all this luxury was intended to emphasize the special significance of the sacrament of baptism. In the very center, you can see an eight-sided baptismal font made in the 16th century from Greek marble and porphyry. Its unique feature is the pulpit, carved from a single piece of marble. In the side arch, the throne of the 6th century has been preserved, and an old bronze cross was placed next to it, which was removed from the roof in 1963.
The baptistery mosaics are divided into three cycles. In the first tier, a floral ornament prevails on a blue background. The second cycle decorates the space between the arches of the second tier, and the third one decorates the space under the dome. All mosaics are related to the theme of Heavenly Jerusalem, and under the dome you can see scenes of the baptism of Christ and the image of the 12 apostles.
