Basilica of San Vitale

The Basilica of San Vitale is a late antique church in Ravenna, Italy. The sixth-century church is an important surviving example of early Byzantine art and architecture, and its mosaics in particular are some of the most-studied works in Byzantine art. It is one of eight structures in Ravenna inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its foundational inscription describes the church as a basilica, though its centrally-planned design is not typical of the basilica form. Within the Roman Catholic Church it holds the honorific title of basilica for its historic and ecclesial importance. History The church's construction began in 526 on the orders of Bishop Ecclesius of Ravenna . At the time, Ravenna was under the rule of the Ostrogoths . Bishop Maximian completed construction in 547, following the conquest of Italy by Justinian I . The construction of the church was sponsored by local banker and architect Julius Argentarius. Very little is known of Julius, but he also sponsored the construction of the nearby Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe at around the same time. A donor portrait of Julius Argentarius may appear among the courtiers on the. Architecture The main building of the church is laid out octagonally. The building combines Roman and Byzantine elements . The dome, shape of doorways, and stepped towers are typical of Roman style, while the polygonal apse, capitals, narrow bricks, and an early example of flying buttresses are typical of the Byzantine. The church is most famous for its wealth of Byzantine mosaics , the largest and best-preserved specimens outside of Istanbul . San Vitale is of extreme importance in Byzantine art, as it is the only major church from the period of the Emperor Justinian.