Ostrogoth king Theodoric the Great built a simple but beautiful palace in Ravenna during his magnificent reign. And nearby he had his palace chapel: the basilica Sant’Apollinare. At that time, in the 6th century, it was a church for the Arian religion Theodoric was believing in.
I visited the church – and many other sights related to that period – during my visit to Ravenna.
The church was consecrated in 504 AD to Christ the Redeemer. Just half a century later it was re-consecrated under the name Sanctus Martinus in Coelo Aureo, Saint Martin of Tours. This was to suppress the Arian cult. 300 years later the church changed again its name when taking in the relics of Saint Apollinare from the basilica Sant’Apollinare in Classe.
The beautiful mosaics in the beginning where blackened because they distracted from praying – the Catholic church said. Later they were cleared again and they changed just mosaics that were to clear from the Arian cult. The side mosaics are the original ones. Unfortunately the church was damaged during WW II and the apse had to be reconstructed.
According to UNESCO the building shows the perfect fusion between western and eastern styles in the 5th and 6th century. It is one of the most important buildings of that period and has great culture significance in Europeans religious art.
The marble portico was built in the 16th century. Instead the round tower is a bell tower of the 9th or 10th century. The church is situated near to the Theodoric palace which is less interesting as it has only a few walls to see.
I visited first the mausoleum of the Ostrogoth’s’ king and then walked to see the palace and the chapel. It was a real highlight with so many impressing mosaics. The colors, the accuracy of the figures, the history behind… so amazing.
Have you ever been to Ravenna? And if did you come to see Theodoric the Great’s monuments? Let me know in a comment below!
Ravenna/Italy:
For further information:
Ravenna Tourism website
You might be interested also in reading:
On the trace of Theoderic the Great in Ravenna
