The Basilica di Santa Maria, better known as the Pomposa Abbey, is a former Benedictine monastery in Pomposa, Italy, in the northeast near the Adriatic sea. It is known for its Romanesque architecture and splendid frescos. It was also home to the monk musician Guido d’Arezzo, a revolutionary innovator in the field of music.
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A UNESCO protected landmark, this 10th-century church is an architectural masterpiece with an unexpected and unique crypt. The Basilica di San Francesco, or Basilica of St Francis, is a 10th century church in the heart of historic Ravenna, Italy. Dante, the famous medieval Italian poet and author of the Divine Comedy, was originally buried here. This church is a wonderful place to take traveling companions who may not love medieval churches quite as much as you do, as the crypt has a delightful surprise.
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The Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare in Classe, Italy, is dedicated to St Apolinaris, the founding bishop in nearby Ravenna. The spectacular mosaic apse represents the Transfiguration of Jesus. The basilica is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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The Church of St Apollinare Nuovo is Theodoric’s great Palatine church. Filled with splendid mosaic images of martyrs marching towards Christ, this late 5th century church was initially built for the Arian cult.
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The Galla Placidia Mausoleum in Ravenna, Italy, has a stunning display of Christian imagery created with the mosaics of late antiquity. Once inside, the visitor is transported to a celestial world.
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Ravenna’s Orthodox Baptistry, also known as the Baptistry of Neon, is the city’s oldest Christian monument. Its dome is filled with beautiful mosaics representing the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, and images of the twelve apostles surround this central medallion. Built in the 5th century, the building is now almost 10 feet underground.
Along with seven other Ravenna structures, the Orthodox Baptistry is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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Toward the end of the 5th century, Theodoric the Great consolidated his power and Arianism was the official religion of his court in Ravenna. It was during this time that this baptistry was built. The interior is full of exquisite mosaics depicting Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist while surrounded by the Apostles.
Since 1996 , the baptistery
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The Church of St Apollinare Nuovo is Theodoric’s great Palatine church. Filled with splendid mosaic images of martyrs marching towards Christ, this late 5th century church was initially built for the Arian cult.
Best viewed in 4K full screen.
The Basilica of St. Stephen in Bologna, Italy, is known locally as the Seven Churches. In Roman times, the site hosted a temple to the goddess Isis until Petronius, Bishop of Bologna from 431 to 450, and a patron saint of Bologna, began its transformation to a basilica inspired by the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
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This is a prelude to a tour of art and architecture in North East Italy and Croatia. The churches span the time between Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages and include the famous Mausolea di Galla Placida and Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, the Euphrasian Basilica and Baptistry in Porec, Croatian, and the Torcello, Italy cathedral
