Ravenna - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was built by Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great as his palace chapel. The Arian church was originally dedicated in 504 AD to "Christ the Redeemer".

After Byzantine troops had conquered Ravenna the basilica was converted into a Catholic church and reconsecrated in 561 AD. It was now dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, a foe of Arianism.

The dedication was changed again in the 9th century to St. Apollinare, first bishop of Ravenna, when the saint's relics were moved here.

The interior measures 35 x 21 meters. The walls of the nave and clerestory are covered mosaics from the 6th century. Some of them date from the Arian period under King Theodoric the Great (496-526).

There is a procession of the 22 virgin martyrs, led by the Magi, wearing phrygian caps.

Here are in details the portraits of

SCS BALTHASSAR + SCA MELCHIOR + SCS GASPAR

The mosaics have been renovated during the 19th century and again after WWI, as the church was hit by a bomb. Some scholars claim, that they are "over renovated".