During this tour, accompanied by an expert guide, you will have the opportunity to visit four wonders, the jewel of our city:
- the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo: originally used as a Palatine Church of Arianism, today it allows us to reconstruct the evolution of Byzantine wall mosaics from the age of Theodoric to that of Justinian. Inside, the 26 Christological scenes constitute the largest monumental cycle of the New Testament.
- the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: it was built around the middle of the 5th century, at the behest of Galla Placidia, who ruled the Western Roman Empire. This small mausoleum in the shape of a Latin cross, externally is very simple, while inside it presents a rich mosaic decoration. The innumerable stars of the dome have struck the imagination and sensitivity of visitors over the centuries, and of outstanding personalities such as the great poet Dante Alighieri, who drew inspiration from them for the writing of some verses of the Divine Comedy.
- the Basilica of San Vitale: one of the most important monuments of early Christian art in Italy. The monument dates back to the 6th century, of clear oriental influence, has an octagonal plan, surmounted by a large frescoed dome. When you enter the basilica, your gaze is captured by the high spaces, the wonderful mosaic decorations of the apse and the extraordinary representation of the imperial couple of Byzantium: Justinian and Theodora, with their procession.
- the Neonian Baptistery: one of the oldest monuments of the city, made of simple brick on the outside but rich in marble, stucco and mosaics of clear Hellenistic-Roman influence inside. To dominate the dome, commissioned by Bishop Neone in the mid-fifth century, the scene of the Baptism of Christ is surrounded by a refined procession of the twelve Apostles that stands out against a background of bright blue tiles. Inside there is still the baptismal font of the Renaissance period, which takes up the octagonal shape of the Baptistery's plan and which preserves the ambon of the fifth century.
At the end of the tour the guide will accompany you to the entrance of the Archbishop’s Museum, so that you can visit it independently, each according to their interests and timing. Inside, in addition to many archaeological finds and works of art, is kept the last of the 5 UNESCO monuments included in the ticket, the Chapel of Saint Andrew, which with its depiction of the glorification of Christ is the only example of early Christian archiepiscopal chapel still intact to this day.
