Ravenna - Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

In the busy Via di Roma, on the east side of Ravenna, is the church of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, a basilica built by Theodoric after 500 as an Arian cathedral and converted into a Roman Catholic church in 560. The porch and the apse date from the 16th and 18th centuries. The interior of the church contains 24 marble columns from Constantinople. The walls of the nave have interesting sixth century mosaics: on the left-hand wall the Roman port of Classis, with ships; on the right-hand wall the town of Ravenna, with its churches and Theodoric's palace, and saints in Byzantine costumes; above the friezes prophets; and above the windows interesting compositions from the New Testament - on the left the sayings and miracles of Christ (who is shown beardless), on the right scenes from the Passion (with a bearded Christ).

A little way south of Sant'Apollinare, at the corner of Via Alberoni, are remains of the so-called Palace of Theodoric (richly articulated facade, with a central projection).