Ravenna: Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, presently named for Ravenna's first bishop, was built ca. 500 in the basilica style by the Ostrogothic King Theodoric as an Arian palatine chapel. When the Byzantines conquered the city in the middle of the century, the church was converted to the Orthodox religion and renovated in the 560s. At that time it was rededicated to St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, a champion against the heretics. It is believed that in the 9th century the remains of the holy founder of the Church of Ravenna, St. Apollinaris, were transferred here from Classe, and the church was renamed after him, with the designation "Nuovo" (New). Photographs in this collection were taken by Dr. Beth M. Sheppard in 2017. Metadata cataloging was contributed by Shelley Rogers.