Basilica of San Vitale
A sixth-century church of early Byzantine design, built on a central octagonal plan rather than the usual long nave. Its mosaics, including the panels of the emperor Justinian and the empress Theodora, are among the most studied works of Byzantine art.
- Where
- Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
- Grade
- UNESCO heritage
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 8 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 44.4206, 12.1964
Get the Basilica of San Vitale stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Basilica of San Vitale. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Emilia-Romagna volume with your photos and a note.
Near Basilica of San Vitale
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia 0.1 km
A small brick building put up between 425 and 450, whose plain outside hides a deep blue mosaic ceiling scattered with gold stars. Despite its name, the empress Galla Placidia was never buried here; she died in Rome and was laid to rest there.
Two Towers 68 km
A pair of leaning medieval towers at the old crossroads where the roads to the city's five gates met. The taller is the Asinelli, the shorter and more tilted the Garisenda, named for the families said to have built them between 1109 and 1119.
Piazza Maggiore 68 km
Bologna's main square and the heart of the city since medieval times. One corner opens into Piazza del Nettuno and its Neptune Fountain, and the square is framed by the Basilica of San Petronio and the old palaces of the city's government.
Galleria dell'Accademia 104 km
The Florence museum that houses Michelangelo's original marble David, standing in a skylit tribune built for him. The same rooms hold his unfinished Prisoners, still half caught in the stone, and paintings by Florentine artists from 1300 to 1600.
Florence Cathedral 104 km
The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, begun in 1296 to Arnolfo di Cambio's design and crowned by Brunelleschi's great brick dome. Its walls are faced in white, green and pink marble, and the climb inside the dome rises past frescoes of the Last Judgement to a view over the city.
Basilica of Santa Croce 104 km
The principal Franciscan church of Florence, built on what was once marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and Rossini, which earned it the name Temple of the Italian Glories.
Medici Chapels 104 km
Two chapels added to the Basilica of San Lorenzo to glorify the Medici family. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and holds his tomb sculptures, while the larger Chapel of the Princes is lined floor to dome with inlaid coloured stone.
Florence Baptistery 104 km
An octagonal church of green and white marble facing the cathedral, dedicated to John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence. Its gilded bronze east doors by Ghiberti were called the Gates of Paradise by Michelangelo, and its dome is lined with golden mosaics.
More UNESCO World Heritage sites in Emilia-Romagna
Questions
Where is Basilica of San Vitale?
Basilica of San Vitale is in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (0.1 km), Two Towers (68 km), Piazza Maggiore (68 km).
How do I get the Basilica of San Vitale stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Basilica of San Vitale and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Emilia-Romagna volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Basilica of San Vitale before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Emilia-Romagna volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.