BASILICA DI SAN VITALE, Interior

The interior immediately strikes you with its large volumes, its distinctive octagonal central plan, and its height, which reaches 26 meters, or around 85 feet, in the dome.

The dome is supported by 8 massive pillars, which form wide arches that enclose 8 large niches. Inside of these is a walkway known as the ambulatory, reserved in the past for men only, while on the upper floor was the women's matroneum.

Just walking through the ambulatory, you can observe the phenomenon of the sinking of the ground, called subsidence, which led to the overlapping of multiple layers of pavement.

Look for a pillar with an iron ring around it, placed about a meter high, near which is the so-called "well," a small basin in the floor with water.

Press pause and press play again when you reach there.

You should know that the bottom of the basin is made up of pavement that may date back as far as the 3rd century, where it is said that St. Vitale was martyred. If you look at the edges of the basin and the steps at the base of the column, you can count the different layers that have overlapped.

Now press pause and press play again near the altar.

The apse is preceded by a chancel richly decorated with mosaics, profuse with details: from the lamb in the center of the vault, to the angels supporting it, as well as other animals, such as beautiful peacocks, a symbol of the resurrection.

But what is most striking are the mosaics of the apse, with their wonderful colors, perfectly preserved after fifteen centuries. In the center, above, a mosaic depicts God the Creator of the Cosmos, seated on a celestial globe, Creation. Further to the right you see Bishop Ecclesius holding a model of the basilica, while further to the left is St. Vitale.

Even more extraordinary are the mosaics on either side of the altar depicting a procession of worshippers who, on the left, are led by Emperor Justinian and the one on the right by Empress Theodora.

It is like looking at a postcard from the 5th century, with the hairstyles, dresses, and jewelry typical of that period and especially with the royal faces of Justinian and Theodora.

You should know that the emperor and his consort never came to Ravenna. They were in fact portrayed in Byzantium and their faces were then affixed where you can still admire them.

An interesting fact: Observe the position of the feet in Justinian's procession. Those who play a more important role stand on the feet of those who are their subordinates.