BASILICA OF SANT'APOLLINARE IN CLASSE, Interior And Side Naves

As you walk down the two side aisles of the basilica, I suggest you pause to admire the ten ancient sarcophagi placed along the walls.

You should know that nine of these held the remains of important archbishops of Ravenna who lived between the 6th and 9th centuries A.D., while one, found in 1909 under the floor of the basilica, bears the name of a little Roman girl engraved on it: Licinia Valeria.

Along the right aisle there is also a very important marble slab which indicates the place where St. Apollinaris was originally buried when this area was used as a necropolis. The dedication on the slab also explains that it was Archbishop Maximian who had this basilica built and dedicated to the saint, as we read from the text, which means: "In this place is the sarcophagus of Blessed Apollinaris, priest and confessor... thanks to the blessed man, Archbishop Maximian...".

Another artifact of great beauty and importance is the Ciborium of St. Eleucadius, located to the left of the altar, just where the left aisle ends....