Some consider it the most beautiful church in Ravenna. Located about 8 kilometers outside the city center, the brilliance of its mosaics is immediately apparent to anyone who enters its gates. A sense of nature pervades the space—tree motifs, greenish hues blended with golden mosaic—creating a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere.

All of this leads to the magnificent apse, where Christ is depicted as the ruler of the world. The church was built in honor of Apollinaris, the city’s patron saint, who convinced the local population to convert to Christianity.

Originally, the basilica stood right on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, but as the sea gradually receded over time, it now stands inland, beside visible archaeological remains.