battistero degli ariani

This baptistry was built in the late 5th century and has an impressive cupola of mosaics depicting the apostles around the centrepiece of the baptism of Christ.

This would be a special visit in any other city. The ancient mosaics are good and there is no fee to enter. It might not be as amazing as the other mosaics in town but they were very nice.

Just when you think another Ravenna mosaic couldn't possibly impress, the Arian Baptistry wows with its artistry and the amazing grace of its figures. Somehow this ceiling escaped the wholesale reworking of Arian images by the Byzantines, determined as they were to stamp out the Arian "heresy" which emphasized Jesus' humanity over his divinity. The central baptismal scene, with a very anatomically correct Jesus half-immersed in the River Jordan, flanked by John the Baptist and a pagan image of the river god, is the most impressive of many similar images to be seen in Ravenna. Located in a slightly hard-to-find cul-de-sac off the main tourist artery, the Arian Baptistry is less visited than other sites, and allows for longer contemplation of its wonders.

This was a little hard to find as the signage was confusing to us but we made it. It is small and perhaps not as well preserved as the other places but still lovely

More wonderful mosaics, here the main representation is de baptism of Christ. The amazing personification of the river Jordan, just as Roman did: an old man, with crab pincers on his head, a mantle, mantle, reed and a flowing vase. A great place to grasp the legacy of Roman art.

The Arians were Christians who believed that Christ was not divine, but an exceptionally holy man and that aGod was indivisible. Their view lost, but for a brief period theirs could have been the route that Christianity took. A visit here is to touch that moment in history and thus is rather evocative and enables one to touch the past.

Never knew what lead to the Nicene creed and now I do. Fascinating to see the two church domes with this a more human Christ and the other baptistery with as part of the triune God.

The Neonian Baptistry was run by the State of Italy, rather than the Roman Catholic Archdiocese which maintains the other sites. The ceiling with the Baptism of Jesus surrounded by the apotles is really beautiful

It's a quite small octagonal baptistry built in the early 6th century. It isn't one of the most famous ancient sites in Ravenna and was almost empty when we visited. There is a wonderful mosaic ceiling.

The octagonal baptistry sits below street level. We were the only people inside when we visited. It's not one of the sites on the five-site ticket so perhaps people inadvertently pass it by. This one's actually free to enter yet still one of Ravenna's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Don't miss it!

The baptistery is small but not so hard to find, at least for us. As the other great monuments that witnessed the byzantine/ early christianity era is a mandatory stop.

This is a very interesting baptistry - well worth visiting to see the mosaics - especially the one on the ceiling. Well preserved but wonderful colours. The building is quite small and is below street level but still easy to access.

.....but go if you can find it if you love mosaics. Small, so might be crowded at times. We caught it late in the afternoon so not too bad.

Erected by the Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great, this is an arian Baptistry.Arianism is the name by which it is known a christological doctrine drawn from monaco and christian theologian Arius (256-336).This doctrine was condemned by the first Council of Nicaea because it contradicted the idea of the Trinity in 325, but it was offical religion of roman empire under Costanzo II and it was popular between germans christianized.This baptisty contains very particular mosaic in which Chirst is represented very young, with no beard and naked immersed in the river during baptism.I think this kind of mosaic is unique in the world for the representation

Smaller than the Neonian Baptistery and harder to find off the shopping arcade leading up to Piazza del Popolo. It's below street level now. But another stunning ceiling of the Baptism of Christ and worth the visit being the oldest monument in Ravenna.