Ravenna, esterno del battistero Neoniano.

Ravenna, il battistero Neoniano visto dal giardino.

Unesco monuments

Neonian Baptistery (or Orthodox Baptistery)

Let yourself be amazed by a kaleidoscope of lights, images, colors and reflections

Ravenna, vista esterna del battistero Neoniano verso l'entrata.

Ravenna, interno del battistero Neoniano con la vasca battesimale.

WHY IT IS A UNESCO HERITAGE SITE
No baptistery from the early Christian-Byzantine period has such perfectly preserved architecture, stuccoes, marbles and mosaics. Unique is the dome with fictile tubes, which anticipates the structural solutions adopted for the dome of San Vitale.

find out all the mosaics

History

It is a building in simple red bricks, with an octagonal plan and four projecting apses on the outside. The façade is enlivened by pairs of blind arches and eight windows, one on each side. Originally the baptistery was much more slender upwards: the original floor is almost three meters below the floor on which we walk today.
Its construction began under Bishop Orso (399-426), during the years when Ravenna became capital thanks to Honorius. It stood immediately next to the colossal Basilica Ursiana, which was destroyed and replaced in the 18th century by the present Cathedral.
The sumptuous interior, instead, dates back to Archbishop Neon (451-468), who commissioned the enchanting mosaics dome, the stucco decorations at the window level and the mosaics in the lower level. It is also known as the Orthodox Baptistery, to distinguish it from the Arian Baptistery.

Go to the CIDM motherboard related to the monument

Must-see mosaics in this place

go to the mosaic database

Baptism of Christ

In the central medallion of the dome we admire the Baptism of Christ. Jesus is naked, immersed in the water of the Jordan River personified by the bearded man witnessing the scene. St. John the Baptist pours the baptismal water over Christ’s head, assisted by the Dove of the Holy Spirit. Originally, this scene did not take place in this way. St. John’s hand was laid on Christ’s head, while the Dove of the Holy Spirit sprinkled Jesus’ head with the Holy Water. The gesture we can see today was an interpretation by Felice Kibel, a restorer active in the late 19th century: he added the pàtera, a liturgical silver plate, in St. John’s hand.

find out more

Ravenna, dettaglio del mosaico del Battesimo di Cristo con San Giovanni, la colomba dello Spirito Santo e Cristo, nel battistero Neoniano.

Saint Peter

All around the central medallion runs a band traversed by the twelve Apostles. They stand out against a deep blue background: they walk silently, monumental like ancient statues, treading on a green carpet. Their gait is punctuated by golden acanthus-shaped candelabra. The Apostles wear a golden, or silver, pallium, covering their hands engaged in carrying a crown to offer to Christ, a symbol of Victory. The faces are all different, with personal features, as desired by Hellenistic Roman painting that imitated reality. St. Peter’s face is like a portrait. The pink, red, orange, and black glass-tesserae define his physiognomy and are juxtaposed like small brushstrokes.

FIND OUT MORE

Ravenna, dettaglio del mosaico con San Pietro con veste oro su fondo blu, nel battistero Neoniano.

Thrones and Altars

Inside eight architectures, consisting of elegant columns and a semi-circular recess, the exedra, we admire empty thrones or some altars with an open book on top. These buildings, which recall the appearance of private villas, are meant to symbolise the Celestial City. The empty thrones are surmounted by a purple cushion and a small cross: they represent the throne on which Christ will sit when He returns for the Day of Judgement (Etimasia). On the altars, on the other hand, a Gospel is open and alludes to Jesus and Christian doctrine and is accompanied by two empty chairs, reserved for the Elect. On either side of the architecture are lush flowers and plants.

FIND OUT MORE

Ravenna, dettaglio del mosaico con il libro aperto sull'altare, nel battistero Neoniano.

Human figures and achantus girals

If we walk around the large baptismal font, looking up to the wall, at the level of our eyes we find human figures dressed in white.
Originally they stood much higher than today, almost three metres, because at the time it was not permitted to depict human figures at earthly level. The figures, perhaps prophets, seem to emerge from the columns, shrouded in light. Splendid and precious acanthus girals, in gold tesserae, spread out from them, against an indigo background. If we follow this sacred vegetation, our eyes are drawn to the inscriptions on the arches or the splendid geometric decorations on the walls in red porphyry, green and white marble.

find out more

Ravenna, dettaglio del mosaico di Profeta da cui partono girali dorati su fondo blu, nel battistero Neoniano.

Info & Tickets

P.za Arcivescovado, 1, 48121 Ravenna RA

More info

Loading…

Entrance fee

Ticket: €10.50
Reduced ticket: €9.50 (*)
The combined ticket includes the entry to Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Neonian Baptistery (**), Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (**) and Archiepiscopal Museum and Chapel. The ticket is valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of issue and entitles the holder to one entry for each monument.
* Valid for Italian and foreign students during the school year; valid for organizations with special agreements (see details).
** There is an additional charge of €2 that applies to access the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and Neonian Baptistery. Mandatory booking for groups. The charge applies also to children over 6 and residents of Ravenna.

PURCHASE TICKET

Booking

Tickets can be booked online or by contacting the Reservations Center.
In addition, tickets can also be purchased on the day of visit at the ticket offices located in each monumental complex.
For further information: www.ravennamosaici.it

PUrchase ticket

Free of charge

Children up to 10 years, citizens of Ravenna (with valid document), disabled people with certified disability over 74% or “carta bianca” holders, ecclesiastics, soldiers, tourist guides of Region Emilia-Romagna at work.
Journalists must request free admission in advance to the Opera di Religione by writing to info@ravennamosaici.it
For groups: 1 free tour leader every 20 paying visitors. For schools: 1 free teacher every 10 paying students.

purchase ticket

Ravenna, vista dell'interno della Cappella di Sant'Andrea, mosaici del Vi secolo e affreschi di Luca Longhi, XVI secolo, nelle lunette laterali.

Mosaic Places

Discover the other UNESCO Monuments of Ravenna

FIND OUT MORE