San Vitale Basilica, Ravenna The Basilica di San Vitale in
Ravenna dates from the mid-6th century and contains what are
probably the finest Byzantine mosaics in the western world.
Construction of San Vitale Basilica was initiated by Ecclesius,
Bishop of Ravenna, shortly after a trip to Byzantium with Pope
John in 525. The following year, Amalasuntha succeeded her
father Theodoric as ruler of the Goths and of Ravenna; both
rulers were Arian but she was more tolerant of Catholics than he
had been. Construction on San Vitale Basilica began in 526 on
the site of the martyrdom of St. Vitalis. The church was almost
entirely funded by a single wealthy individual called Julianus
Argentarius. This otherwise unknown figure is thought to have
been a private banker of Ravenna or perhaps a royal envoy of
Justinian, sent to prepare the way for the Byzantine conquest.
The Byzantines took Ravenna in 540 and the basilica that was
begun under the Goths was finished under Byzantine rule, in 548.
It was consecrated by Maximian,