The existence of Ravenna is way, waaaay too overlooked.
It's famous, sure, but a city existing that preserves so many different churches from 1600-1400 years ago to such a ridiculous degree should be one of the most famous places in the world period
There's not a single other place like it in the entire world, it's a unique time capsule to the Early Byzantine Era and a miracle it exists
Especially since the main form of artwork it preserves is the most easy to be ruined, the mosaic
You probably have heard some churches referred to as Basilicas, or Minor Basilicas.
But do you know what it means? How they differ from other churches?
A thread
Basilicas became a staple of Ancient Roman architecture, as a secular political building, especially serving courts.
They were buildings built around a central nave and with 2 or more aisles on the sides of it.
After Constantine the Great legalized Christianity, its congregations didn't want to worship in converted pagan temples
For temples were built to have worship take place outside, in front of the highly decorated exterior, and the interior was left barren, for priests only