Basilica of San Vitale
| Church of San Vitale | |
|---|---|
The Church of San Vitale | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia |
| Region | Emilia-Romagna |
| Year consecrated | 547 |
| Location | |
| Location | Ravenna, Italy |
| Geographic coordinates | 44°25′14″N 12°11′47″E / 44.42056°N 12.19639°E |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Byzantine |
| Groundbreaking | 527 |
| Completed | 547 |
| Construction cost | 26,000 solidi |
| Website | |
| http://www.ravennamosaici.it/ | |
| Official name | Church of St. Vitale |
| Part of | Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) |
| Reference | 788-002 |
| Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) |
| Area | 0.14 ha (0.35 acres) |
The Basilica of San Vitale is a late antique church in Ravenna, Italy. The sixth-century church is an important surviving example of early Byzantine art and architecture, and its mosaics in particular are some of the most-studied works in Byzantine art. It is one of eight structures in Ravenna inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its foundational inscription describes the church as a basilica, though its centrally-planned design is not typical of the basilica form. Within the Roman Catholic Church it holds the honorific title of basilica for its historic and ecclesial importance.