Basilica di Sant'Agata Maggiore, Early Christian basilica in Ravenna, Italy
Basilica di Sant'Agata Maggiore is an early Christian church in Ravenna with three naves, the central one being higher and wider than the side aisles. Stone columns separate the side aisles from the central nave, and a 19th-century arch adds structural support to this arrangement.
Construction began in the fifth century under Bishop Peter II, originally built near the Padenna River which later disappeared. This founding period established the architectural foundation that the church still stands on today.
The altar area with its sixth-century pluteus shows how early worshippers organized their sacred spaces. The simple design of the altar reflects religious practices when the community gathered here.
Visitors should plan around regular service schedules, which may affect access to the building. The best time to explore is outside these hours when the church opens for sightseeing.
A drawing by Father Pronti is the only surviving record of the original apse mosaics that earthquake damage destroyed. This historical sketch preserves the image of an elaborate decorative element now lost.
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