San Giovanni Battista, Ravenna, Baroque church in Ravenna, Italy
San Giovanni Battista is a Baroque church in central Ravenna with a grand facade and decorative elements throughout. The building harmonizes the newer design with a medieval bell tower that rises prominently alongside the main structure.
An earthquake destroyed the original structure in 1688, and architect Pietro Grossi rebuilt the church in 1689 in Baroque style. He incorporated elements from a 6th-century basilica that previously stood on this site.
The church displays a permanent nativity scene from Naples, created by Francesco Di Francesco, showing scenes of 18th-century Neapolitan life alongside biblical stories. This crafted composition blends popular tradition with religious narrative in a way visitors can still experience today.
The church is regularly open for services and visitors who wish to examine its architecture and interior elements. Plan your visit around typical weekday hours, though times may shift during religious holidays or special observances.
The bell tower dates to the 9th or 10th century and survived the devastating 1688 earthquake that destroyed the church at that time. This tower remarkably bridges Ravenna's early medieval past with the Baroque reconstruction that followed.
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