Ravenna, Italy sits at the literal crossroads between the old world and the new, between Western Culture and Eastern, between Europe and Asia Minor — it is a city that has seen much change in the past several thousand years, and this change is cataloged in its many churches and epochal architecture. While the City of Ravenna has much more to offer travelers than just its holy sanctuaries, today we will be giving our readers an insight into these buildings that — regardless of your faith or denomination — are beautiful living pages out of history.

Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy

Basilica of San Vitale

This Byzantine-era church is fairly simple in its architecture, but marks the beginning of Byzantine expansion into Europe around 526 AD. The church was originally begun by Bishop Ecclesius at a time of much change for Greece, Italy, and especially Ravenna which was…