Archiepiscopal Museum

Welcome to the Archiepiscopal Museum of Ravenna, a repository of ecclesiastical history and artistic brilliance located within the heart of the Archbishop's Palace. While this museum houses many treasures, its crown jewel is the…

As you enter the antechamber, or narthex, of the chapel, you are immediately struck by the density of the decoration in such an intimate space. The lower parts of the walls were originally covered in marble, while the upper…

Look directly above the entrance door leading into the chapel itself. You will see a rare and powerful image: Christ dressed as a Roman soldier. …

Step inside the main room of the chapel. Notice its form: a Greek cross with a small apse at the eastern end. …

Look up at the center of the cross-vault. You will see a central medallion containing the monogram of Christ in Greek, supported by four large, oblong angels. …

Along the soffits, or the undersides of the arches, you will see a series of circular medallions containing the portraits of the apostles and other saints. In the center of one arch is a portrait of Christ, shown as a young man…

While the vast majority of the chapel is 6th-century Byzantine work, there are some later additions that provide a fascinating contrast. In the arch fanlight, you will find two paintings executed in the 16th century by the local…

As you exit the Chapel of Sant'Andrea and return to the main halls of the Archiepiscopal Museum, consider the remarkable survival of this space. You have just stood in a room where an ancient bishop sought refuge and strength…