Basilica of San Francesco ( Italian: Basilica di San Francesco Basilica of St. Francis) - a church in Ravenna ( Italy ).
| Catholic temple | |
| Basilica of San Francesco | |
|---|---|
| Basilica di san francesco | |
 Facade of the Basilica | |
| A country |  Italy |
| City | Ravenna |
| Denomination | Catholicism |
| Diocese | |
| Order affiliation | Franciscans |
| Architectural style | |
| Founder | Bishop Neon |
| Key dates | |
| X-XI centuries - reconstruction of the basilica 1261 - the basilica was transferred to the monks of the Franciscans | |
Initially, a small church dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul was built on the site of the basilica in the 5th century by the work of the Equal Bishop Neon. In the X-XI centuries, it was completely rebuilt and consecrated in honor of St. Peter ( San Pietro Maggiore ). During the reconstruction period, a bell tower 33 meters high was attached to the basilica. In 1261, the basilica was transferred to the monks of the Franciscans and received its current dedication in honor of St. Francis of Assisi .
In 1321, the poet Dante was buried in the basilica, originally buried in its outer portico, and then in the nearby mausoleum .
During excavations in 1879, at a depth of 3.5 m below the current groundwater level, a floor was discovered with a mosaic of the 5th century and a Latin epitaph to the founder of the church, Bishop Neon. (Like all other ancient buildings of Ravenna, the church of St. Francis eventually settled in soft urban soil). In addition, during excavations, a late antique marble sarcophagus decorated with gold was found. The golden decoration of the sarcophagus was exhibited at the National Museum of Ravenna , from where (together with the so-called Shell of Theodoric, found near its mausoleum ) it was stolen. His whereabouts (as well as the Shell of Theodorich) are still unknown.
After the secularization of 1810, the Franciscan monastery was dissolved. Now the church of St. Francis - State Museum.
Architecture and Interior
The basilica measures 46.5 by 23.76 meters and is divided into three naves by two rows of marble columns (12 in each row). The central nave ends with a semicircular apse with windows. Under it is a flooded crypt of the 10th century with a mosaic floor, goldfish swim in the water. Elements of the first church are preserved in the side naves: sculptural fragments of the VI century and decorated sarcophagi . From the rich crypt of the da Polenta family that was in the church, only a lancet arch of the 14th century with the remains of frescoes was preserved.
The throne of the main altar of the basilica is made of the sarcophagus of Bishop Liveria ( 4th century ). It is decorated with a relief image of Christ on the throne, surrounded by apostles placed in niches separated by Corinthian columns. Under the altar in the stone sarcophagus are the relics of Bishop Neon, the locally revered saint .
Central nave of the basilica
Flooded crypt
Sarcophagus with the relics of Bishop Neon
Literature
- Ravenna. City of art. - Ravenna: EDIZIONI SALBAROLI, 2006 .-- S. 125-126.