Battistero degli Ariani (Arian Baptistery), Ravenna

The Arian Baptistery is an ancient religious structure. It was constructed during the reign of the Ostrogothic king Theodoric, with construction starting in the late 5th century and being completed in the early 6th century. This baptistery served the Arian Christian community and was originally part of the Arian cathedral, which is now known as the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, the Arian Baptistery is part of the "Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna" serial site. Since December 2014, it has been under the management of the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities, administered by the Emilia-Romagna Museum Centre, which later became the Regional Museums Directorate in December 2019.

The exterior of the baptistery reveals a subsidence of 2.25 meters. It is characterized by its octagonal shape and constructed with bricks. The lower register features apses, while the upper register boasts arched windows. The interior of the baptistery is sparsely adorned, with exposed brickwork and no remaining furnishings. The only remnant of the baptismal font is a circular marble slab located at the center of the building.

The highlight of the Arian Baptistery is its beautifully decorated dome, which is adorned with mosaics. While the mosaic surface is smaller compared to the Neonian Baptistery, the decorative scheme is simpler. The central mosaic features the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, depicting John, the Jordan River, and the Holy Spirit as a dove. The outermost mosaic register showcases the empty throne of the Ethymasia, symbolizing the second coming of Christ. It includes a jeweled cross resting on a purple cushion and a representation of the twelve holy martyrs, often identified with the twelve apostles.