Duomo di Ravenna (Ravenna Cathedral), Ravenna

Ravenna Cathedral, officially known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, holds profound ecclesiastical significance as it serves as the episcopal seat of the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.

The cathedral, as it stands today, is the result of a comprehensive transformation that unfolded in the 18th century. This ambitious project entailed the demolition of the ancient Ursiana basilica, the former cathedral, and the construction of a new one, elegantly styled in the Baroque architectural tradition.

Elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII on October 7, 1960, the Ravenna Cathedral holds a special place within the community, acting as the parish seat of San Giovanni in Fonte, under the jurisdiction of the Urban Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.

The history of this cathedral is intrinsically linked to the relocation of the Western Roman Empire's capital from Milan to Ravenna, a momentous shift scheduled for the year 402. This change also resulted in the transfer of the bishop's seat from Classe, a nearby town. The transition of power, as well as the construction of the new cathedral, was orchestrated under the guidance of Bishop Orso.

The cathedral was consecrated on April 3, 407, and dedicated to the Resurrection of Jesus, known in ancient Greek as Hagìa Anástasis. This dedication, coupled with the name of its founder, led to the cathedral being known as the "Ursiana basilica."

In its early Christian style, the cathedral featured a rectangular layout, measuring approximately 60 meters in length and 35 meters in width. This design included a central hall devoid of a transept, divided into five naves. The four lateral naves were of equal width, while the central nave was as broad as the two lateral ones. The architecture was characterized by round arches, with fifteen arches on each side, supported by marble columns.

The overall design of the cathedral bore a remarkable resemblance to the architectural structures of the Basilica Maior of Milan, founded around 350, and the Basilica C of Nicopolis in Epirus, constructed in the mid-6th century.