Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture: Italy

For earlier architecture in Italy, see Roman Architecture: Italy.

most of the early basilican churches built in Italy were in Rome itself. They included the basilicas of St Peter (AD 330, completely rebuilt in the 16th century), St John Lateran (330, altered out of all recognition), St Agnes without the Walls (324, but rebuilt 625-38), St Paul without the Walls (380, destroyed by fire 1823, then rebuilt); St Lorenzo without the Walls (a double church one part built 432, the other rebuilt 578); the lower church of St Clement (4th century); St Sabina (425), and Santa Maria Maggiore (about 430-440). Most of these were originally founded soon after the Emperor Constantine's recognition of Christianity in 313 and all were of basilican type: consisting of an oblong aisled nave, usually with an eastern apse and a western narthex or vestibule.

Besides this essentially Roman basilican type, there were a few circular churches, including San Stefano Rotondo (470), the Baptistery of Constantine (430-440), S Costanza (330), all in Rome; as well as the Baptistery at Nocera (350). This latter type of plan gave rise to the centralized building focusing on a dome, typical of Byzantine architecture (see Byzantine style). There are other examples at Ravenna, for example, the Tomb of Theodoric (530, not strictly a dome) and the church of San Vitale 526-47. At Ravenna, however, there are also two basilican churches: S Apollinare Nuovo (about 510-20), and S Apollinare in Classe (about 550).

See also Early Medieval and Romanesque Architecture: Italy and Italian architecture.