Chapel of Sant'Andrea and Archiepiscopal Museum

On the first floor of the archiepiscopal palace stands a small cross-shaped chapel built by Bishop Peter II between the late 5th and early 6th centuries, during the time of Theodoric. It is the only Catholic building from those years to survive with its mosaics intact: while the Arian king was building his churches, the bishops prayed here.

In the vestibule you are greeted by a Christ dressed as a Roman soldier, with the cross on his shoulder and an open book, trampling a lion and a serpent: good triumphing over evil. Inside, the golden vault is supported by four angels, and in the medallions are the faces of Christ, the apostles and the saints.

The Archiepiscopal Museum surrounding the chapel houses stones, mosaics and silverware from ancient Ravenna. The most precious piece is the Cattedra di Massimiano, the 6th-century bishop's throne covered with carved ivory panels depicting stories from the Old and New Testaments.

It is part of the UNESCO monuments and can be visited with the Curia's five-monument itinerary, with timed entry. The museum is also one of the two ticket offices for the monuments, in Piazza Arcivescovado.