The architect of the church is unknown. The founder of the church is Bishop Ecclesius in 526, when Ravenna was under Emperor Justinian and completed by the 27thBishop of Ravenna, Maximam, in 547 preceding the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna. The church was sponsor by Justinian and his wife Theodora, who are memorialized in mosaics in the church. The building symbolizes the achievements of Emperor Justinian, representative of the First Byzantine Golden Age. Justinian was following in the footstepts of Contantine, the Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity and elevated it to the level of a state religion. Justinian was not content to unity his empire by force of arms, because of the last century had made it clear that swords could not hold the empire together, so Justinian began am ambitious building project, constructing churches all over his empire.

Architecture style : Byzantine architecture.

Byzantine architecture has a lot in common with Christian architecture, as most of the early Christian buildings were built at the command of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine. It do not classify early Christian architecture as Byzantine architecture is because Byzantine architecture diverges from early Christian architecture during the reign of the Emperor Justinian, from the size, shape and decorations, Byzantine established a style from their own. The differences between these two architecture style is the use of mosaic to decorate surfaces, the focus on the apse, or half domed alcove at the front of the church, and use of clerestory or window at a high level to bring in light. The Byzantine architecture and be summarized as bigger and more, because it feature more clerestory windows and mosaics on every conceivable surface.

Byzantine architecture is a distinct style gradually emerged which imbued certain influences from the Near East and used the Greek cross plan in church architecture. It is also the combination of basilica and symmetrical central-plan (circular or polygonal) religious structure resulted in Byzantine church. Basilica architecture is about a rectangular hall, internally divided by two or four series of columns, ending with an elevated chancel at the east end. Basilica could accommodate large congregations.

San Vilate Church, a centrally planned church. Its focus on its center instead of a basilica which has a long, or longitudinal, axis. Its got an ambulatory, or an aisle that surround its central space. In this case, on the east side of the church, there's also an extension with an

apse at the end. The church has eight sides, its an octagon, within that octagon is a smaller octagon that rises higher.

The building combines Roman elements, the dome, shape of doorways, and stepped tower. With Byzantine elements, polygonal apse, capitals, and narrow bricks. The Church is most famous for its wealth of Byzantine mosaics, its an art of creating images with an assemblage of smaller pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials, its an decorative art or interior decoration.

Byzantine Mosaics