Chiesa di Sant'Apollinare in Veclo

The church of Sant'Apollinare in Veclo is a Catholic place of worship in the city of Ravenna. Together with the church of San Carlino and the church of Santa Maria Maddalena, it is one of the smallest religious buildings still active in the city. The name In Veclo can have two meanings: the first meaning may be that of the old, given to differentiate this church from that of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo; the second meaning instead, could be that of an alley, precisely because of the position in which the church is located, in an alleyway that connected the church of San Giovanni Battista with the monumental complex of San Vitale. The churchyard of the building is not directly accessible from the alley, from which it is separated by means of a wall. It is accessed through a large gate. The brick facade of the church is very simple: on both sides there are two pilasters for each, while in the center, in the lower part there is the access portal and in the upper part a window which is the main source of natural lighting of the 'building. The interior has a Greek cross plan; in front of the entrance there is the altar of Sant'Apollinare while in the lateral wings there are two niches. The one on the right houses a statue of the Madonna, while today's main altar is located in the left niche. The orientation of the church, with the main altar on the left side, is due to its transformation from Parish church in church of the sisters Clare Capuchin.