La chiesa di San Vitale

Published in 2005 by Mazzotta as part of their series on Italian artistic heritage, this volume provides a specialized academic focus on the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. Francesco Barocelli, an art historian known for his analytical work on Byzantine architecture and decorative arts, authored the text to document the site's complex structural evolution and its significance as a pinnacle of late antique mosaics. The book serves as a scholarly guide intended to bridge the gap between architectural history and the aesthetic appreciation of the church's interior cycles.

The design of the monograph emphasizes high-fidelity photography and rigorous archival research, aligning with the publisher's tradition of producing authoritative catalogues for significant cultural landmarks. By situating San Vitale within its 6th-century Mediterranean context, Barocelli explores how the church reflects the political and religious ambitions of the Byzantine era. The work is widely regarded by architectural historians as a reliable reference for the preservation status of the mosaics and the structural restoration efforts undertaken at the turn of the millennium.