San Vitale was constructed between 525-547, during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian 1.
There are no records to indicate that Justinian was ever in Ravenna, but his imperial influence is seen there, particularly in the church of San Vitale.

Procopius, historian and secretary to Justinian's General Belisarius, wrote three books recording Justinian' 1's reign as Emperor,
including the "Secret History", a record of some of the intrigue and scandal of his reign, which was not published till after Justinian's death in 565.
In his third book, "On the Buildings", Procopius, recorded every church, public building or edifice of any kind that Justinian sponsored throughout the Empire. .
It is interesting to note that there is no mention of San Viitale, even though Justinian's image, along with that of his wife Theodora,
appears prominently in the apse area of the church, as shown in the next images.

Bricks bearing the stamp of a man named Julianus Argentarius, a wealthy Ravenna banker,
have been found during restorations of San Vitale.
This leads to an assumption that perhaps he paid for the construction of the church.
San Vitale is built on an octagonal plan with a narthex on one side opposite the Apse.