About this experience
Discover the eternal beauty of the mosaics guarded inside Ravenna's most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Experience incredible monuments on a guided tour with an expert.
Highlights
- Experience the beauty of timeless Byzantine masterpieces
- Marvel at the starry dome of Galla Placidia
- Uncover the hidden meanings of Ravenna’s mosaics
- Be inspired by the golden light of San Vitale’s mosaics
- Walk through a city suspended between East and West
What's included
- Expert local guide
- Entrance tickets to the all mentioned sites
How to use
- Show Mobile Ticket
- At Redemption Counter
What to expect
Discover Ravenna’s extraordinary UNESCO mosaics on a guided walking tour and choose between two different ways to experience the city’s artistic treasures. Follow your expert guide into the heart of this ancient capital and learn how to “read” the mosaics, understand their symbolism, and appreciate why they have survived for more than 1,500 years.
At the time of booking, you can choose between two tour options:
• Essential Experience (2 hours): a shorter but fully curated itinerary including the Neonian Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale, and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. At the end of the guided tour, you may continue independently to visit the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo.
• Complete Experience (3 hours): the most comprehensive option, covering all five UNESCO monuments included in the combined ticket. With your guide, you will visit the Chapel of Saint Andrew (inside the Archbishop’s Museum), the Neonian Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo.
Both versions begin at the convenient meeting point in Piazza San Francesco, and from there your guide will lead you through Ravenna’s charming historic center. Along the way, you will discover why Ravenna is considered the capital of mosaic art and how its monuments reflect the city’s unique role between East and West.
As you explore, admire masterpieces such as:
- The Basilica of San Vitale: a jewel of early Christian art, famous for its soaring architecture and its stunning mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.
- The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: a small, atmospheric chapel whose starry dome has inspired visitors for centuries, including Dante Alighieri himself.
- The Neonian Baptistery: one of the oldest buildings in Ravenna, with vibrant mosaics of clear Hellenistic-Roman influence.
- The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo: home to one of the longest and most impressive cycles of mosaics in the world, illustrating scenes from the life of Christ.
- The Chapel of Saint Andrew (Complete Experience only): an extraordinary early Christian archiepiscopal chapel preserved inside the Archbishop’s Museum.
Whether you choose the Essential or the Complete Experience, this guided tour offers the perfect introduction to Ravenna’s UNESCO sites—combining history, art, and storytelling to help you appreciate the timeless beauty of its mosaics.
Things to note
- Passport or ID card, copy accepted
Terms & conditions
Please bring your own earphones with a jack connection for the radio guides.
For guests who have booked the Essential Experience (2h): entrance tickets will be provided at check-in and must be shown at each monument; tickets must be kept carefully; in case of loss, access to the monuments cannot be guaranteed and a new ticket must be purchased at your own expense; we recommend taking a photo of your ticket after collection, ensuring the QR code is clearly visible.
Please note that the Archiepiscopal Museum and St Andrew’s Chapel are not included in the Essential tour. Admission may be added with a supplementary ticket (€2), subject to availability. Same-day tickets may be sold out, especially during peak periods.
Both tour options include walking between the monuments at a relaxed pace. Please note that not all monuments offer seating, and you may be standing for parts of the visit.
The walking route may include cobblestones and uneven surfaces.