Ravenna Mosaic Tour: UNESCO Monuments with Expert Guide

Walk through five centuries of Byzantine mosaics without hunting for the stories behind them

A guided tour of Ravenna's mosaic-filled UNESCO monuments starting from Piazza San Francesco, with a certified expert guide leading you through the Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and other sites in the historic center. The tour runs 2 to 3 hours depending on your chosen option, with monument entry and a radio guide (for larger groups) included. Live guides speak English, Spanish, Italian, and French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia10m · entry included
2. Basilica of San Vitale30m · entry included

Explore Ravenna's famous mosaics

• Start at Piazza San Francesco
• Visit Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
• Tour Basilica of San Vitale
• See Baptistery with mosaic dome

The experience

The tour winds through Ravenna's historic center starting at Piazza San Francesco, moving between monuments that span the 5th and 6th centuries. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, built around the middle of the 5th century, opens with a simple brick exterior that gives way to a small Latin cross interior covered in rich mosaic decoration. The dome's countless gold stars have drawn visitors for centuries: Dante Alighieri himself drew inspiration from them for the Divine Comedy. The Basilica of San Vitale, a 6th-century structure with clear Eastern influence and an octagonal plan, holds the most celebrated mosaics: the imperial couple Giustiniano and Teodora with their full ceremonial parades, rendered in the stupendous detail of the apse.

A certified expert guide walks you through each site, explaining the mosaics, the history of the figures depicted, and the techniques that have kept these tesserae brilliant for over 1,500 years. Depending on which option you book, you'll spend either 2 or 3 hours on the route, visiting either 3 or 5 monuments. The guide speaks your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, or French. For larger groups, a radio guide ensures you hear every detail without crowding around a single speaker. Monument entry is included, so there's no separate ticket line to navigate.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and the streets of the historic center are navigable for all fitness levels. If you're traveling with infants or small children, they can ride in a pram or stroller, and public transportation options are nearby if you need to rest between stops. The route is designed to hold together in a single morning or afternoon, so you see the mosaics in context rather than as isolated visits.

What’s included

• Certified expert guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, or French.
• entrance tickets to all monuments on your chosen route.
• radio guide for larger groups.

Options for this experience

6 options

English tour, 2 hours, 3 monuments10:10 and 14:00Lasts 2 hours, covering 3 UNESCO monuments: the Neon Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Italian tour, 2 hours, 3 monuments10:15 and 14:15Lasts 2 hours, covering 3 UNESCO monuments: the Neon Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

French tour, 2 hours, 3 monuments10:00Lasts 2 hours, covering 3 UNESCO monuments: the Neon Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

See 3 more options

Spanish tour, 2 hours, 3 monuments10:00 and 16:00Lasts 2 hours, covering 3 UNESCO monuments: the Neon Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Italian tour, 3 hours, 5 monuments10:15 and 15:15Lasts 3 hours, covering 5 UNESCO monuments: St. Andrew's Chapel, the Neon Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

English tour, 3 hours, 5 monuments10:10 and 14:45Lasts 3 hours, covering 3 UNESCO monuments: St. Andrew's Chapel, the Neon Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to20h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Youth (11 to 14 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 28

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Visit Ravenna (Ravenna Incoming)

Is this one for you?Book the 3-hour, 5-monument option if you want the full arc of Ravenna's mosaic story: the Baptistery with its Baptism of Christ and procession of Apostles adds context that the shorter route doesn't reach. The 2-hour, 3-monument version works if you're fitting this into a half-day and want to see the two most celebrated sites without rushing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, at 10:10, 14:00 and 14:45. In Italian, at 10:15, 14:15 and 15:15. In French, at 10:00. In Spanish, at 10:00 and 16:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 14 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What's the difference between the 2-hour and 3-hour tour options?

The 2-hour tour covers 3 monuments (the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale, and one additional site), while the 3-hour option adds two more stops, giving you a fuller picture of Ravenna's mosaic heritage across 5 monuments total.

Does the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia really have mosaics that inspired Dante?

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia's dome is covered in gold stars set against a deep blue background, and the 5th-century work did inspire the great poet Dante Alighieri when he was writing the Divine Comedy. The guide will point out which passages he drew from it.

What are the mosaics of Giustiniano and Teodora in the Basilica of San Vitale?

The Basilica of San Vitale holds one of the most important works of early Christian art in Italy: a 6th-century representation of the Byzantine imperial couple Giustiniano and Teodora, each shown with their full ceremonial parades rendered in the apse mosaics, reflecting the Eastern influence of the period.

Is there a radio guide, or do I just follow the group?

For larger groups, a radio guide is provided so you can hear the expert guide clearly without everyone clustering around a single speaker. For smaller groups, the guide leads you directly through each site.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair on this tour?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and the historic center streets are navigable for all fitness levels. Strollers and prams are fine for infants and small children, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need a break.