Ravenna mosaics tour: Private guide to five early Christian sites

Five centuries of Byzantine mosaics in one morning, with a guide who knows where to stand

A private 3-hour guided walking tour of Ravenna's five most important early Christian and Byzantine monuments, with entry tickets included to the Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Battistero Neoniano and Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Your expert guide leads you through the old town, Piazza del Popolo and the Dante area, explaining the mosaics and the history as you move between sites. The tour runs in English, Spanish, Italian, French or German, and all areas are wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Basilica of San Vitale30m · entry included
2. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia30m · entry included

Explore Ravenna's top sights and mosaics

• Walk through Piazza del Popolo
• Visit Archiepiscopal Museum mosaics
• Tour Baptistery of Neon mosaics
• Explore Basilica di San Vitale mosaics
• See Mausoleum of Galla Placidia mosaics
• Visit Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo mosaics

The Experience

Piazza del Popolo anchors the start: the vibrant heart of Ravenna's old town, ringed by architecture that sets the scale for what follows. From there your guide takes you to five sites in three hours, each one built between the 5th and 6th centuries and each one holding mosaics that survive from the early Christian and Byzantine periods. The Battistero Neoniano comes first, a 5th-century baptistery where the mosaics show the baptism of Christ and the apostles. Then the Basilica of San Vitale, a Byzantine structure with mosaics depicting biblical scenes and imperial portraits. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a small 5th-century tomb, holds some of the oldest and most intact mosaics in the city.

Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, built by King Theodoric in the 6th century, closes the route with mosaics from the New Testament running the length of the nave. The Archiepiscopal Museum sits between stops, showing early Christian pieces in a smaller setting. You also walk the Dante area, the "Area of Silence", where the exiled Florentine poet died in 1321 and where a quieter part of the city marks his memory. The guide handles the narrative and the pacing. You move at a steady walk between each stop, with time to stand and look at the mosaics without rushing.

Entry to all five sites is included in the price. The tour runs even in rain, though exceptionally heavy weather may force a cancellation with full refund. All surfaces and areas are wheelchair accessible, and the guide speaks your language: English, Spanish, Italian, French or German. You'll need to arrange your own way to the meeting point. Food and drinks are not part of the booking.

What’s included

• Private expert guide in your choice of five languages.
• entrance tickets to four major basilicas and the Archiepiscopal Museum.
• walking route through Piazza del Popolo, the Dante area and the old town.
• access to all mosaics and interiors at each stop.

Days and timesDaily · 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “The meeting point is: Piazza del Popolo, Ravenna Meet your guide under the clock tower.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by TUI Musement

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so the pace and the guide's attention stay with your group alone: ideal if you want to linger at a mosaic or ask questions without waiting for others. The three-hour window fits the morning or early afternoon, and all entry fees are settled upfront, so you move between sites without stopping at ticket windows.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

What are the main mosaics I'll see on the Ravenna tour?

The Battistero Neoniano holds mosaics of the baptism of Christ and the apostles; San Vitale displays biblical scenes and imperial portraits in Byzantine style; the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia preserves some of the city's oldest early Christian mosaics; Sant'Apollinare Nuovo runs New Testament scenes along the nave. The Archiepiscopal Museum shows additional early Christian pieces between the larger sites.

How long is the walking tour and what's the pace like?

The tour runs three hours total, moving at a steady walk between five sites across the old town and Piazza del Popolo. You'll have time to stand and look at the mosaics at each stop without being rushed, and the guide sets the rhythm.

Are entrance fees included in the tour price?

Yes, entry to the Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Battistero Neoniano and Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is included. The Archiepiscopal Museum is also covered. Other sites in Ravenna not on this route would require separate tickets.

Is the tour accessible for people using wheelchairs?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on the tour are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options to and from the sites are also wheelchair accessible. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed.