Ravenna: Mosaics Walking Tour & UNESCO Sites Ticket

Wander Ravenna’s mosaic basilicas with a guide, see Dante’s tomb, step under blue ceilings at Galla Placidia

You’ll walk through Ravenna’s UNESCO basilicas with a local guide who brings ancient mosaics to life, stand beneath starry blue ceilings at Galla Placidia’s mausoleum, peek at Dante’s tomb, and end with time to explore the city center on your own. Expect moments of quiet awe and plenty of small surprises along the way.

What’s included

Your day includes entry tickets for all main sites—Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, San Vitale Basilica, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia—and a small group led by an expert local guide. You’ll also have free time in Ravenna’s center and self-guided access to the Neonian Baptistery before heading off on your own adventure.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Ravenna's mosaics and landmarks

• Visit Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
• See the Tomb of Dante
• Explore Basilica of San Francesco mosaics
• Admire Mausoleum of Galla Placidia mosaics
• Tour Basilica of San Vitale mosaics
• Free time in Ravenna city center
• Self-guided visit to Neonian Baptistery

The Experience

The first thing I noticed was the hush — not silence exactly, but that soft echo you get in old churches. We’d just stepped into Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and our guide, Silvia, pointed up at a row of golden figures. She said they’d been there for 1,500 years. I could smell wax and something musty (in a good way), and I kept craning my neck to catch all the details in those mosaics. The colors are way brighter than I expected — like someone just finished them yesterday. Silvia told us little stories about each panel; she even made us guess which wise man was Balthazar (I got it wrong).

We wandered past Dante’s tomb — honestly smaller than I thought it would be, tucked beside the Basilica di San Francesco. There were fresh flowers on the stone; someone must come every day. Inside San Francesco, Silvia showed us these underwater mosaics through a grate in the floor. The water made everything shimmer. I tried to take a photo but it didn’t really work — some things just don’t translate.

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia felt almost hidden from the street, but inside… wow. Deep blue everywhere, tiny gold stars overhead. It was cool and smelled faintly of stone dust. Our group fell quiet for a minute; even Silvia just let us look around without talking. There’s this mosaic of a shepherd with sheep that stuck with me — simple but somehow moving.

San Vitale came last — octagonal walls and more mosaics than my brain could process by then. The domed ceiling seemed to float above us, and Silvia pointed out Emperor Justinian looking oddly modern in his purple robe (she joked he’d have had an Instagram account). After that we had free time to wander Ravenna’s center on our own — narrow streets, people chatting over espresso, sunlight bouncing off yellow walls. If you want to see early Christian art up close (and not just in books), this day trip through Ravenna is the real thing.

Top questions

How long does the Ravenna mosaics walking tour last?

The guided tour lasts about 2.5 hours, plus extra time for self-guided visits.

Which sites are included in the combined ticket?

The ticket covers Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, San Vitale Basilica, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Neonian Baptistery (self-guided), and more.

Is entry to Dante’s tomb included?

You visit Dante’s tomb from outside as part of the walking route; entry is not specifically included.

Are admission fees covered in this tour?

Yes, all admission tickets for listed sites are included with your booking.

Is this tour suitable for children or people with strollers?

Yes, infants and small children can join using prams or strollers.

Do I need to dress a certain way?

Guests are asked to dress respectfully when entering sacred sites during the tour.

What happens if one of the sites is closed?

If there are closures due to holy observances or events, guides will provide explanations from outside.