Ravenna Private Walking Tour: Four Mosaics with a Local Guide

Step into Ravenna’s sacred art, from the Magi’s journey to the Good Shepherd’s glow

A private walking tour of Ravenna with a local expert guide covers four early Christian monuments: Sant'Apollinare Nuovo with its Procession of the Magi, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale with its imperial court mosaics, and the Battistero Neoniano. The tour runs three hours and is available in English or Italian. Admission tickets are purchased separately with the guide's assistance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia30m
2. Basilica of San Vitale1h

Explore Ravenna's historic mosaics

• Visit Sant'Apollinare Nuovo basilica
• See mosaics including Procession of the Magi
• Tour Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
• Admire Good Shepherd mosaic
• Explore Basilica of San Vitale
• View mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora
• Visit Battistero Neoniano
• See Baptism of Christ mosaic

The Experience

How do you spend three hours in Ravenna without missing the mosaics that made it matter? You start at Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, a basilica whose nave walls hold biblical scenes in tile: Old Testament and New Testament narratives side by side, their colors still vivid after fifteen centuries. The Procession of the Magi, the three wise men traveling to meet the baby Jesus, is the one most visitors come to stand in front of. Your guide walks you through what you're looking at: the craftsmanship, the symbolism, the choices the artists made about which stories to tell and how.

From there, the route moves to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site small enough to feel intimate but dense with detail. The mosaics here use deep blues and golds. The ceiling and walls create an effect the source calls ethereal, though what matters is what you see: the Good Shepherd mosaic, a figure carrying a lamb, one of early Christianity's most enduring symbols. Then comes the Basilica of San Vitale, an octagonal Byzantine structure where the apse holds two of Ravenna's most famous images: Emperor Justinian in his court regalia, and Empress Theodora facing him across the space, each surrounded by attendants. The scale and the detail are what make them stick. Your final stop is the Battistero Neoniano, where the ceiling shows the Baptism of Christ in mosaic, and an ancient baptismal font still sits below it.

The guide handles the logistics of entry: you'll buy tickets (€12.50 each) with their help at each site, so you move through without stopping to figure out where to pay or what the hours are. The tour is private, just you and the guide, which means the pace is yours and the questions get answered without waiting for a group to catch up. You can choose English or Italian when you book.

What’s included

• A local expert guide fluent in your chosen language (English or Italian).
• private tour with just you and your guide.
• access to all four early Christian monuments in central Ravenna.
• the guide's assistance with ticket purchase at each site.

Days and timesDaily · 11 departure times, from 09:00 to 16:00

AgesAges 11+ · 6 to 10 years · Under 6 — Free

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends elsewhereMeeting point, per the operator: “The guide will wait for you outside Sant Apollinare nuovo, near the obelisk”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Hili Travel s.r.l.

Is this one for you?Book the English-language option if that's your working language, or Italian if you speak it. The guide's expertise is the same either way, and the choice is just about which language you'll hear the stories in. The three-hour length fits a morning or an afternoon, leaving time for lunch or other sites in Ravenna before or after.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

6 to 10 years; under 6, free.

What exactly is the Procession of the Magi mosaic, and why do so many visitors want to see it?

The Procession of the Magi is a mosaic panel in Sant'Apollinare Nuovo depicting the three wise men traveling to meet the baby Jesus. It's one of the basilica's most iconic images because it combines vivid color, intricate detail and a narrative moment, the journey itself, that has resonated in Christian art for centuries. Your guide will walk you through the symbolism and the craftsmanship.

Are the four sites all within walking distance of each other in Ravenna?

Yes. Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Battistero Neoniano are all in central Ravenna and connected by a walking route. The three-hour tour covers all four on foot.

Do I need to buy tickets separately, or are they included?

Admission tickets are not included in the tour price. Your guide will assist you with purchasing them at each site. The current cost is €12.50 per ticket per site.

What makes the Basilica of San Vitale different from the other three stops?

San Vitale is a Byzantine masterpiece with an octagonal design and a vaulted dome, and it holds the most elaborate imperial court mosaics on the tour: the apse features Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora in full regalia, each surrounded by their court. The scale and architectural ambition are distinct from the other three monuments.

Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces at the four sites are accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need them. The tour is also suitable for all physical fitness levels.