Dante's Ravenna: Self-Guided Audio Tour with Mosaics

Trace Ravenna’s story from Roman tombs to Dante’s final resting place, guided by mosaics.

Dante's Ravenna is a self-guided audio tour through Ravenna, Italy, that takes you from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia through the Basilica of San Vitale, Piazza del Popolo, the Baptistry of the Arians, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuova, and finally to Dante's tomb. You download the VoiceMap app, follow the audio narration and maps offline, and choose which sites to enter and how long to linger at each stop. The tour runs 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on how many interiors you visit and how much time you spend with the mosaics.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ravenna's historic landmarks

• Start outside Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
• Pass Basilica of San Vitale
• Pass Church of San Domenico
• Walk through Piazza del Popolo
• Pass Baptistry of the Arians
• Pass Basilica of Sant Apollinare Nuova
• Pass Alighieri Theatre
• Stop at outskirts of Piazza Garibaldi
• Visit Dante's tomb
• End at Basilica of San Francesco

The Experience

The tour begins outside the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, where the audio introduces you to Ravenna's shift from Roman capital to Gothic kingdom to Byzantine stronghold. From there you walk to the Basilica of San Vitale, where the narration explains the building's history before you decide whether to step inside. The route then moves through the medieval heart of the city (past the Church of San Domenico, across Piazza del Popolo, by the Baptistry of the Arians) each stop marked on your offline map so you never need to check a signal or worry about losing your way.

The VoiceMap app handles the navigation and the storytelling. Audio plays automatically as you approach each site, so you hear context before you arrive rather than standing in front of something trying to read about it. You can pause, rewind, skip ahead or linger as long as you want. The app doesn't rush you. Offline access means the maps, audio and geodata all work without data or WiFi, which matters in Ravenna's narrow streets where signal can drop. The app works on both Android and iOS, and once you download the tour, you keep lifetime access to it.

The tour ends at the Basilica of San Francesco near Dante's tomb and close to restaurants and other attractions, so you can extend your afternoon or move on to dinner without backtracking. Wheelchair accessible throughout, and suitable for all fitness levels. The pace is entirely yours, and you're walking city streets, not climbing hills. You'll need your own smartphone and headphones, and any museum or basilica entry fees are separate, but the audio guide itself is included in full.

What’s included

• VoiceMap app for Android and iOS.
• lifetime access to the complete audio tour in English.
• offline maps, audio narration and geodata so the tour works without internet or phone signal.

Days and timesDaily

AgesAges 6+ · Under 6 — No ticket type: can't be added to a booking

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends elsewhereMeeting point, per the operator: “Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can star…”

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours

Is this one for you?Wander through five centuries of empires (Roman, Gothic, Byzantine, Venetian, and Renaissance) at your own pace, lingering over the mosaics that stop you and skipping what doesn't.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Do I need to buy tickets to the churches and museums along the way?

Entry fees to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Basilica of San Vitale, Baptistry of the Arians and other sites are not included in the tour. You pay at each one if you choose to go inside. The audio narration works from outside as well, so you can listen and move on if you prefer.

Can I download this tour before I arrive in Ravenna?

Yes. The VoiceMap app stores audio, maps and geodata offline, so download the tour at home and it will work without internet once you're in the city.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours depending on whether you enter the basilicas and how long you spend at each stop. You set the pace.

What do I need to bring?

You'll need a smartphone with the VoiceMap app installed and headphones or earbuds. The app works on Android and iOS.

Can I pause the tour and come back to it later?

Yes. The app saves your progress, so you can stop at any point, leave Ravenna, and resume the tour another day using the same lifetime access.