Location: Ravenna
Top Things to do in Ravenna
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna
Ravenna once was the capital of the Byzantine Empire in Italy, and it still has amazing mosaics recalling that heritage. Also make sure you visit Dante's tomb, as well as the little pile of rubble where local residents hid his urn during WWII to prevent it from being damaged.
Restaurants in Ravenna
1. Basilica San Vitale
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,556 reviews
History As a symbol of the Archiepiscopal Chancellery of Ravenna, San Vitale is one of the greatest works of late Roman art. Famous for its mosaics commissioned by Archbishop Maximian (546/556 AD), the basilica is a place of contemplation. While the body descends its steps the spirit rises to the Truth. A masterpiece to be admired for its evident beauty and its hidden, precise, evocative theological argument.
Reviewed By DRJAMESV - Makawao, United States
This basilica is named for the saint martyred in 303 AD. However, its gold gilded mosaics are a testament to Emperor Justinian and his wife Queen Theodora. I am likely a descendent of this saint, since my surname is Vitale also. The walking distance Ai Giardini di Vitale hotel is also stellar.
2. Mausoleo di Galla Placidia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,416 reviews
Reviewed By GaramMassala - Tarneit, Australia
This mausoleum is absolutely stunning inside, with beautiful mosaics on its walls and ceilings. There was a long queue (about 45 minutes) and the time inside was limited (5 minutes maximum), but it was worth it as one of the highlights of Ravenna.
3. Archiepiscopal Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 801 reviews
Archiepiscopal Museum and the Chapel of St. Andrew The Archbishop's Chapel of St. Andrew is guarded as a gemstone inside the Bishop's Palace. It was the private chapel of the bishops of Ravenna and it was built and decorated with mosaics from 494 till 519. Set up inside the rooms of the Bishop's Palace, the collection of the Archiepiscopal Museum contains epigraphs, the Cathedral treasure, remains of mosaics from the ancient Basilica of Ursus and above all the ivory throne of the bishop Maximian (6th century).
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
The significant and rich Archiepiscopal Museum here in Ravenna shows us the historical sequence of events and life in the city itself. It is located immediately next to the Baptistry of Neon and behind the Duomo of Ravenna, on the first and second floor of the Archiepiscopal Palace. The museum is very interesting with its artifacts and we are especially impressed with the chapel of Sant'Andrea, an early Christian oratory with Greek cross plan built between 494 and 519 AD in the time of Theodoric and decorated with wonderful mosaics. Archiepiscopal Chapel is the only existing archiepiscopal chapel of the early Christian era that has been preserved intact to the present day. It was erected by Bishop Peter II as a private oratory for Catholic bishops when Arianism was the main religion of the court. Originally dedicated to Christ, the chapel was then renamed and dedicated to Saint Andrew, whose relics were transported from Constantinople to Ravenna around the mid-6th century AD. Beautifully decorated chapel with extremely beautiful mosaics. Also of interest to us was the ivory throne of Maximian, one of the most famous carved ivory works of all times executed in the 6th century by Byzantine artists. Very interesting museum with valuable details.
4. Battistero Neoniano (Battistero degli Ortodossi)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,418 reviews
The most ancient of Ravenna monuments, at least with regard to when building began, it dates to the end of the 4th or the beginning of the 5th century.
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
Among the great beauties of Ravenna is certainly Battistero Neoniano (Battistero degli Ortodossi). Wonderful place with significant value both historical and artistic. Battistero Neoniano is one of the oldest monuments in Ravenna. It was built in the early 5th century by the will of Bishop Urso. In the following period, significant restoration works were carried out by Bishop Neone (450 - 475), the complete renovation of the dome and the realization of the interior decoration that today embellished the interior of the Baptistery. It was built in the octagonal shape and made of brick. The interior of the Baptistery is breathtaking with its beauty it is divided into two orders of superimposed arches, offering a very rich decoration divided into three parts: marble in the lower part, stuccos in the intermediate area and mosaics in the upper one with a clear Hellenistic-Roman imprint. At the center of the dome, a large medallion contains the scene of the baptism of Christ, immersed in the waters of the Jordan River which is the oldest testimony of a scene of the baptism of Christ made in mosaic in a monumental building. At the center of the Baptistery, we find the octagonal tub of Greek marble and porphyry. The decorations are fantastic and leave no one indifferent.
5. Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,993 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
Ravenna shows us all the beauty of early Christian mosaics in beautiful basilicas, churches, chapels and museums. Sightseeing and enjoying these beauties is a privilege. So with Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, we enjoyed every look. Her history is extremely interesting. The basilica is a historically important early Christian monument. At the beginning of the 6th century, it was built by the Ostrogothic King Theodoric I, as a chapel within his royal palace (cited by Liber Pontificalis). As Theodoric was of Aryan faith, in 504 the church was consecrated as Aryan. After the Ravenna was occupied by the Byzantines, it was converted into an orthodox (Catholic / Orthodox) church, and Emperor Justinian I. The Great renamed it 561 to Sanctus Martinus in Coelo Aureo ("St. Martin in the Golden Sky"). It was renamed in 856 when the remains of the Sant'Apollinare ( Holy Apolinaria ) by which it was named were transferred. Among the many beautiful mosaics we can see, the mosaic of Christ on the throne surrounded by angels, mosaic display Theodoric's palace, Mosaic Adoration of the Magi ...... A magnificent Basilica with great artistic and religious value.
6. Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 688 reviews
Reviewed By donnads2016
One of the most impressive in situ displays of 5th-6th century floor mosaics. Just amazing to see up close. Recently discovered and meticulously excavated and maintained, well worth the visit! One of my top three favorite places in Ravenna.
7. Battistero degli Ariani
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 871 reviews
Reviewed By 29gw
Another of Ravenna's magnificent monuments, beautiful mosaics. take your time, look at it from different angles!
8. Mar - Museo d'Arte della citta di Ravenna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 229 reviews
Built in the early 16th century, the cloister of the Abbey of Saint Maria in Porto gets its name from the Loggia del Giardino, better known as the Loggetta Lombardesca, from the Campionese and Lombard workers, operating there under the direction of Tullio Lombardo. The original building underwent changes in its use and function from the period of the Napoleonic suppressions, up until its renovation in the early 1970s. The only things remaining of the original building are the cloister, with original renaissance proportions, the layout of spaces and the elegant loggia with five arches, which has become the monumental emergence and symbol of the entire complex. Currently, the Loggetta Lombardesca is home to the Art Museum of the city of Ravenna, since 2002 the Institution of the Municipality of Ravenna. With the creation of the Institution, the museum (which was already the Municipal Art Gallery) has relaunched its cultural activities. It has combined the already-consolidated activity of preservation and promotion of the patrimony with a well-structured cultural production, by creating the International Mosaic Documentation Centre, and also an exhibition activity, allowing the results of the most advanced scientific research to be divulged. The museum moves in various directions, in order to investigate art workshops, from the wide topics of contemporaneity in a historical perspective, to the frontiers of emerging creativity and from work to promote the patrimony to the recovery of material culture and manufactured articles.
Reviewed By VikingVagabond99 - Muscatine, United States
I agree with the review by Virginia H. I think we were possibly at this museum around the same time - maybe passed right by each other! The Chuck Close mosaic exhibit and the accompanying documentary movie were the highlight of my visit here to Ravenna. And, this museum has so much more than just mosaic art. There were beautiful (although, sadly, dirty and dusty) sculptures and, upstairs, lots more gorgeous art and sculptures. It just kept going on, and on! Take your time and savor it all! I could have done without the exhibit of plastic Lego sculptures, though. (I've seen the HUGE Lego displays at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, so I'm spoiled.)
9. Basilica di San Giovanni Evangelista
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 267 reviews
Reviewed By asiyahnoemik - Pula, Croatia
The Basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista was built by the Roman princess Galla Placidia in the fifth century AD. The history of church construction is extremely interesting. A marble inscription on the church of San Giovanni Evangelista indicates to us that Galla Placidia (392-450) built this church in memory of the shipwreck survivor, herself and her children. Their Journey took place from Constantinople to Ravenna after the death of her brother Honorio to take over the kingdom of the Western Empire instead of her son Valentinian, who was then too young. Some mosaics are unfortunately lost, but the church is a wonderful example of early Christian architecture. In the Middle Ages, the Benedictines added an important monastery to it. In the 14th century, both the church and the monastery were rebuilt in the Gothic style, because of these interventions, a beautiful portal is visible.
10. Basilica di San Francesco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 837 reviews
Reviewed By Bigo1955 - Ravenna, Italy
The Basilica of San Francesco is interesting to visit although it has undergone significant renovations over the centuries. In this church the funeral of the "Supreme Poet Dante" was celebrated in 1321. The remains of the "great poet" rest in the adjacent "Dante's tomb". Under the high altar, consisting of a sarcophagus of the fifth century, through a window you can see a crypt supported by pillars, intended to house the remains of Bishop Neone, founder of the church. The floor is submerged by the water whose level varies according to the tides. For better viewing, the light can be switched on in the crypt via a token switch (1 euro). For entries to the various monuments I recommend going to one of the "Information Offices" in the city.
