Ravenna Guided Tour of Mosaic Tiles with Entrance to Monuments
by Ravenna Incoming
Choose from 10 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€56Overview
This guided walking tour in Ravenna lasts about two to three hours and begins at Piazza San Francesco. The group follows the streets of the historic center to visit three key monuments known for their mosaic tiles. The first stop is the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, built around the middle of the 5th century by Galla Placidia, ruler of the Western Roman Empire. The mausoleum has a simple exterior but contains extensive mosaic tile decorations inside, including a dome covered with countless star-shaped tiles that inspired Dante Alighieri. The visit here lasts about ten minutes. Next, the tour proceeds to the Basilica di San Vitale, a 6th-century early Christian monument with an octagonal layout and a large frescoed dome. Visitors spend approximately thirty minutes inside, viewing the high interior spaces and detailed mosaic tile work of the apse, which features the imperial Byzantine couple Justinian and Theodora. The final stop is the Battistero Neoniano, one of Ravenna’s oldest monuments dating from the mid-5th century. The exterior is plain brick, while the interior is richly decorated with marble, stucco, and mosaic tiles showing the Baptism of Christ and a procession of the Apostles beneath a blue mosaic tile dome. Inside are also the Renaissance baptismal font and the 5th-century ambo. The visit here lasts about ten minutes. Entrance tickets to all monuments are included. For large groups, a radio guide system is provided. A certified expert guide leads the tour, explaining the history and mosaic tile art at each location.
Highlights
What's included
Itinerary
Mausoleo di Galla Placidia
This mausoleum was built around the middle of the 5th century by Galla Placidia, ruler of the Western Roman Empire. Its exterior is simple and shaped like a Latin cross. Inside, visitors find extensive mosaic decorations, including a dome covered with countless stars. These mosaics have inspired visitors for centuries, including the poet Dante Alighieri.
10 min
Basilica di San Vitale
Dating to the 6th century, this basilica is a key monument of early Christian art in Italy with clear eastern influences. It features an octagonal plan topped by a large frescoed dome. Inside, high vaulted spaces surround the richly decorated apse mosaics, which include detailed depictions of the Byzantine emperor Justinian and empress Theodora in ceremonial parade.
30 min
Battistero Neoniano (Battistero degli Ortodossi)
One of Ravenna’s oldest monuments, this baptistery has a plain brick exterior but an interior richly decorated with marble, stucco, and mosaics showing Hellenistic-Roman style influences. The dome, commissioned by Bishop Neone in the mid-5th century, displays the Baptism of Christ with a procession of the twelve Apostles on a blue mosaic background. Inside is also the Renaissance baptismal font and the 5th-century ambo.
10 min
Meeting point
At the Tourist Information Office
End point
The 3-hour tour ends at the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. After completing the entire guided tour through the five UNESCO monuments, the visit ends at this place.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Ravenna Guided Tour of Mosaic Tiles with Entrance to Monuments
by Ravenna Incoming
Choose from 10 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€56Overview
This guided walking tour in Ravenna lasts about two to three hours and begins at Piazza San Francesco. The group follows the streets of the historic center to visit three key monuments known for their mosaic tiles. The first stop is the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, built around the middle of the 5th century by Galla Placidia, ruler of the Western Roman Empire. The mausoleum has a simple exterior but contains extensive mosaic tile decorations inside, including a dome covered with countless star-shaped tiles that inspired Dante Alighieri. The visit here lasts about ten minutes. Next, the tour proceeds to the Basilica di San Vitale, a 6th-century early Christian monument with an octagonal layout and a large frescoed dome. Visitors spend approximately thirty minutes inside, viewing the high interior spaces and detailed mosaic tile work of the apse, which features the imperial Byzantine couple Justinian and Theodora. The final stop is the Battistero Neoniano, one of Ravenna’s oldest monuments dating from the mid-5th century. The exterior is plain brick, while the interior is richly decorated with marble, stucco, and mosaic tiles showing the Baptism of Christ and a procession of the Apostles beneath a blue mosaic tile dome. Inside are also the Renaissance baptismal font and the 5th-century ambo. The visit here lasts about ten minutes. Entrance tickets to all monuments are included. For large groups, a radio guide system is provided. A certified expert guide leads the tour, explaining the history and mosaic tile art at each location.
Highlights
What's included
Itinerary
Mausoleo di Galla Placidia
This mausoleum was built around the middle of the 5th century by Galla Placidia, ruler of the Western Roman Empire. Its exterior is simple and shaped like a Latin cross. Inside, visitors find extensive mosaic decorations, including a dome covered with countless stars. These mosaics have inspired visitors for centuries, including the poet Dante Alighieri.
10 min
Basilica di San Vitale
Dating to the 6th century, this basilica is a key monument of early Christian art in Italy with clear eastern influences. It features an octagonal plan topped by a large frescoed dome. Inside, high vaulted spaces surround the richly decorated apse mosaics, which include detailed depictions of the Byzantine emperor Justinian and empress Theodora in ceremonial parade.
30 min
Battistero Neoniano (Battistero degli Ortodossi)
One of Ravenna’s oldest monuments, this baptistery has a plain brick exterior but an interior richly decorated with marble, stucco, and mosaics showing Hellenistic-Roman style influences. The dome, commissioned by Bishop Neone in the mid-5th century, displays the Baptism of Christ with a procession of the twelve Apostles on a blue mosaic background. Inside is also the Renaissance baptismal font and the 5th-century ambo.
10 min
Meeting point
At the Tourist Information Office
End point
The 3-hour tour ends at the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. After completing the entire guided tour through the five UNESCO monuments, the visit ends at this place.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.