Booking for : Ravenna – Historical Center and National Monuments – Half Day Tour
Ravenna – Historical Center and National Monuments – Half Day Tour
Tour Details
Whether you wish to explore the historic city center or the landscapes and monuments of the surrounding area, join us on this tour to discover the tombs of kings and poets, alongside ancient places of worship that still preserve some of the world’s most famous and well-preserved 5th and 6th-century mosaics.
Between the 5th and 8th centuries, the charming town of Ravenna served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and the Byzantine Exarchate. Traces of this glorious past live on in its magnificent ancient buildings and its eight UNESCO World Heritage monuments. Ravenna is also the city that Dante Alighieri chose as his “last refuge,” and it still guards his immortal remains today.
We begin our tour at the grandiose Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe*, the only surviving church of the ancient port city. In the apse, richly decorated with an idyllic garden, a brilliant golden cross stands out above the figure of the Saint to whom the church is dedicated.
Next, we explore the sites related to Theodoric, King of the Ostrogoths (5th-6th centuries). We visit the Arian Baptistery, built for the Arian community and adorned with mosaics depicting the Baptism of Christ and the procession of the Apostles against a shimmering golden background. We then step away from the mosaics for a moment to admire the white Istrian stone of the Mausoleum of Theodoric, a massive monument nestled within a pleasant public park (exterior visit only).
We will then pay homage to Italy’s greatest poet by visiting the Dante District, featuring the evocative flooded crypt of the Basilica of Saint Francis and the neoclassical Tomb of Dante Alighieri. Here, we will discover the adventurous story of his remains—hidden by Franciscan friars to keep them in Ravenna—and the enduring love the local people have shown for the poet throughout the centuries.
Finally, we can enjoy a cup of coffee or an ice cream in Piazza del Popolo, the beautiful main square with its elegant Venetian influences, followed by a brief visit to one of the city’s many traditional mosaic workshops.
* The Basilica is not open for sightseeing on Sunday mornings (or during religious holidays) due to Holy Mass services.
The visiting order of the monuments is not the one listed above and is adjusted according to the needs of visitors. We do not assume responsibility for ticket increases or changes of monuments opening hours that may occur during the year.
For some questions you find a faster answer here than writing us:
Where can I park?
If you are by car you can park in Piazzale Aldo Moro (free, behind the train station). In the city center there are also several parking lots with parking meters, but usually in here the parking is limited to a maximum of 3 hours.
If you are by bus the best drop off/ drop on point is Piazzale Aldo Moro, behind the train station.
If in the group there are people with real physical and mobility impairments please let us know.Both for cars and buses there are parkings at the Mausoleum of Teodorico and at the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe.
Where do I meet the guide?
If you are already in the city center, the guide can meet you in your hotel or in Piazza del Popolo. If you arrive directly for the guided tour then the guide can pick you up in Piazzale Aldo Moro. If you wish to meet the guide directly to the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe we ask for a supplement for the transport of the guide (see our “rates” for more details).
Can mobility impaired people enter everywhere?
Yes, the monuments of this itinerary are also accessible for mobility impaired people (remind that the visit of the Mausoleum of Theodoric will only be external).
Are there any entrance fees for the monuments?
Yes, € 2,00 for the Arian Baptistry and € 5,00 for the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe (reduced fees applicable); both the monuments are free for people under 18 years old.
Do I need to book the monuments in advance?
No, the monuments on this itinerary do not require a reservation. For further information regarding bookings, you can still contact: prenotazioni@ravennantica.org
Is it possible to pay the tickets in advance or by credit card?
It is always possible to pay either in advance, by writing to prenotazioni@ravennantica.org, or on-site (in cash or by credit card).
Are headsets mandatory?
No.
Where are the tourist information offices?
There is one in Piazza San Francesco.
Are there public toilets?
Yes, in Piazzale Aldo Moro and close to the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe there are pay toilets (0.50 euros) .
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IL PAPAVERO Soc. Coop. - Guide Turistiche
Via Cavour 114 - 48121 Ravenna
+39 0544 30101 / +39 339 4040578
Sede Legale : Via Faentina 106 - 48123 Ravenna
C.F. / P. I.V.A. 00871530390
