Must-see attractions in Ravenna

  • RAVENNA, ITALY - JULY 22, 2014: interior of the medieval church of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, built from 6th century.

    Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe

    Ravenna

    This signature early Christian basilica, lighter than Ravenna's other churches, is situated 5km southeast of town in the former Roman port of Classe. Its…

  • ITALY - JULY 24: Mosaics in the apse vault, 538-545, Basilica of San Vitale (UNESCO World Heritage List, 1996), founded 526, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)

    Basilica di San Vitale

    Ravenna

    Sometimes, after weeks of strolling around dark Italian churches, you can lose your sense of wonder. Not here! The lucid mosaics that adorn the altar of…

  • Interior of the Basilica of St Apollinare Nuovo 481641456 Saint, Byzantine, Tourism, Building Exterior, Arcade, Basilica, Art, Mosaic, Arch, History, Ancient, New, Italian Culture, Famous Place, Italy, Europe, Church, Apollinare, emilia, Ravenna, Romagna, Apollinaris

    Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

    Ravenna

    An old legend states that Pope Gregory the Great once ordered the Apollinare's mosaics to be blackened as they were distracting worshippers from prayer. A…

  • dark blue Ceiling Mosaic of the galla placidia mausoleum. Built between 425 and 433, this small mausoleum adopts a cruciform plan, in Ravenna, Italy on November 4, 2012

    Mausoleo di Galla Placidia

    Ravenna

    In the same complex as Basilica di San Vitale, the small but equally incandescent Mausoleo di Galla Placidia was constructed for Galla Placidia, the half…

  • Ravenna, IT - 2020 Jul: Archiepiscopal cathedral interior of the Duomo of Ravenna. Relics of early Christian Ravenna are preserved, including mosaics from first cathedral church; Shutterstock ID 1828111559; purchase_order: 65050; job: poi; client: ; other: 1828111559

    Duomo

    Ravenna

    Consecrated in 1749, Ravenna's baroque cathedral was built atop the remains of a much earlier church. Artefacts from the original 5th-century cathedral…

  • CLASSIS Ravenna

    Ravenna

    Ravenna's new city museum, located in an 1899 sugar-extraction plant just down the road from Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe, welcomes you with its…

  • Mausoleo di Teodorico

    Ravenna

    Historically and architecturally distinct from Ravenna's other Unesco sites (there are no mosaics here), this two-storey mausoleum was built in 520 for…

  • Battistero Neoniano

    Ravenna

    Roman ruins aside, this is Ravenna's oldest intact building, constructed over the site of a former Roman bathing complex in the late 4th century. Built in…

  • Museo TAMO

    Ravenna

    This newer museum doubles-down on Ravenna's extraordinary history of mosaic work by chronicling 12 centuries of history, using technology and multimedia…

  • Museo Arcivescovile

    Ravenna

    A museum with a difference, this religious gem is on the 2nd floor of the Archiepiscopal Palace. It hides two not-to-be-missed exhibits: an exquisite…

  • Tomba di Dante

    Ravenna

    A son of Florence, Italy's Sommo Poeta (supreme poet), Dante Alighieri, was expelled from the city of his birth in 1302 for political reasons and spent…

  • Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra

    Ravenna

    Not nearly as impressive as the Unesco site mosaics, but still worth a look for serious aficionados, these 6th-century floor mosaics from a 14-room late…

  • Museo d'Arte della Città di Ravenna

    Ravenna

    Arranged in a converted 15th-century monastery abutting a public garden, Ravenna's permanent art collection is backed up by regular temporary expos. The…

  • Battistero degli Ariani

    Ravenna

    The €1 entry here (unique among Ravenna's Unesco sites) is no reflection of the quality of the artistry inside. The baptistery's breathtaking dome mosaic,…

More destinations you need to see