🇮🇹Italy · Places to discover
What to see in Ravenna?
22 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Ravenna plays in a category of its own: this city in the Po Valley plain preserves eight Early Christian monuments on the UNESCO list, including the mosaics of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Basilica of San Vitale, dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. It's not a postcard-pretty Italian city - no hills, no easy romanticism - but a place where Byzantine art froze with breathtaking precision.
Two days are enough to cover the essentials without rushing. Favour April-May or September, when Italian school groups desert the sites. Ravenna is visited by bike; the city is flat and distances short. The classic pitfall: buying a ticket for a single monument when the combined pass gives access to all eight UNESCO sites for a significantly lower price.
Landmarks & heritage
5 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5Landmark
Baptistery of the Arians
A small Ostrogothic baptistery often overlooked by hurried visitors, its dome mosaic depicting the Baptism of Christ rivals in beauty its Neonian counterpart. Free entry and intimate atmosphere assured.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Tomb of Dante
The tomb of the Florentine poet, exiled to Ravenna where he died in 1321. A quiet place of pilgrimage within a small neoclassical chapel, complete with an oil lamp supplied by Florence as a gesture of reconciliation.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Mausoleum of Theodoric
Monolithic tomb of the Ostrogothic king Theodoric, hewn from a single block of Istrian stone weighing 300 tonnes. Standing isolated in a garden outside the centre, it radiates a powerful and mysterious atmosphere.
4Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The earliest and most moving of Ravenna's Early Christian monuments. Its fifth-century mosaics bathe the interior in an ethereal blue light, especially magical early in the morning when you have it to yourself.
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Landmark
Neonian Baptistery
Ravenna's oldest monument still standing, erected in the 5th century atop Roman thermal baths. The dome mosaic depicting the apostles surrounding the baptised Christ possesses a rare majesty.
Museums
2 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Museum
National Museum of Ravenna
Housed in the former Benedictine monastery of San Vitale, it preserves an exceptional collection of Byzantine ivories, Coptic textiles and early Christian sculptures often overlooked by the general public.
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Museum
Museum
Palace of Theodoric and TAMO Museum
TAMO (The Complete Adventure of Mosaic) occupies the former church of San Nicolò and traces 2000 years of mosaic history in a vivid, interactive manner. Ideal to visit before the basilicas to grasp the techniques.
Religious sites
3 places
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Religious site
Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Long nave adorned with two processions of martyrs and virgins in hypnotic gold mosaics. Built by Theodoric, it ranks among the finest introductions to Ostrogothic art.
9Wikimedia CommonsReligious site
Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe
A few kilometres from the centre, this 6th-century basilica stands alone across the plain, a remnant of the ancient port of Classe. Its apse, adorned with a mosaic of the Transfiguration, possesses an absolutely serene beauty.
10Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Religious site
Basilica of San Vitale
An absolute masterpiece of Byzantine art in the West, its mosaics of Justinian and Theodora are of stunning precision and richness. Built in the sixth century, it inspired Charlemagne's Palatine Chapel in Aachen.
Nature
2 places
11Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Nature
Pineta di Classe
A parasol pine forest stretching along the coast for kilometres, a vestige of the Forest of Dante and Boccaccio. Perfect for cycling amongst the centuries-old trees, far from the bustle of seaside resorts.
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Nature
Nature
Pineta San Vitale and Pialasse
Wetland forest and lagoons north of Ravenna, a paradise for migratory birds and cyclists alike. The pialasse—brackish lagoons—serve up spectacular sunsets far removed from the crowds.
Parks & gardens
1 place
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Park
Park
Giardini Pubblici di Ravenna
The town-centre public gardens serve as the green heart of Ravenna's social life: pétanque games, evening strolls, children playing. A spot to observe local life away from the tourist trail, especially in late afternoon.
Viewpoints
1 place
14Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Viewpoint
Porto Corsini and Candiano Estuary
A small fishing port at the mouth of the Candiano canal, where boats return in the early morning. Fishermen sell their catch directly on the quay—an industrious, authentic side of Ravenna far removed from the mosaics.
Activities
4 places
15Wikimedia CommonsActivity
Teatro Alighieri
Ravenna's lyric theatre, inaugurated in 1852, ranks among the region's finest with its characteristically Italian horseshoe auditorium. Rich programming of opera and classical music, with accessible prices outside peak season.
16Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Activity
Ravenna Festival
International festival of classical and contemporary music held each June–July within the basilicas, palace courtyards and pine forests. Attending a concert in the Basilica of San Vitale is an unforgettable experience.
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Activity
Activity
Bicycle Hire - Mosaic Tour by Bike
Ravenna is perfectly flat and ideal for cycling. Hiring a bicycle allows you to reach all the UNESCO sites, the pine forest and even the sea within minutes—much as locals do in their daily lives.
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Activity
Activity
Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli - Mosaic Workshop in Ravenna
Several mosaic workshops in the town centre offer introductory courses lasting a few hours, teaching ancestral Byzantine techniques. A unique experience to take home with you—quite literally.
Beaches
2 places
19Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Beach
Marina di Ravenna Beach
The closest beach to the town centre, lined with the colourful bathing huts characteristic of the Romagna Riviera. The atmosphere feels more authentic than Rimini, with local families and unpretentious beach bars.
20Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Beach
Lido di Dante
A small seaside resort at the mouth of the Candiano Canal, wilder and far less crowded than Ravenna's other beaches. Dunes and pines descending to the shoreline create an almost Nordic landscape.
More to discover
2 places
21Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0Place
Piazza del Popolo
The beating heart of Ravenna, graced by two Venetian columns topped with statues of Saint Vitalis and Saint Apollinaris. In the evening, locals gather for aperitifs on the terraces—an authentic social ritual.
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Place
Place
Via di Roma and Historic Centre
The historic centre's principal thoroughfare, lined with medieval palaces and independent shops. Wandering into the adjoining side streets reveals hidden courtyards, forgotten chapels and artisans' workshops.
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