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Before leaving Emilia-Romagna this time around, I felt like I had seen nearly everything there was to see in this region — but there was one more place that I had to visit.
Ravenna, the city of mosaics.
After visiting the other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Emilia-Romagna and nearby San Marino, the Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna, characterized by their fifth and sixth-century mosaics, were the final site I had to visit — and, in my opinion, I saved the best for last.
These mosaics are outstanding. Some of them are more than 1500 years old, yet they looked like they were built yesterday! Any of these would be right at home on the wall of a trendy restaurant in New York.
How are they so well preserved? I’m guessing it’s a combination of UNESCO money, Italian pride, and Catholic tithing. No matter the source, they were so beautiful that they made me sad that the rest of the world’s treasures aren’t preserved nearly this well.
I hope you enjoy these photos, because I enjoyed taking them. And if you ever make it to Emilia-Romagna, Ravenna is absolutely worth the day trip for the mosaics alone.
Basilica di Sant’Apollinare
I started my visit in the Baslica di Sant’Apollinare, the monument closest to the train station. I bought my ticket that included admission to all the mosaic-filled sites in town and found myself inside the church, agape.
This was only the beginning — Basilica di San’Apollinare is one of the plainer monuments in town, if you can believe that!
Battisterio degli Ortodossi
I love visiting baptisteries in Italy — these tiny round chapels are smaller, less visited, and often have even better artwork than the dwarfing duomos. The Battisterio here features a dome covered with mosaics depicting St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus.
The sides featured carved marble windows.
Wouldn’t you like some of those in your home?
Basilica di San Vitale
If there’s any church in Italy that resembles the ornate, gold-covered, Catholic-to-the-extreme churches of Malta, it’s Basilica di San Vitale. It’s hard to find a bare inch in this building.
After being in here, I felt overwhelmed — it was just too much. This is probably the closest I’ve ever been to Stendhal Syndrome, also known as “too much art” disease. I had to go outside and sit down and breathe fresh air for awhile.
Mausoleo di Galla Placida
Just beyond Basilica di San Vitale, the mausoleum is home to the oldest mosaics of all. Not a lot of information is known for sure, but it is believed to be commissioned by Galla Placida, one of the most prominent females in Roman politics at the time, and it may have held her bones along with her father’s at some point before the mausoleum caught fire in the sixteenth century.
At any rate, Galla Placida has an interesting Wikipedia entry — well worth the read!
Beyond the Mosaics
As for the town of Ravenna? It used to be the western capital of the Roman Empire (!) but you wouldn’t know it from the looks of it today.
Ravenna is lovely, pretty, quintessentially Italian, and a wonderful place to stroll and explore. It didn’t quite knock my socks off as much as Parma or Modena, but it was well worth a visit nonetheless.
You could stay overnight in Ravenna, but I honestly don’t think you need to spend more than a day there — a day trip from Bologna or Rimini is perfect.
Planning a Trip to Italy:
- What NOT to Do in Italy
- Solo Female Travel in Italy: Is it Safe?
- Ultimate Guide to Driving in Italy
- How to Stay at an Agriturismo in Italy
- 40 Italy Landmarks to Experience Once In Your Lifetime
- 30 Stunning Mediterranean Islands To Visit In Your Lifetime
- 30 Italian Cities To Visit Once In Your Lifetime
Cool Places in Southern Italy:
Cool Places in Sicily:
- 22 Best Places to Visit in Sicily
- The Joys and Challenges of Traveling in Sicily
- Where to Go in Eastern Sicily
- 23 Fun Things to Do in Palermo, Sicily
- Complete Guide to the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
- Aci Trezza: A Laid-Back Coastal Town in Sicily
- Visiting Sicily in the Winter: Worth it or not?
- 30 Iconic Dishes To Try In Sicily
Cool Places in Northern Italy:
- Three Weeks in Northern Italy: An Itinerary
- Parma, Italy: A Colorful, Artsy, Delicious Town
- Where to Stay in Rome: Best Neighborhoods and Accommodation
- Three Days in the Dolomites: A South Tyrol Getaway
- Best Day Trips from Florence, Italy
- 25 Best Food Experiences in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Essential Info: Ravenna sells a single ticket for €7 ($9.50) that covers entry to Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Basilica di San Vitale, Battistero degli Ortodossi, Mausoleo di Galla Placida, and Museo Arcivescovile. You can purchase it at any of the aforementioned monuments. The ticket comes with a helpful map and suggested walking route.
Ravenna is less than a 90-minute journey from Bologna or Rimini, but the town is a detour from the main Bologna-Rimini train line and trains don’t run here quite as often as other cities in Emilia-Romagna. Double-check the schedule before you leave.
If you choose to spend the night in Ravenna, you can find hotels here. If you choose to visit on a day trip from Bologna, find hotels here.
Be sure to get travel insurance before heading to Italy. It will protect you financially if anything goes wrong. I always use and recommend World Nomads.
My day in Ravenna was at my own expense, though I was hosted in Bologna as part of Blogville. This is a Blog Ville campaign, created and managed by iambassador in partnership with the Emilia-Romagna tourism board. AdventurousKate.com maintains full editorial control of the content published on this site.
The walls of Basilica di Sant’Apollinare remind me of the golden room inside the Stockholm City Hall! Assembled tiny piece by tiny piece. Impressive!
WOW. Stunning.
You’re right — the preservation is remarkable.
Beautiful pics, I must bookmark, definitely would love to visit!
True, the mosaics are really beautiful. Italy is so charming. I am now more intrigued than ever!
I am surprised they allow pictures being taken of the mosaics! Regardless, great photos and day trip.
Wow, so pretty and detailed! Definitely sounds like a place worth visiting.
There’s excellent architecture and outstanding art … and then there is Italy. Gotta get some time off soon so I can take a trip over to the Old World to enjoy some of the finer things in life 🙂
Wow, the mosaics are stunning, I have never seen anything like that in Italy (or elsewhere) aside from the main chamber of St Mark’s basilica in Venice. Absolutely stunning. You really sold me on Emilia-Romagna with your travel & food posts.
I’m very happy to hear that, Anna!
I remember going to Ravenna on a school trip more than 10 years ago, and your pictures brought that experience back to life. The mosaics are really astonishing: they are better preserved and grand that the ones in St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
They’re the best — plain and simple!
We stayed in Rimini for several days for my birthday in April 2012 and did a day trip to Ravenna.
The mosaics are unbelievable and your photos of them are beautiful. Did you see the goldfish at
The Basilica di San Francesco? One if the most unusual things I’ve ever seen at a church!
The goldfish…no, I didn’t!
Amazing photos Kate. I once travelled to travel round Italy in a couple of weeks. By the end I had decided that I needed to wait untl I could go back and spend at least 3 months there
I’ve been to Italy numerous times, but I’ve actually never even heard of Ravenna! Looks like a great detour. The cathedrals look absolutely incredible! I’m always so overwhelmed when looking at these man-made temples – it’s incredible what people are capable of when they actually set their mind to something! I guess you and your exciting lifestyle are also a good example of that – it’s so inspiring seeing people achieve greatness, whatever their version thereof might entail 🙂
Those mosaics are beautiful!!!!! I love finding random art gems when I am on holiday and churches usually provide some of the most awe-inspiring! Another great post x
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We did part of 2 1/2 weeks of Tuscany and Massa Labrense in 2013, and making our plans to return in 2014 to do northern Italy. We were wondering how much time to allow for Ravenna, and your blog helped settle that as a day trip on our way to Parma area. Thanks! Can’t wait to see the mosaics!
There’s really something special about Ravenna and the Byzantine era. Did you also happen to see Theodoric the Great’s mausoleum and his (now empty) red porphory sarcophagus?
I did not…sounds cool!
Does anyone know what is the oldest FUNCTIONING church in Ravenna? One that still has Mass or LIturgy? Thank you.