Ravenna Walking Tour
Ravenna, Italy
Why Walk Ravenna
Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and the Byzantine Exarchate, and its extraordinary mosaics from each era survive in remarkable condition. The Basilica of San Vitale dazzles with its shimmering gold mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, while the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia — tiny and unassuming from outside — hides a ceiling of midnight-blue stars that takes your breath away. The Baptistery of the Arians and the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo continue the mosaic journey through centuries of artistry. Beyond the mosaics, Ravenna's compact old town has a quiet, residential charm with piazzas, gelaterias, and Dante's tomb — the poet spent his final years in exile here. The nearby pineta (pine forest) and Adriatic beaches add nature to the cultural wealth.
Free Ravenna Walking Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Ravenna walking tour with audio narration. Explore Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, plus hidden gems like Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra and Classe Archaeological Park, without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Stops in Ravenna
- •Basilica of San Vitale — a 6th-century octagonal church with some of the finest surviving Byzantine mosaics in Western Europe, including the famous portraits of Justinian and Theodora
- •Mausoleum of Galla Placidia — a tiny 5th-century mausoleum containing the oldest and best-preserved mosaics in Ravenna, with a deep blue starry ceiling that glows in dim light
- •Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo — a 6th-century basilica with two long mosaic processions along the nave walls, depicting 26 martyrs and 22 virgins in gold-backed splendor
- •Dante's Tomb — a small neoclassical temple housing Dante Alighieri's remains since 1321, after Florence exiled the poet who wrote the Divine Comedy here in Ravenna
- •Baptistery of the Arians — a 5th-century Arian baptistery with a striking ceiling mosaic of Christ's baptism, a rare surviving monument of Ostrogothic Arian Christianity
Hidden Gems in Ravenna
- •Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra — a recently discovered underground Roman villa with stunning geometric floor mosaics, beneath a modern church
- •Classe Archaeological Park — the ancient Roman port area south of the city with the basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe and ongoing excavations
Walking Tip
Buy the combined ticket for all UNESCO mosaic sites — the monuments are spread across the compact center and easily walkable in a day.
Best Time to Visit
April through June and September through October offer pleasant walking weather, with the Ravenna Festival in June and July adding world-class music performances.
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