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How to Explore Ravenna in a Day: Ultimate Guide

Jane by Jane
July 16, 2025
in Destinations, Hidden Gems
Late-afternoon view of Piazza del Popolo: medieval town hall with crenellations, people strolling and cyclists passing under a clear blue sky.
Late-afternoon view of Piazza del Popolo

Planning a day trip to Ravenna and wondering how to squeeze centuries of art, poetry, and piadina into just 24 hours? You’re in the right place.

Ravenna may sit quietly a few kilometres inland from the Adriatic, but the city guards an outsized treasure: eight UNESCO World-Heritage monuments whose mosaics still flash with the same gold and lapis that wowed emperors, popes, and—yes—Dante Alighieri himself.

In this ultimate one-day itinerary I’ll walk you, step by leisurely step, from Ravenna’s glittering sixth-century basilicas to its Hogwarts-like library, sprinkling in practical tips on tickets, dress codes, and parking so you spend more time looking up at sapphire domes and less time puzzling over logistics.

Table of Contents

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  • What to Do in Ravenna in One Day
    • 1. Marvel at World-Famous Mosaics
    • 2. Visit a Tomb of Dante Alighieri
    • 3. Admire Mosaics, This Time Under the Water
    • 4. Try Local Delicacies at Mercato Coperto
    • 5. Stroll Through the Hogwarts-like Library
    • 6. Visit Battistero Neoniano
    • 7. Take a Break in Caffe Letterario
  • How to Get to Ravenna?
    • Fastest and Simplest Way: the Train
    • Traveling to Ravenna By Car
    • Does Ravenna Have an Airport?
  • FAQs
    • Is Ravenna worth visiting?
    • How many mosaics are there in Ravenna?
    • How long does it take to walk between Ravenna’s main sites?
    • Is one day really enough for Ravenna?
    • Can I buy a single pass for all the mosaics in Ravenna?
    • Where can I park in Ravenna?

What to Do in Ravenna in One Day

1. Marvel at World-Famous Mosaics

Close-up of emerald-green Byzantine mosaics in Basilica di San Vitale, showing the prophet Isaiah and medallion portraits of saints framed by marble columns.
Golden alabaster windows and arching angel mosaics inside the apse of Basilica di San Vitale, Ravenna.

Start your one-day adventure in Ravenna with the art that made the city a UNESCO legend: its mosaics—so radiant art historians call them “Byzantium’s postcard to the West.”

Six monuments share more than 1,500 m² of glass-and-gold tesserae, but three sit within a 10-minute radius and give you a perfect morning circuit.

1. Basilica di San Vitale

Push open the wooden doors and the dim narthex suddenly blooms into colour. A marble floor swirls in sea-green and cream, drawing your gaze upward to Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, their imperial purples still catching the light after fifteen centuries.

Each micro-tile—many wrapped around a hair-thin sheet of gold leaf—was tilted by hand so the figures shimmer whenever daylight slips through the translucent alabaster windows overhead. Sixth-century mood-lighting at its clever best.

2. St Andrew’s Chapel (Cappella Arcivescovile)

Tucked inside the old Archbishop’s Palace, this private oratory was built for Bishop Peter II and is the only surviving early-Christian bishop’s chapel in the world.

Look up: Christ appears not as gentle shepherd but as a clean-shaven soldier in gold sandals, marching on a field of midnight blue studded with stars and floral scrolls.

Below, twelve doves sip from a jewelled fountain—an image of the apostles drinking wisdom. Because space is tight, visits are limited to small groups, so linger while you can; the intimacy is half its charm.

3. Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

A short stroll brings you to a nave lined by twenty-six Aegean-marble columns. Above them, a 30-metre parade of saints draped in white seems to glide forward as you walk—a gentle optical trick created by tiny shifts in each figure’s foot and robe.

Don’t miss the naval mosaics in the upper registers; they preserve some of the earliest images of Mediterranean ports.

Taken together, these three sites form a glittering time capsule of early-Christian art—proof Ravenna taught stone and glass to sing long before the Renaissance strummed its first lute.

Beyond the “big three”

If time allows (or you’re simply mesmerised), add:

  • Mausoleum of Galla Placidia – a tiny, cross-shaped building wrapped in a cobalt-blue sky of 8,000 gold stars.
  • Battistero Neoniano – the oldest monument in town (c. 475 CE) with a domed baptism scene that still dazzles conservators.

How the ticketing works

  • 3-Monument Pass (~€12.50) – Includes Basilica di San Vitale, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, and St Andrew’s Chapel.
  • 5-Monument Pass (~€14.50) – Gives you everything in the 3-Monument Pass plus the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Neonian Baptistery.

Book online in advance—Galla Placidia and the Baptistery use timed slots and sell out quickly. Keep the same QR code handy; staff will scan it at each entrance. Dress with shoulders and knees covered, and skip the flash photography.

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2. Visit a Tomb of Dante Alighieri

Marble chest in the cloister garden marking the spot where Dante’s bones were hidden during WWII, inscription in Italian.
Dante’s tomb

Yes, that Dante. Tucked behind a fragrant laurel hedge sits a pocket-size chapel from 1780—the final resting place of the man who mapped Heaven, Hell, and everything in between.

Florence may have exiled Dante, but Ravenna keeps an eternal flame burning here as a gentle “all is forgiven.”

During the Second World War, friars quietly buried his bones in the cloister garden to protect them, marking the spot with a nondescript mound of earth. They were re-interred only after liberation—proof that even in wartime, poetry can command a secret guard.

3. Admire Mosaics, This Time Under the Water

Flooded fifth-century crypt of Basilica di San Francesco; green water and goldfish glide over ancient floor mosaics between brick arches.
Flooded fifth-century crypt of Basilica di San Francesco

Just a three-minute stroll away from Dante’s tomb lies Basilica di San Francesco, a church with a secret.

Because Ravenna’s ground level has slowly risen, the fifth-century crypt of this church now sits about a metre below the water table. Peer through the grating and you’ll see goldfish weaving over wave-patterned mosaics—a living, swimming conservation project.

It was here, in 1321, that Dante’s funeral Mass was held, so linger a moment—who knows what inspiration might bubble up.

Tip: drop a coin and watch ripples dance across the ancient floor; it feels like time itself is moving under your feet.

4. Try Local Delicacies at Mercato Coperto

Deli counter at Mercato Coperto in Ravenna stacked with mortadella, prosciutto, and other cured meats, each labeled with tasting notes and price
Deli counter at Mercato Coperto

Time for a palate break? Follow the rumble of conversation to Mercato Coperto, Ravenna’s covered market.

Locals slip in before work for an espresso, return at noon to debate football over plates of passatelli, and drift back again at dusk for aperitivo.

Ask any Ravenna resident where to taste “la vera Romagna” and they’ll point you here: to the bakery folding piadina around squacquerone and prosciutto; to the fishmonger icing down Adriatic sardines; to the produce stalls whose owners greet loyal customers by name.

As a confessed market devotee, I can add that Mercato Coperto doubles as the ideal lunch stop: wander the aisles, choose whatever tempts you—grilled seafood, hand-cut prosciutto, or a plate of homemade cappelletti—and settle at one of the communal tables to savour both the flavours and the city’s easygoing rhythm.

5. Stroll Through the Hogwarts-like Library

Shaded cloister garden of Biblioteca Classense with café tables, tall pines, and the former monastery façade in warm evening light.
Shaded cloister garden of Biblioteca Classense

Ready for a whiff of parchment? The Biblioteca Classense—once a Camaldolese monastery—houses grand reading halls, creaky staircases, and an airy cloister that feels straight out of a wizarding movie set.

The Classense became a public library in 1708, opening its oak doors to scholars and curious travellers alike. Inside, ceiling frescoes of Philosophia and the Liberal Arts survey the polished desks with gentle authority.

Look for chained folios—yes, books literally padlocked to the lecterns so eager students wouldn’t “borrow” them indefinitely.

6. Visit Battistero Neoniano

Exterior of the octagonal Battistero Neoniano, pale brick walls against a cloudless sky, entrance door open to visitors.
Battistero Neoniano

I only brushed past it earlier, but my own visit to the Battistero Neoniano left me quietly speechless—so it earns a spotlight of its own.

Don’t let the plain brick exterior fool you—the interior starburst of blues, greens, and golds is pure mosaic wizardry. Commissioned by Bishop Neon around 475 CE, the dome’s baptism scene is considered the oldest surviving mosaic cycle in the Western world.

Spot the classical river god—the Jordan—quietly co-starring alongside Christ, a charming nod to the transition from pagan to Christian art. Eight sides, eight fresh starts: seven days of Creation plus one day of Re-Creation through baptism. Geometry with a spiritual twist.

7. Take a Break in Caffe Letterario

Caffè Letterario table set with teapot, cappuccino cups, and ricotta pancakes topped with cherries and whipped cream.
Caffè Letterario table set

When your feet start hinting that they’ve done enough sightseeing for one day, duck into Caffè Letterario, a snug retreat tucked inside a 19th-century palazzo just a few steps off Piazza del Popolo.

Order a slice of cake or pancakes if you’re craving something sweet, and watch as late-afternoon sunlight filters through stained-glass panels.

How to Get to Ravenna?

Fastest and Simplest Way: the Train

  • From Bologna – Regionale services leave roughly twice an hour, cover the 80 km in just under 60 minutes, and cost about €8. Seats are unassigned, so you can decide on the day without fretting over reservations.
  • From the Adriatic coast – Rimini and Cesenatico dispatch hourly trains that rumble past sunflower fields before depositing you at Ravenna’s station; journey time hovers around 45 minutes.
  • From Venice – the rail route is scenic but indirect, involving at least one change and close to five hours. If you’re short on time, renting a car and driving the A13/A14 south (about two hours) is the more practical choice.
  • All train tickets can be purchased on an official Trenitalia website.

Traveling to Ravenna By Car

If you’re planning to drive a car, follow the A14 south from Bologna (or north from Ancona), exit at Ravenna, and let the brown Centro Storico signs guide you around the ring road.

The moment you see medieval walls, slow down: the old town is a ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) patrolled by cameras. Unless your hotel has arranged a permit, keep your wheels outside the gate and finish the journey on foot.

Where Should I Park?

Keeping it free: Head first to Antico Lazzaretto (Piazzale Antico Lazzaretto) or the smaller Serra lot (Via Renato Serra). Both sit just beyond the ZTL line, so you avoid tickets, fines, and long walks—ten relaxed minutes brings you to the basilicas.

Paying for convenience: If you’d rather be even closer to the mosaics, choose Largo Giustiniano or Torre Umbratica. Rates are by the hour and you can settle up at the meter or—simplest of all—via the MooneyGo app on your phone.

All four lots keep you safely outside the restricted zone and within an easy stroll of Ravenna’s UNESCO treasures. Need more options? The city maintains an up-to-date list of additional car parks and garages—check it before you go.

Does Ravenna Have an Airport?

Ravenna has no commercial airport of its own; the nearest hubs are Bologna (BLQ) and Rimini (RMI), each offering frequent shuttle or train links.

FAQs

Columned portico along Via Dante Alighieri with locals chatting and students sitting on the marble pavement, autumn trees glowing in background.
Columned portico along Via Dante Alighieri in Ravenna

Is Ravenna worth visiting?

Absolutely—think of Ravenna as Italy’s quiet over-achiever. In a city you can cross on foot in 20 minutes, you’ll find eight UNESCO-listed monuments, the best-preserved Byzantine mosaics in Europe, Dante’s tomb, a Liberty-style covered market buzzing with local life, and even beaches just fifteen minutes away by bus.

The historic core is flat, pedestrian-friendly, and refreshingly uncrowded compared with Venice or Florence. Add Romagna’s famously warm welcome (and generous plates of piadina, passatelli, and fresh Adriatic seafood) and you have a destination that rewards both art lovers and slow-travel foodies.

In short: yes, Ravenna punches far above its weight and is well worth at least a full day—many visitors wish they’d stayed longer.

How many mosaics are there in Ravenna?

No one has managed to count every single tessera, but conservators estimate that Ravenna’s churches and baptisteries display well over 1,500 square metres of mosaics—millions of individual tiles, some smaller than a fingernail.

Six monuments—San Vitale, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, the Neonian and Arian Baptisteries, St Andrew’s Chapel, and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia—form a glittering gallery of late-Roman and early-Byzantine art

How long does it take to walk between Ravenna’s main sites?

Ravenna is delightfully compact—each major monument lies within a 15-minute radius on foot. Allow 30 minutes of leisurely strolling between clusters to soak in hidden alleys and gelato stops.

Is one day really enough for Ravenna?

Absolutely! While mosaic fanatics could geek out for a week, a well-planned day covers the big six (San Vitale, Galla Placidia, San Apollinare Nuovo, Battistero Neoniano, San Francesco, Dante’s Tomb) plus espresso breaks.

Can I buy a single pass for all the mosaics in Ravenna?

Yes—Ravenna offers combined tickets. Most visitors choose the 5-Monument Pass, which covers San Vitale, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, St Andrew’s Chapel, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and the Neonian Baptistery. Buy it online in advance (time slots for Galla Placidia sell out quickly).

Where can I park in Ravenna?

The safest spots just outside the ZTL are Antico Lazzaretto or Serra (both free) and, a little closer to the monuments, Largo Giustiniano or Torre Umbratica (paid at meter or via the MooneyGo app). All four keep you clear of camera fines and put you within a short walk of the mosaics.

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