Are you planning a short trip to the city of mosaics, and are you looking for advice on places to visit? In this guide we have collected some useful information on what to see in Ravenna in one day, focusing in particular on the UNESCO monuments and the wonderful mosaics they house.


A must: the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Two places capable of triggering a Stendhal syndrome, especially if it is the first time you visit them. With its thousands of mosaic tesserae dating back to the 6th century A.D., the Basilica of San Vitale is sure to leave you speechless. It is therefore no coincidence that it was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1996.

Entering the church, the first thing you notice is its octagonal plan, which is quite different from the three- or five-nave basilicas we are used to seeing in Italy. Turning our gaze towards the altar we then discover the spectacular Byzantine mosaics, an explosion of light and colour among which the scenes dedicated to the processions of Theodora and Justinian stand out.

Dating back to the first half of the 5th century, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is located right next to the basilica. Here, too, we are faced with impressive mosaic cycles, which cover the rooms entirely.

The soft, intimate atmosphere of the interior further emphasises the splendour of the vaults, which depict a blue sky dotted with stars.

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The Neonian and Arian Baptistery

The centre of Ravenna is quite small, so it is easy to get from one end of the city to the other on foot. This is exactly what you will do if you want to visit the city's two ancient baptisteries, the Neonian Baptistery and the Arian Baptistery, evidence of the different cults that once coexisted in Ravenna.

Both buildings have an octagonal plan and feature a mosaic representation of the baptism of Christ inside. The scenes depicted on the domes are, however, very different from each other, and therefore deserve to be observed both to fully grasp their differences.

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The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the MAR

A visit to the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, located on Via di Roma, should definitely be on the list of things to see in Ravenna. The interior of the basilica is richly decorated with two mosaic cycles depicting, among other things, the city of Ravenna, and presenting it to us as it must have looked at the time of their construction: the city was in fact facing the sea and also had a port called Classe. In addition, the mosaics depict Theodoric's Palace, which has now disappeared.

A few steps away from the Basilica is one of the city's most important museums, the MAR - Ravenna Art Museum. The MAR is an essential place for mosaic lovers. Inside the cloister on the ground floor you can admire a vast collection of contemporary mosaics, which also includes some mosaic sculptures. Among them is a rather funny one, representing a stuffed piadina.

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We have come to the end of our trip on what to see in Ravenna in one day. Self-guided tours are a good way to discover a new city; however, if you want to make the most of the limited time available, we recommend you visit our pages on guided tours in Ravenna offered by our agency, by bike and on foot.