The last stop of theInternational Blog Tourwas Ravenna, city that I’ve never visited before and part of the Unesco sites list. This is a city you cannot miss, one of the top travel destinations that should be inserted in the bucket list of each traveller.
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Added as “Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna” because of its “unique collection of early Christian mosaics and monuments“, Ravenna displays also other interesting attractions to visit.
For this reason I will follow an ideal trip itinerary (map at the end of the post) you can follow in order to see the main attractions and buildings.
The starting point is the railway station, where you can leave your luggage or rent a bike (you have to turn left once left the building), and then you turn right and walk until you don’t find the public garden, located in the
1) Roccaforte Brancaleone
It was an old Venetian fortress built in the 16th Century that contains the public gardens. A part of the fortress is not open to the public and is used as events location.
2) Mausoleum of Theodoric
Not far from the Rocca Brancaleone, you can find the Mausoleum of Theodoric, built in 520 A.D., entirely made of Istria Stone. The ticket costs 4 Euros ( not included in the combo ticket of other Unesco sites)
In its interior there is a circular porhyry tub in which it is supposed that Theodoric was buried ( moved from the Theodoric palace).
The lower level has not something particular to show, as the decorations were gradually stripped off during the course of centuries.
3) The city walls and the gates
Ravenna has still part of its old city walls and gates like the Porta Serrata
and Porta Adriana
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4) Basilica of San Vitale
First of all you can buy the combo-ticket to visit the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Gallia Placida, Arian Baptistery, St Andrew’s Chapel, Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo. The ticket costs 11,5 Euros and you can use it for 7 days.
Built in the 6th Century A.D., Basilica of San Vitale is the most impressive church seen in Ravenna. Its main feature is the central octagonal plan surmounted by a large cupola.
However, the best part is absolutely the interior and the first thing you are the superb mosaic decorations
and we can see the extraordinary representation of the imperial couple of Byzantine Empire, Justinian and Theodra with their court.
It is one of the most beautiful basilicas ever seen and somehow it reminds me the Cathedral of Aachen. Please do not miss some unknown places around the basilica such this one:
5) Mausoleum of Gallia Placida
Once left the Basilica of San Vitale, you can find the Mausoleum of Gallia Placida, where the emperor and his wife Gallia Placida were buried. Built during the 5th Century, the exterior is quite sober,
but once you cross the door you will enjoy the fantastic Ravenna mosaics, in particular a cupola with stars
and the graves of Gallia Placida and the emperor
and also other superb mosaics.
6) Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
You can find the Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra (Domus of the Stone Carpets) inside the Church of St. Eufemia, not far from the Basilica of San Vitale and part of the route Ravenna Antica, or Ancient Ravenna. For 4 Euros you can see other Ravenna mosaics and for 7 Euros also the Crypta Rasponi and other attractions of Ravenna Antica. Due to lack of time I could not visit the Domus of Tappeti di Pietra, but if you have time, local people strongly recommended to do it.
Source: Sistemamusei.ra.it
After the Church of Sant’Eufemia you can walk along Via Cavour, a nice shopping street and reach the nice squares of the city.
7) The squares of Ravenna
A nice place where to hava a coffee is the Caffè Corte Cavour
then Piazza A. Costa with its “covered” market ( Mercato Coperto):
and then if you walk along Via IV Novembre you can reach Piazza del Popolo, the heart of Ravenna.
The last important square is Piazza Garibaldi, with the statue of the famous Italian hero.
8) The Neonian (Orthodox) Baptistery and the Archiepiscopal Museum
Not far from Piazza Garibaldi you can find another complex of Unesco sites, the Neonian (Orthodox) Baptistery and the Archiepiscopal Museum.
The Neonian (Orthodox) Baptistery is the most ancient monument in Ravenna: built at the end of the 4th or the beginning of the 5th Century A.D. its interior is decorated with bright mosaics that reflect the Hellenic- Roman influence.
Left the Neonian Baptistery, you can go to the closer Archiepiscopal Museum, that displays two masterpieces such as the St.Andrew´s Chapel and the Ivory Throne. Pictures are not allowed there, but they are impressive.
9) Palazzo della Provincia and Dante Alighieri’s Grave and Museum
Close to the Neonian Baptistery there´s the Palazzo della Provincia,
and the most important monument: the grave ofDante Alighieri, the most important Italian poet, died here in Ravenna.
The museum has this nice cloister.
10) Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo
This basilica was built in the 6th Century as Theodoric´s palatinate church.
The most impressive part, however, is the interior with its magnificient mosaics that represent the procession of Virgins and Martyrs.
11) Palace of Theodoric
This building is not exactly the power centre of the emperor Theodoric: there’s a debate about its destination. Some historians identify it as a guard building and other historians think it was a part of the old church of San Salvatore. Unfortunately it’s no possible to visit.
12) Arian Baptistery
The last attraction of the Unesco sites of Ravenna is the Arian Baptistery: this time the entrance is completely free. Built at the end of the 5th Century. On the dome there is a beautiful mosaic depicting the baptism of Christ and the 12 Apostoles.
From the baptistery it’s really easy to reach the railway station.
Map: click on the top left to see the days and/or on the top right to enlarge the map.
Where to stay:
Budget accomodation: B&B Beatrice, not far from railway station and the main attractions, around 50-60 Euros per night per double room.
Medium budget:Toscanini Rooms, at just 200 meters from Basilica San Vitale, approximately 90-100 Euros per night, suitable for 2 people and breakfast included.
Luxury accomodation: Ai Giardini di San Vitale, suite rooms located at just 200 meters from Basilica of San Vitale, around 140-150 per night per double room, breakfast included.
Travel tips:
This itinerary lasts 6 hours;
In a day you can also visit the Basilica of St. Apollinare in Classe and its archaeological area: I had no time to do this, but I strongly recommend you to do this. In less than 10 minutes of train, you reach Classe and the ticket costs 5 Euros.
The luggage deposit is outside of the station and you find it on the leftside. Leaving the luggage there costs 3 or 5 Euros per day depending on the size of your bags. You can also rent a bike and this could be a good way to visit the city even if I would recommend you to walk.
If decide to do the Ancient Ravenna route, besides St. Apollinare in Classe, maybe the ideal time is a couple of days.
If I had time, I would have stopped by the Piadina del Melarancio. Budget price and one of the best restaurants or pizzerias of the city.
For sure Ravenna is one of the top travel destinations ever seen and one of the best Unesco sites: the beauty of the city is combined with a little historical centre where people use the bycicle as transport. This is a big difference from other Italian cities where people use more the car.
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I was so sad we didn't get to Ravenna when we were in Venezia last fall. Thanks for the virtual tour – I know it will be on our list for the next trip! ~ David
Thanks a lot David! You know when you have the impression you could live in a city when you visit it? Have you ever experienced it? Well I got it when I visited Ravenna! đŸ™‚
I was so sad we didn't get to Ravenna when we were in Venezia last fall. Thanks for the virtual tour – I know it will be on our list for the next trip! ~ David
Thanks a lot David! You know when you have the impression you could live in a city when you visit it? Have you ever experienced it? Well I got it when I visited Ravenna! đŸ™‚
Lovely pictures that brought back many memories of our visit.
Thanks a lot Irene! đŸ™‚ I'm glad to hear this post brought back many memories. I hope to come back soon and get the same feelings! đŸ™‚