Things to Do in Ravenna Emilia Romagna Italy - Travel Guide & Information

This description page of Ravenna in the Italian region of Emilia Romagna Italy, will guide you in planning your trip to Italy and help you to find useful travel information about the Things to Do in this Italian Region.

Monuments and Museums

Basilica di San Vitale

The 6th century, octagonal Basilica di San Vitale is an architectural and artistic marvel. The arches supporting the soaring terracotta dome glitter with mosaics and blends with graceful Renaissance wall paintings of passionate Greeks. Mosaics also cover the interior of the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia. A representation of Jesus as a shepherd, leaning against a cross-shaped staff and patting a sheep adorns the upper wall above the door.

Chiesa di Sant’Apollinare in Classe

Astounding mosaics decorate this 6th-century church. The mosaic of Christ among angels soars to the domed ceiling and rivals the stunning gold cross set against an azure background in the main apse. St. Apollinare is in the lower portion of the mosaic.

Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

The 6th century basilica, which passed into Christian hands 40 years after construction, features arched windows and mortar made from crushed seashells. Long mosaics of saints and prophets line the central aisle, and the central apse recounts miracles performed by Jesus.

Battistero Neoniano

The central dome of the mosaic-laden baptistery next door to the duomo features Jesus submerged in the Jordan River with John the Baptist to his right and a representation of the river to his left. The baptismal font is at the center of the room. The structure is thought to have once contained a Roman bath.

Museo Arcivescovile

Adjoining the baptistery, this museum displays mosaics from the duomo and impressive fragments of engraved stone.

Chiesa di San Vitale

Octogonal church with mosaics of Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora.

Mausoleo di Galla Placidia

Located on the same grounds as Church of San Vitale, it contains the earliest mosaics in Ravenna. The mosaics on the ceiling are beautiful (gold stars on a blue background). It was built in the 5th century for Galla, sister of Honorius and daughter of Theodosius I, the emperor who divided the Roman Empire in two.

Museo Nazionale

This former Benedictine monastery features Roman, early Christian, Byzantine, and medieval works. Highlights include ivory carvings, ivory-set weapons, and recent findings from a burial ground in Classe.

Dante’s Tomb and the Dante Museum

Ravenna’s most popular monument is the tomb of Dante Alighieri, who was exiled from Florence in 1301 and died in Ravenna in 132. The adjoining Dante Museum holds 18,000 scholarly volumes on his works.

Events

The Ravenna Festival

Since 1990, some of the world’s most famous classical performers have come together each June and July for the renowned Ravenna Festival.

Dante Festival

In the second week of September, the legacy of Dante comes to life with exhibits and theatricals of the annual Dante Festival.

Bella di Sera

Held from June to September, the city streets fill with spectators for the Bella di Sera, an open-air theater festival.

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