Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the early fifth century and later the Byzantine seat of power in Italy, and it still holds the finest group of early Christian and Byzantine mosaics in Europe. A group of its monuments was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The Basilica of San Vitale is the star, consecrated in the sixth century and famous for the mosaic panels of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora, whose gold-tiled processions seem to glow. Close beside it, the tiny Mausoleum of Galla Placidia shelters a deep blue ceiling scattered with stars that looks almost modern after fifteen centuries. The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo has long friezes of saints and martyrs processing along the nave walls, and the Neonian Baptistery has a dome mosaic of a baptism. The pass linked here bundles entry to the main monuments into a single ticket, so you can move through the city’s greatest hits without queuing for a separate ticket at each door.
How it works
The combination ticket always includes the Basilica of San Vitale and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. Depending on the option you choose, it can also include the Archiepiscopal Museum and the Chapel of St Andrew, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Neonian Baptistery. It is a mobile voucher that you redeem at one of the included monuments, and the summer schedule opens in the morning and closes in the early evening, with other seasons running different hours.
Note that the ticket is nonrefundable and cannot be rescheduled, so book once your day is fixed. You can also get a discount in the bookshops of the included sites.
Dress and etiquette
These are working sacred sites, so knees and shoulders must be covered, and clothing with rips, holes or see-through fabric is not allowed. Visitors are asked to be quiet. Allow time for slow looking, since the mosaics reward patience: the colours shift as the light changes through the day, and the details of the tiles are best seen from a few different angles.
Getting there from Bologna
Ravenna is roughly an hour and a half from Bologna by train, sometimes with a change, and the old centre is compact enough to cover on foot, with the monuments within a short walk of each other. Start with San Vitale and Galla Placidia, which share a street, then continue to the baptistery and the museum before finishing at Sant’Apollinare Nuovo.
A guided mosaic tour from Bologna is also available if you prefer commentary. If you can stay for lunch, the city’s cafés and the walk back to the station are a pleasant end to the day.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk between the main mosaic monuments in the old centre of Ravenna, entering each with one combination voucher.
Best time
Go in the morning for softer light and fewer visitors, and check the seasonal opening hours before you plan the day.
How long
Three to four hours in the monuments, plus the train from Bologna.
Tips
Cover knees and shoulders, keep voices low, and book only once your date is fixed because the ticket cannot be refunded or changed.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and art lovers, and anyone who wants to see glittering Byzantine mosaics in person.
- Families
- Older children who like stories and pictures will enjoy it; younger ones may tire of the quiet churches.
- Couples
- A romantic, unhurried day among gold and blue tile, with an easy train trip and a good lunch.
- Pair with
- The Classis Museum and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe just outside Ravenna.
- Time needed
- A full day including the train from Bologna.
Good questions
Which monuments does the pass include?+
San Vitale and Sant’Apollinare Nuovo are always included, and some options add the Archiepiscopal Museum and Chapel of St Andrew, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Neonian Baptistery.
Is there a dress code?+
Yes, knees and shoulders must be covered, and clothing with rips, holes or transparent fabric is not allowed.
Can I get a refund?+
No, the ticket is nonrefundable and cannot be rescheduled.
How do I get to Ravenna from Bologna?+
Ravenna is about an hour and a half away by train, sometimes with a change, and the monuments are close together on foot.
How do I use the ticket?+
It is a smartphone voucher that you redeem at one of the included monuments.
