Mosaics Day Trip From Bologna

Mosaics Day Trip from Bologna, rated 4.5 across 58 traveller reviews.

Overview

This is a guided walking tour of Ravenna's Byzantine mosaics run by Bologna Tour & Best Italy Tour, with a local licensed guide leading you through all five of the city's UNESCO-listed monuments as well as Dante's Tomb. There are two ways to join. The base option meets the guide in Ravenna at Piazza San Francesco, while an upgrade adds round-trip train tickets from Bologna, with departure from Bologna Centrale.

Once together, the walk moves steadily from site to site, spending around half an hour inside most monuments. Expect the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare, the Neonian Baptistery and the chapel of Sant'Andrea, with entrance tickets to the included monuments already covered. Whisper radios with a jack connection for headphones are provided, so you can hear the guide even when the churches are busy.

It suits people with a genuine interest in art, architecture and late Roman and Byzantine history, since reviewers consistently describe dense commentary at each stop. The pace is brisk with plenty of walking, so it rewards reasonable fitness and comfortable shoes more than a leisurely wander.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Bologna Centrale departureFor the option with train tickets included, departure is from Bologna central station; the train ride lasts 1 hour 20 minutes.
2. Meet at Piazza San FrancescoGuided visit of Piazza San Francesco and Dante's Tomb, 20 minutes.
3. Mausoleo di Galla PlacidiaVisit of the interior of the Mausoleum, 30 minutes. Admission ticket included.
4. San VitaleVisit of the church of San Vitale and its mosaics, 30 minutes.
5. Sant'ApollinareVisit of the basilica, 30 minutes.
6. Battistero NeonianoInternal visit of the Baptistery, 30 minutes. Admission ticket included.
7. Chapel of Sant'AndreaInternal visit of the chapel of San Andrea, 30 minutes. Admission ticket included.
8. Return to BolognaFor the train option, return from Ravenna station to Bologna, 1 hour 20 minutes.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape whether this tour fits you, gathered from the listing and from what past travellers repeatedly said.

• Walking and pace. Reviews describe the tour as fast paced with a lot of walking. The city is very walkable, according to reviewers, but comfortable shoes matter. Reviewers also mention the tour requires a fair amount of time on your feet across the five monuments.
• Ticket logistics. For the Bologna option, train tickets are sent by email the day before the tour, and you travel to Ravenna independently before meeting the guide. Several reviewers found this straightforward once they understood it, but it is not a guided escort from Bologna. Keep your phone accessible and check your email the evening before.
• Audio equipment. Whisper radios with a jack connection for headphones are provided. If you prefer your own earbuds, bring a wired pair with a standard jack, since the system relies on that connection.
• Commentary density. Most reviewers praise the depth of the history, symbolism and religious context, with several mentioning how much they learned at each monument. This is a tour for people who want detailed explanation rather than a quick look.
• Group size. The listing caps the group at 20 travellers.
• Getting there. One reviewer reported that ride-hailing apps rarely find drivers in Ravenna and suggested taxis and buses outside the station instead, so plan backup transport with that in mind.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, though pushchairs are allowed and infants must sit on laps. Several reviewers flag the pace and the amount of walking. For the Bologna option, the independent train travel means the day depends on timings communicated the day before, so confirm the details once tickets arrive.

Common Questions