Mosaics Walk, Food Tastings

Mosaics Walk, Food Tastings, 24 hours, rated 5 across 69 traveller reviews.

Overview

The walk starts at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo on Via di Roma and works through three of Ravenna's UNESCO-listed monuments before switching gears to food. A local licensed guide leads the group through Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, explaining the mosaics and the history behind them. Reviewers repeatedly credit the guides with making the mosaics legible, saying they came away understanding imagery they would otherwise have walked past.

After the monuments, the route turns culinary. There is a stop at a local bakery for piadina served with cured salami and cheese, then a tasting of handmade pasta such as cappelletti al ragù at a local restaurant, and finally gelato at a gelateria in the centre before the group walks back to Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Water is included with the food, and one reviewer mentioned wine being offered alongside the pasta, though extra drinks are not covered.

The tour suits travellers who want the mosaics explained properly rather than just seen, and who want food tastings woven into the same walk. It runs on foot between close-together sites and goes ahead in rain. Admission to the monuments is bought separately, with the guide assisting at the meeting point.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Sant'Apollinare NuovoThe meeting point is the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Via di Roma 53, Ravenna. The guided visit here carries an extra admission fee.
2. Walk to local bakeryA seven minute walk to a local bakery for a piadina tasting with regional cured meats and cheese.
3. Basilica of San VitaleAn eight minute walk to San Vitale for a guided visit. Admission is an extra fee.
4. Mausoleum of Galla PlacidiaA guided visit to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, also subject to the extra admission fee.
5. Restaurant pasta tastingA three minute walk to a local restaurant for a tasting of handmade regional pasta, such as cappelletti.
6. Gelato at SBRINOA seven minute walk to the SBRINO gelateria in Ravenna's centre for a dessert tasting.
7. Return to startThe tour finishes back at the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this walk.

• Walking pace. The whole tour is on foot, with short walks of a few minutes between stops. Reviewers described the pace as comfortable, and one said their 88 year old mother managed the tour and enjoyed it.
• Admission tickets. Entry to the three monuments is not in the tour price and costs 12.50 euro per person, paid on the day. The guide helps with the purchase at the meeting point.
• Food and drink. Piadina, handmade pasta, water and gelato are included. Extra drinks are at your own cost, and the operator asks that you flag any allergies or dietary restrictions in advance.
• Weather. The tour runs in rain as well as fine weather. One reviewer noted a hot, humid day still worked out well, and another praised their guide for keeping to the shade where possible.
• After the tour. One reviewer pointed out that the monument ticket can be reused, so you can return to sites on your own after the tour ends. If the mosaics leave you wanting more, that is worth planning for.
• Guide knowledge. Several reviewers singled out how much the guides added, from the symbolism of the mosaics to city history. One said visiting another site afterwards without a guide felt flat by comparison.

Common issues. The main extra cost is monument admission, at 12.50 euro per person, which is not bundled into the tour price. The tour is a walking one, so anyone with limited mobility should expect to be on their feet between and inside the sites, though one reviewer reported an elderly relative completing it comfortably. Extra drinks beyond the included water are paid separately. The operator also asks for advance notice of dietary restrictions, so anyone with allergies needs to communicate before the day.

Common Questions