Most Beautiful Mosaics Walk

Most Beautiful Mosaics Walk, rated 4.9 across 99 traveller reviews.

Overview

This private walking tour pairs Ravenna's major mosaic monuments with a licensed local guide over two and a half hours. The route runs from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, past Dante's tomb, to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Basilica of San Vitale, taking in several UNESCO World Heritage sites along the way. The guide handles ticket purchases with the group at the start, then explains the history and stories behind each set of mosaics.

Because it is private, the pace bends to the group. Reviewers repeatedly say their guide adapted the walk to their questions and added stops that were not on the printed plan, including a workshop where they watched a mosaic artist at work. The format suits first-time visitors who want the mosaics explained rather than just seen, and anyone who prefers asking questions to listening to a fixed script. Entry fees for the monuments are paid separately on the day; the tomb of Dante is the one stop whose admission is covered.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet on Via di RomaThe group meets the guide in the square in front of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, at Via di Roma 53. Tickets for the monuments are purchased together with the guide before the walk begins.
2. Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo40 minutes, admission not included. The Ravenna basilica with the largest mosaic area of the early Christian era, and the site of the palatine chapel of the Gothic king Theoderic.
3. Dante's Tomb20 minutes, admission included. Dante Alighieri spent years of his life in Ravenna and composed Paradise here, in a city whose mosaics and atmosphere shaped his work.
4. Mausoleo di Galla Placidia10 minutes, admission not included. Described by the operator as the city treasure, holding early Christian mosaics in glass paste.
5. Basilica di San Vitale40 minutes, admission not included. A sixth-century octagonal church whose dome has been studied by architects from Brunelleschi to Le Corbusier. The tour ends here at Via San Vitale 17.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help the morning or afternoon run smoothly, from buying monument tickets to what the guides tend to add beyond the fixed stops.

• Buying entry tickets. Admission to the monuments is not in the tour price, apart from Dante's tomb. The guide goes with the group to buy tickets before the walk starts, so there is no need to arrange entry in advance. Budget for the basilicas and the mausoleum separately.
• Pace and fitness. This is a walking tour of two and a half hours. Several reviewers mentioned the guide adapting the pace and the story to their questions. One noted that the same access ticket also covered the city museum, which a guide suggested visiting afterwards.
• Private group feel. Only your group takes part, which reviewers say made a real difference. Multiple travellers described having time to discuss, ask questions and move at their own speed rather than being hurried through.
• Extra stops. Several reviewers said their guide walked them into a mosaic workshop or shop to show how the art is made, sometimes with an artist working live. This is not in the fixed itinerary, so treat it as a bonus that depends on the day and the guide.
• Weather and light. The listing notes the experience requires good weather, with a different date or a full refund offered if it is cancelled. One reviewer observed that the mosaic colours look more dramatic in sunshine, which is worth considering when picking a time slot.
• After the tour. Reviewers often mention guides giving suggestions for the rest of the day. The tour ends at the Basilica of San Vitale on Via San Vitale 17. Come with a question list, as several travellers said their guides welcomed and answered them throughout the walk.

Common issues. The main cost to plan for is monument entry, which is extra except at Dante's tomb. The tour depends on decent weather, and the operator offers a different date or a full refund if it is cancelled for that reason. Cancellations by travellers need to be made at least 24 hours before the start for a refund. The fixed itinerary covers four stops, so anything beyond that, such as a workshop visit, depends on the guide on the day.

Common Questions