Pasta, Piadina, Gelato Tasting

Pasta, Piadina, Gelato Tasting, rated 4.9 across 33 traveller reviews.

Overview

This half-day walk pairs Ravenna's headline mosaics with the foods the region is known for. Over roughly three hours, a local guide leads you from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo to the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, explaining the stories behind the mosaics, then breaks up the culture with tastings of piadina, a pasta lunch, and gelato. Water and lunch are included in the price; the monument entry tickets are not.

The tour runs with a maximum of 99 travellers, though one reviewer described a group of only six people. The guides are repeatedly praised for their knowledge of the mosaics and of Ravenna's history. Reviewers also called the walking comfortable, with the food stops acting as natural breaks, and the whole tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible.

It suits first-time visitors who want the UNESCO sites explained rather than just seen, and who would rather not plan their own lunch. One reviewer felt the food stops could have been skipped in favour of the monuments alone, so treat the food as a pleasant extra rather than the main event.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Sant'Apollinare NuovoMeet the guide at 10:30 outside the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo on Via di Roma, by the obelisk. The tour starts and ends at this point.
2. Basilica of Sant'Apollinare NuovoBegin at this basilica and view its mosaics with the guide's commentary on their history and meaning. Entry tickets are an extra cost.
3. Basilica of San VitaleThe tour also covers the Basilica of San Vitale, one of the UNESCO-listed monuments named in the description.
4. Mausoleum of Galla PlacidiaThe Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is another named stop. Entry tickets are an extra cost, as with the other monuments.
5. Food tastings and lunchThe tour includes tastings of piadina, a pasta lunch with water, and gelato. The listing does not fix when these stops happen during the walk.
6. Return to meeting pointThe experience ends back at the meeting point outside Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, about three hours after the start.

What To Expect From The Tour

Here is what to know before booking, based on the listing and what travellers have said afterwards.

• Meeting point. Meet the guide at 10:30 outside Sant'Apollinare Nuovo on Via di Roma, next to the obelisk. The tour ends back at the same spot.
• Entry tickets extra. Lunch, water and the tastings are included, but monument entry is not. Budget for the €12.50 per person ticket separately.
• Walking pace. The tour covers a city centre on foot for about three hours. Several reviewers said the walking was comfortable and the food stops provided welcome breaks.
• Group size. The listing caps the group at 99, and one reviewer described a group of only six people. Group size can vary, so do not count on a small group when booking.
• Guides. Reviewers consistently praise the guides' knowledge of the mosaics and Ravenna's history, and several mention them by name with real enthusiasm.
• Accessibility. The listing states the tour is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, including surfaces along the route. Infant seats are available and most travellers can participate, according to the operator.

Common issues. The two costs to watch are the €12.50 per person monument entry fee and any extra drinks beyond the included water. The tour needs a minimum number of travellers to run; if the minimum is not met it may be cancelled, in which case the operator offers a different date or a full refund. One reviewer felt the food stops could have been skipped and preferred the monuments alone. Group size is capped high, so a large group is possible.

Common Questions