Recently Viewed
Il Papavero Tour: Adaptable and Unforgettable Experience
4.9
85 Ratings
Ravenna
Il Papavero’s guides possess the flexibility to tailor the tour according to any requirement or client demographic, consistently ensuring a friendly environment and keeping the historical-art explanations light and engaging. You are in for a tour to remember!
Il Papavero’s guides possess the flexibility to tailor the tour according to any requirement or client demographic, consistently ensuring a friendly environment and keeping the historical-art explanations light and engaging. You are in for a tour to remember!
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo - This is the Ravenna basilica with the largest mosaic area of the early Christian era; here the ghost of the Gothic king Theoderic still lingers, who stopped here and wanted the palatine chapel
- Dante’s tomb and Quadrarco of Braccioforte - Of all the famous Italians in the world, perhaps the best known…
- Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo - This is the Ravenna basilica with the largest mosaic area of the early Christian era; here the ghost of the Gothic king Theoderic still lingers, who stopped here and wanted the palatine chapel
- Dante’s tomb and Quadrarco of Braccioforte - Of all the famous Italians in the world, perhaps the best known remains Dante Alighieri, who spent many years of his life here and here he composed Paradise, at the end of his Comedy, certainly inspired by the magnificent mosaics of Ravenna and its atmospheres a little noir.
- Mausoleo di Galla Placidia - It is the city treasure, which contains the early Christian mosaics in the most beautiful glass paste in the world
- Basilica di San Vitale - This octagonal temple of the sixth century is a true hymn to life, starting from its dedication to the Holy martyr Vitale. Its dome, object of study of the greatest architects of the world, from Brunelleschi to Palladio, from Antonio da Sangallo the Younger to Le Corbusier, makes pendant with the perhaps most famous mosaics of the city: those that represent the emperor Justinian and his wife Teodora, muse of many more or less contemporary artists, from Gustave Klimt to Karl Lagerfeld, from Christian Lacroix to many other masters of style and refinement.
What's Included
- Licensed guide
- Licensed guide
What's Not Included
- ENTRIES TO MONUMENTS
- ENTRIES TO MONUMENTS
Location
Via di Roma, 53
Via di Roma
In the square in front of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Via di Roma 53. Together with the guide you purchase tickets for the monuments and then the tour begins.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(85 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Ebrucia74
Dec 15, 2025
Among the mosaics of Ravenna with Daniela. - Daniela Caponera, takes you inside the story, tells emphatically moments that if you close your eyes you seem to live, listening to her it almost seems that she has lived with the "characters" she tells you.
Seeing Galla Placidia again after 40 years was a great emotion.
Brava, Brava, Brava.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
193renob
Oct 28, 2025
Excellent guided tour. - Wonderful guide, Rita Bertesi, extremely knowledgeable, and most important, still excited about her job. Will recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deb_b
Oct 22, 2025
Fabulous tour - highly recommend - Our tour with Sylvia, introducing us to the marvels of Ravenna, gave us a wonderful look at the long and complex history of this important city. Her passion and deep understanding was combined with gentle humour which gave us an awareness of the rich storytelling of history through these extraordinary mosaics. The planning of the tour was perfect, with the opportunity to see a contemporary artist demonstrating the skill required to produce both traditional and modern styles with mosaics. The timing of Sylvia’s tour left us with plenty to explore further before returning to Bologna.
Review provided by Viator
Gattorosso22
Oct 11, 2025
RAVENNA: Surprising city of art. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia - Spectacular interior - light filters through the alabaster windows and gives a golden aura to the walls and the upper area of the mosaics.
Basilica of San Vitale - The emperors Theodora, Justinian and Archbishop Maximian represent the political and religious force.
The Baptisteries: the Neonian (or Orthodox) Baptistery and the Baptistery of the Aryans founded on the figure of Christ divine and earthly.
Archbishop's Chapel and Chapel of St. Andrew: in relevance "The Warrior Christ" hymn to the Savior and the light reflected on the mosaics.
The Two Basilicas: Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo - a masterpiece in which inside we find the largest cycle of the most famous mosaics in the world concerning the New Testament.
Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe - About 7-8 Km. from Ravenna (near the village of Classe) is the largest example of an early Christian Basilica.
The figure of the first Bishop of the Church of Ravenna stands out: Apollinarian.
And finally the magnificent Crypt of the Basilica of San Francesco with submerged floor mosaic and the Tomb of Dante - simple Neoclassical temple.
"Ravenna, a t salute!"
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Noeldevilla
Sep 28, 2025
Chill Italian city. - Spent a day in Ravenna before boarding our cruise. It's a small city, not crowded a nd relaxing. Our accommodation is just a 10 mins walk. The attractions are all walking distance. Spent the evening at the main square Piazza del Popolo. There are more than 3 taxis (i read from some reviews). We revisit the city on our next cruise and spend more time to see the famous mosaics.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Candie_h
Sep 13, 2025
Don’t miss Ravennas mosaics ! - Wow!!! Mosaics are incredible … beautiful and so much history!!! Loved walking around the city as well!!! Also - our guide Rita was amazing … not only gave us history but also lots of tips for the city … highly recommend !!!
Review provided by Viator
Escape29125685621
Aug 30, 2025
Absolutely to see - Ravenna is a jewel city, beautiful, well maintained, clean.
But its mosaics are a treasure that must be seen closely.
Beautiful spectacular: Saint vital, Sant'Apollinare both New and Class, the baptisteries and not only the house stone carpets. Absolutely not to be missed!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tracymears1967
Jul 17, 2025
Ravenna in a way is almost as good as Rome! Go there. - I drained the battery taking so many photos in the different buildings around Ravenna due to the exquisite tile mosaics decorating each interior.
The colors and variety of animal, plant and depictions of long gone people and religious icons are endless.
I cannot name which place was my favourite because this Italian town is not to be missed and each mosaic slathered structure is so different from another that you must see them all and devote time to reading about the history of those depicted to add to the delight.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vannard
Jun 9, 2025
Excellent guide service! - Yesterday we visited Ravenna with a tour that takes us through the wonderful mosaics that make it unforgettable. Our guide was Marina Ferretti, a person who reveals a professionalism and a love for history really fascinating, very good and respectful of the times of the large group of our Association San Lorenzo of Castelnuovo del Garda. We want to thank you from the heart and congratulate you for the service you offer: precise, punctual and attentive to various requests. Thank you, sincerely thank you for everything.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
168michaelt
Jul 24, 2025
- There are five sites for the mosaics - two of them require you to book for a timed entry slot. I was disappointed with both of these two sites - they were very crowded and the dim lighting made taking good photos difficult.
My favourite site was Archiepiscopal Museum (St. Andrew’s Chapel and Ivory Throne).
This would be followed by Basilica di San Vitale and then Basilica di Sant' Apollinare Nuovo.
You really must visit the museum.
If you do visit Battistero Neoniano and Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, which are the ones with timed entry, please allow sufficient time in travelling between the sites. It is easy to take a wrong street and get lost!
Review provided by Tripadvisor