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Ravenna is a mid-sized city in Emilia-Romagna, roughly 10 km from the Adriatic coast. Despite its modest size today, it served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in its final decades, then of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and later of the Byzantine Exarchate of Italy — a sequence of roles that left an extraordinary density of late-antique monuments within a compact city centre.
Eight of Ravenna's monuments together form a single UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1996. The collective title — Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna — covers buildings ranging from the 5th to the 6th century, each preserving some of the finest intact Byzantine mosaics in the world outside Constantinople.
Beyond the monuments, Ravenna functions as a living Emilian city with a university, a lively market, good regional food, and easy access to the Po Delta nature reserve. It is often visited as a day trip from Bologna or Ferrara, but an overnight stay opens access to the monuments in quieter morning light and allows time to explore the surrounding flatlands by bicycle.
Before You Go
Visas
Ravenna is in Italy, which is part of the Schengen Area. Visa requirements vary significantly by nationality. For accurate, up-to-date entry rules check TravelerPulse's Visas section and the official website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your nearest Italian consulate.
What to pack
- Comfortable walking shoes; the city centre is largely flat and pedestrianised
- A light jacket even in summer — interiors of the baptisteries and mausoleums are cool
- A torch or phone light can be useful for appreciating mosaic detail in dimmer areas, though flash photography is generally restricted
- Modest clothing if you plan to visit sites that are still active places of worship (shoulders and knees covered)
Health and insurance
No vaccinations are required beyond standard up-to-date routine immunisations. EU/EEA travellers should carry their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or its national equivalent. All other visitors are strongly advised to arrange comprehensive travel health insurance before departure.
Money
Ravenna has ATMs throughout the centre. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in hotels and most restaurants, though some smaller trattorias and market vendors prefer cash. Verify current exchange rates before travel.
Getting There
By air
The nearest international airports are Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), approximately 75 km west, and Rimini Federico Fellini Airport (RMI), approximately 50 km south-east. Both are connected to Ravenna by regional train or bus, with at least one change typically required from Rimini. Venice Marco Polo (VCE) is a further option for travellers already in the Veneto.
By train
Ravenna sits on a regional rail line. Direct regional trains run from Bologna (roughly 1.5 hours) and from Rimini (roughly 1 hour). From Venice or Florence a change at Bologna is usually required. Verify current schedules and fares on Trenitalia (trenitalia.com) or Trainline before travel.
By road
Ravenna is served by the A14 Autostrada (Adriatica) via a junction at Cesena-Ravenna. Driving into the historic centre is subject to a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL); confirm your accommodation's advice before entering by car, as ZTL cameras issue fines automatically to unregistered vehicles.
By coach
FlixBus and regional operators serve Ravenna from several Italian cities. Journey times and frequencies vary by season; verify schedules directly with the operator.
Getting Around
On foot
The eight UNESCO monuments are clustered within or very close to the historic centre, most of which is walkable in comfortable distances. The core area — Piazza del Popolo, the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and the Baptistery of Neon — can be covered in a single half-day on foot.
By bicycle
Ravenna and its surrounding territory are exceptionally flat, making cycling a practical way to reach monuments slightly outside the centre (such as Sant'Apollinare in Classe, about 5 km south) and to explore the Po Delta cycling network. Several rental outlets operate in the city; verify current locations and rates locally or through the city's tourist information office (IAT Ravenna).
Public transport
City buses operated by Start Romagna connect the centre to outlying areas and the coast at Marina di Ravenna. Tickets should be purchased before boarding at tobacco shops (tabaccherie) or authorised kiosks. Verify current routes and fares at startromagna.it.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Licensed taxis are available; stands are located near the main train station. Ride-hailing apps have limited coverage in smaller Italian cities — verify availability before relying on them.
Things to See & Do
The UNESCO Mosaic Sites
The eight monuments of the UNESCO inscription are the primary reason most visitors come to Ravenna. A combined ticket (Ravenna Mosaici) covers entry to several of the main sites; verify current pricing, inclusions, and booking options at the official site ravennamosaici.it. Key sites include:
- Basilica di San Vitale — 6th-century octagonal church with celebrated apse mosaics depicting Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora
- Mausoleo di Galla Placidia — tiny 5th-century mausoleum with an indigo and gold ceiling considered among the world's earliest and finest mosaic interiors
- Battistero Neoniano (Baptistery of Neon) — the oldest surviving building in Ravenna, with a mosaic dome depicting the Baptism of Christ
- Battistero degli Ariani — a smaller Arian baptistery with a well-preserved dome mosaic
- Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo — nave walls lined with two long processions of martyrs and virgins in mosaic
- Sant'Apollinare in Classe — a basilica about 5 km outside the centre, set in open countryside, with a striking apse mosaic; verify access independently
- Mausoleo di Teodorico — the stone tomb of the Ostrogothic king, unusual for its monolithic roof dome
- Cappella Arcivescovile — a small episcopal chapel inside the Archbishop's Museum
Dante's Tomb
Ravenna is the final resting place of the poet Dante Alighieri, who died here in 1321. His modest neoclassical tomb (Tomba di Dante) is located beside the Basilica di San Francesco. Entry has historically been free; verify current conditions locally.
Museo Nazionale di Ravenna
Housed in a former Benedictine monastery adjacent to San Vitale, this national museum holds Roman, Byzantine, and medieval artefacts including ivories, textiles, and coins. Admission is separate from the mosaic sites; verify at the museum or via the Italian state museums portal (musei.beniculturali.it).
Po Delta
The wetlands of the Po Delta, partly a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and partly a national park, begin north of Ravenna. They are worth a dedicated excursion for birdwatching, cycling, and boat trips through the lagoons. Verify tour operators and access points locally or at the Po Delta tourism portal.
Food & Drink
Ravenna shares the culinary tradition of Emilia-Romagna, widely regarded as one of Italy's most food-focused regions. The city itself has a range of options from market stalls to sit-down restaurants.
Regional specialities to look for
- Piadina romagnola — a thin, unleavened flatbread typical of Romagna, sold at dedicated kiosks (piadinerie) and filled with cheese, cured meats, or vegetables
- Pasta — fresh egg pasta, including strozzapreti (a local twisted pasta), passatelli in broth, and tagliatelle with ragù
- Brodetto di pesce — Adriatic fish stew, more common near the coast but found in Ravenna restaurants as well
- Sangiovese di Romagna — the local red wine from the Romagna DOC zone
Where to eat
The area around Piazza del Popolo and the side streets behind Via Cavour has the densest concentration of cafés, restaurants, and piadina kiosks. The covered market (Mercato Coperto) on Piazza Andrea Costa is a good place to browse local produce and grab an informal lunch. For evening dining, wandering slightly off the tourist circuit along Via Mazzini or the streets south of the centre tends to yield more locally-frequented trattorie. Confirm opening days and hours directly with any establishment, as closures vary.
Practical Information
Emergency numbers
- General emergency: 112 (European single emergency number, works in Italy)
- Police (Carabinieri): 112
- Medical emergencies / ambulance: 118
- Fire service: 115
Tourist information
The city's IAT (Informazione e Accoglienza Turistica) office is located in the city centre. Current address, opening hours, and contact details are available at turismo.ra.it — verify before your visit as hours change seasonally.
Internet and connectivity
Free Wi-Fi is available in several public areas and many cafés. Italian SIM cards can be purchased at mobile phone shops with valid photo ID.
Postal services
Poste Italiane operates post offices in the city. Opening hours vary; verify locally.
Accessibility
Much of the historic centre is flat and partially pedestrianised, which benefits travellers with reduced mobility. However, some monuments are set in older buildings with uneven floors or limited adapted access. Check individual site accessibility information at ravennamosaici.it or contact the sites directly.
Safety
Ravenna is generally considered a safe city for travellers. Serious violent crime targeting tourists is uncommon. The usual precautions applicable in any Italian city apply:
- Be alert to pickpockets in crowded areas near the main tourist monuments and at the train station
- Keep bags on the front of your body and avoid displaying expensive cameras or jewellery unnecessarily
- Do not leave valuables visible in parked vehicles
- The ZTL enforcement system is not a safety issue but can result in significant fines — confirm your vehicle is registered before entering restricted zones
The flatlands and cycling routes around Ravenna and the Po Delta are low-risk environments. If cycling on rural paths, carry water and a charged phone as mobile coverage can be sparse in the delta.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Ravenna's identity is shaped more by its historical layers than by a single dominant tradition. Locals are proud of the city's role as a crossroads of Roman, Gothic, Byzantine, and medieval Italian culture, and this is reflected in a civic attitude that takes the monuments seriously — photography rules inside the UNESCO sites are enforced, and silence is expected in active places of worship.
The annual Ravenna Festival (typically held in June and July) is a significant international music and performing arts event that has taken place since 1990. Performances are staged in and around the historic monuments. Verify the programme and ticketing at ravennafestival.org.
The city also maintains a strong connection to Dante Alighieri. Every year on the anniversary of Dante's death (13 September), a ceremony is held at his tomb. The city of Florence, which exiled the poet, has by tradition sent oil to feed the lamp in his mausoleum since the 19th century as a symbolic act of restitution.
