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Ravenna
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Ravenna, Italy, reveals UNESCO mosaics, ancient monuments, Adriatic heritage, elegant streets and distinctive food for culture-filled sightseeing.

Empire in Mosaic

Ravenna occupies a distinctive place in Italian history: a former imperial capital whose greatest treasures survive in intimate, brick-built monuments rather than grand urban avenues. Between the fifth and sixth centuries, the city served successively as capital of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic kingdom and the Byzantine exarchate, leaving a remarkable concentration of early Christian buildings decorated with luminous mosaics. Inside the Basilica of San Vitale, San Vitale's octagonal architecture frames glittering imperial portraits, while the nearby Mausoleum of Galla Placidia encloses a star-filled blue vault that changes character with the light.
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A Walkable Historic Centre

Ravenna's historic centre is compact and well suited to exploration on foot or by bicycle. The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, the Neonian Baptistery and the Archbishop's Chapel form part of the city's UNESCO-listed ensemble, while Dante's Tomb recalls the poet who died here in 1321. Tree-lined streets, small squares and quiet lanes connect the monuments with cafés, bookshops and everyday neighbourhood life. Piazza del Popolo provides the civic focus, with arcades and historic buildings reflecting Ravenna's later Venetian and modern identities.

Between City and Coast

The city is separated from the Adriatic shore by the pinewoods and wetlands of its wider territory, a landscape shaped by shifting coastlines, waterways and port development. Classe, just south of the centre, preserves the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe and the archaeological memory of Ravenna's ancient harbour. Together, the historic city, its churches and its surrounding coastal environment create a destination where late Roman power, Byzantine artistry, literary heritage and contemporary Emilia-Romagna life remain closely connected.

When is the best time to visit Ravenna?

Best: May–June, September · 23–27°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January751
February847
March1353
April1856
May (best)2359
June (best)2750
July3331
August3249
September (best)2760
October2062
November1464
December969

Getting to and around Ravenna

How to get there

Ravenna has a railway station with services linking it to Bologna, Rimini, Ferrara and other cities in Emilia-Romagna, although some journeys require a change. Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport is generally the most useful international gateway, with rail and road connections onward to Ravenna; Federico Fellini International Airport at Rimini is another regional possibility, depending on seasonal routes. Long-distance coaches and regional buses also serve the city, while the A14 motorway provides road access from Bologna, Rimini and the wider Adriatic corridor. Check current train, coach and flight schedules before travelling, as service patterns vary by season and transport works.

Transportation

Ravenna's historic centre is compact, and walking is the simplest way to connect Piazza del Popolo, the main basilicas, Dante's Tomb and the central museums. Local buses serve the railway station, outer neighbourhoods and nearby settlements, including routes towards Classe and the coast. Cycling is practical on flatter local roads and is particularly useful for reaching attractions outside the centre, although traffic conditions and cycle provision vary. Taxis are available for point-to-point journeys, while a car can be useful for exploring the wider Ravenna area but is less convenient within restricted historic streets. Pay attention to limited-traffic zones and parking signs.

Best attractions in Ravenna

Ravenna's principal attractions form an unusually concentrated journey through late Roman and Byzantine art. The Basilica of San Vitale is celebrated for its soaring octagonal interior and imperial mosaic panels, while the nearby Mausoleum of Galla Placidia contains a smaller, deeply atmospheric vault of blue and gold. The Neonian Baptistery and the Archbishop's Chapel add further layers of early Christian decoration, and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo presents processions of saints, martyrs and palace figures along its nave. In the centre, Dante's Tomb and the surrounding quiet streets connect literary history with everyday city life. Outside the centre, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe rises beside the archaeological landscape of the ancient port, offering a different sense of scale and space. The Mausoleum of Theoderic, built from enormous stone blocks, provides a contrasting reminder of Ostrogothic rule.

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Best landmarks in Ravenna

Ravenna's landmarks reflect the succession of Roman, Ostrogothic, Byzantine, medieval and modern powers that shaped the city. San Vitale is distinguished by its octagonal plan, layered volumes and famous sixth-century imperial mosaics, while the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a compact late Roman building whose restrained exterior contrasts with its jewel-like interior. The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo preserves long mosaic processions and records the transformation of an Ostrogothic court church under Byzantine rule. The Neonian Baptistery is one of the city's important early Christian baptisteries, recognisable for its domed mosaic depicting the Baptism of Christ. Elsewhere, the Mausoleum of Theoderic stands apart through its massive stone construction, and Piazza del Popolo expresses Ravenna's later civic history with arcades and buildings associated with Venetian rule. Dante's Tomb adds a powerful literary landmark to this architectural sequence.

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Best restaurants in Ravenna

Ravenna's food culture belongs to Emilia-Romagna but also reflects its proximity to the Adriatic. Handmade pasta is central, with cappelletti and other filled shapes appearing alongside tagliatelle, while piadina romagnola, a thin flatbread cooked on a griddle, is commonly filled with soft cheese, cured meat or vegetables. Local menus often combine inland pork, fresh cheeses and seasonal produce with Adriatic fish and shellfish. The historic centre has traditional trattorie, cafés and wine bars, while markets and bakeries provide opportunities to sample regional bread, pastries and simple snacks. Squacquerone, a soft fresh cheese from Romagna, pairs naturally with piadina, and local wines such as Sangiovese and Albana complement richer dishes. Ravenna's dining rhythm is unhurried, with lunch and dinner both offering a useful introduction to the region's pasta-making traditions and coastal influences.

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Best bars in Ravenna

Ravenna's evening life is more sociable and cultural than club-focused, centred on wine bars, cafés, traditional osterie and small venues around Piazza del Popolo and the historic centre. Aperitivo is a familiar way to begin the evening, often accompanied by modest snacks and regional wines, while streets near the central squares acquire a relaxed after-work atmosphere. Cultural programmes at Teatro Alighieri bring opera, concerts, ballet and theatre into the city's historic setting, and Ravenna Festival adds major music, performance and arts events at venues across the city and surrounding area. In summer, the coastal areas of Marina di Ravenna and the nearby lidos develop a livelier seaside nightlife, with bars and music venues that are more seasonal than those in the centre. Visitors should expect a measured evening scene rather than a large, all-night club circuit.

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Best nightclubs in Ravenna

Ravenna's evening life is more sociable and cultural than club-focused, centred on wine bars, cafés, traditional osterie and small venues around Piazza del Popolo and the historic centre. Aperitivo is a familiar way to begin the evening, often accompanied by modest snacks and regional wines, while streets near the central squares acquire a relaxed after-work atmosphere. Cultural programmes at Teatro Alighieri bring opera, concerts, ballet and theatre into the city's historic setting, and Ravenna Festival adds major music, performance and arts events at venues across the city and surrounding area. In summer, the coastal areas of Marina di Ravenna and the nearby lidos develop a livelier seaside nightlife, with bars and music venues that are more seasonal than those in the centre. Visitors should expect a measured evening scene rather than a large, all-night club circuit.

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Best shops in Ravenna

Shopping in Ravenna is concentrated around the pedestrian-friendly streets leading from Piazza del Popolo and the historic centre, where independent boutiques, bookshops, cafés and specialist food shops occupy older buildings. The city's most distinctive purchases are connected with its mosaic tradition: workshops and galleries sell contemporary interpretations, jewellery and decorative pieces inspired by Ravenna's Byzantine imagery, with quality and provenance worth considering carefully. Regional food products provide another practical souvenir, including piadina ingredients, pasta, cured meats, cheeses and bottles from Romagna's vineyards. Weekly markets and ordinary neighbourhood shops offer a more everyday view of local commerce than the monument district alone, while the surrounding coastal resort areas have more seasonal retail aimed at seaside visitors. The centre's scale makes it easy to combine browsing with architectural walks, although shop opening patterns may vary, particularly around midday and on Sundays.

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Ravenna essentials

Currency and Payment
Italy uses the euro (€), divided into 100 cents. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, museums, supermarkets and many restaurants, but small cafés, market stalls and some independent businesses may still prefer cash for low-value purchases. ATMs are available in the centre and around transport hubs; use machines connected to established banks where possible and check any conversion choices before confirming a transaction. Carrying a modest amount of euros remains useful for small expenses, public transport tickets and places where card payments are unavailable. Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted, while acceptance of other cards can vary.
Safety
Ravenna is generally straightforward for visitors, but ordinary urban precautions remain sensible. Keep wallets, phones and passports secure in crowded areas, at stations and on public transport, and avoid leaving valuables visible in parked vehicles or unattended bicycles. The historic centre is pleasant to walk through after dark, though quieter streets and transport areas warrant the same awareness used in any unfamiliar city. Take care when cycling or crossing roads, particularly near busier thoroughfares. During summer, heat and strong sun can be tiring, especially when visiting several churches in one day, so plan pauses and carry water.
Emergency Situations
In Italy, call 112 for urgent assistance from the police, fire service or medical emergency services; operators can direct the request to the appropriate service, and language support may be available. State the location clearly, including a street name, landmark or accommodation address, and remain available for further questions. For non-urgent medical needs, contact a pharmacy, medical service or your accommodation for guidance, while European visitors should carry their European Health Insurance Card where applicable and all travellers should have suitable insurance. Keep identification, medication details and emergency contact information accessible during excursions beyond the city centre.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully when entering Ravenna's churches, baptisteries and chapels, covering shoulders and knees where requested and following notices about photography. Do not touch mosaics, historic surfaces or devotional objects, and keep voices low inside religious buildings. In restaurants, service charges and tipping practices vary; rounding up or leaving a modest amount is appreciated but not generally compulsory in the same way as in some countries. Greet staff when entering smaller shops and cafés, observe queueing customs, and validate paper transport tickets when required. Avoid driving or parking in restricted historic-centre zones unless local signage explicitly permits it.
Local Tips
Allow enough time for the principal UNESCO monuments rather than treating them as quick photo stops, since their mosaics are best understood through their changing light, colour and religious symbolism. Piazza del Popolo is a useful orientation point, while the railway station area provides practical connections for visitors staying outside the centre. Pair the central monuments with Sant'Apollinare in Classe, which has a different setting and scale, and consider the Mausoleum of Theoderic for a contrasting Ostrogothic structure. Ravenna's flat terrain makes a bicycle useful, but check the route carefully before cycling beyond the centre towards the coast or wetlands.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloCiao[chow]
GoodbyeArrivederci[ah-ree-veh-dehr-chee]
YesSì[see]
NoNo[noh]
Please/You're welcomePer favore/Prego[pehr fah-voh-reh/preh-goh]
Thank youGrazie[grah-tsyeh]
Excuse me/SorryMi scusi/Scusa[mee skoo-zee/skoo-sah]
How are you?Come stai?[koh-meh sty]
Fine. And you?Bene. E tu?[beh-neh. eh too]
Do you speak English?Parli inglese?[pahr-lee een-gleh-zeh]
I don't understandNon capisco[nohn kah-pee-skoh]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseVorrei vedere il menu, per favore[vohr-eh-ee veh-deh-reh eel meh-noo, pehr fah-voh-reh]
I don't eat meatNon mangio carne[nohn mahn-joh kahr-neh]
Cheers!Salute![sah-loo-teh]
I would like to pay, pleaseVorrei pagare, per favore[vohr-eh-ee pah-gah-reh, pehr fah-voh-reh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Aiuto![ah-yoo-toh]
Go away!Vai via![vah-ee vyah]
Call the Police!Chiama la polizia![kyah-mah lah poh-lee-tsya]
Call a doctor!Chiama un dottore![kyah-mah oon doh-toh-reh]
I'm lostMi sono perso[mee soh-no pehr-soh]
I'm illSono malato[soh-no mah-lah-toh]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Vorrei comprare...[vohr-eh-ee kohm-prah-reh]
I'm just lookingSto solo guardando[stoh soh-loh gwahr-dahn-doh]
How much is it?Quanto costa?[kwahn-toh koh-stah]
That's too expensiveÈ troppo caro[eh troh-poh kah-roh]
Can you lower the price?Puoi abbassare il prezzo?[pwah-ee ahb-bahs-sah-reh eel preh-tsoh]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Che ora è?[keh oh-rah eh]
It's one o'clockÈ l'una[eh loo-nah]
Half past (10)Le dieci e mezza[leh dyeh-chee eh meht-sah]
MorningMattina[maht-tee-nah]
AfternoonPomeriggio[poh-meh-ree-joh]
EveningSera[seh-rah]
YesterdayIeri[yeh-ree]
TodayOggi[oh-jee]
TomorrowDomani[doh-mah-nee]
1Uno[oo-no]
2Due[doo-eh]
3Tre[treh]
4Quattro[kwah-troh]
5Cinque[cheen-kweh]
6Sei[seh-ee]
7Sette[seht-teh]
8Otto[oh-ttoh]
9Nove[noh-veh]
10Dieci[dyeh-chee]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Dov'è...?[doh-veh]
What's the address?Qual è l'indirizzo?[kwahl eh leen-dee-reet-soh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Puoi mostrarmi (sulla mappa)?[pwah-ee mohs-trar-mee (sool-lah mahp-pah)]
When's the next (bus)?Quando passa il prossimo (autobus)?[kwahn-doh pahs-sah eel prohs-see-moh (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Un biglietto (per ....)[oon bee-lyet-toh (pehr)]

History of Ravenna

Origins beside the Ancient Coast

Ravenna's earliest development was shaped by its position among lagoons and waterways on the northern Adriatic coast. The precise origins of the settlement are debated, but the area was absorbed into the Roman world and became strategically important because of its access to the sea. In 402, Emperor Honorius transferred the capital of the Western Roman Empire from Mediolanum, modern Milan, to Ravenna. The city's marshy setting offered defensive advantages, while the nearby military harbour at Classe gave imperial government access to maritime routes. Ravenna's transformation into a capital brought palaces, churches, administrative buildings and monumental infrastructure, much of which later disappeared or was incorporated into the medieval city.

The Imperial Capital of Late Rome

During the fifth century, Ravenna was the political centre of the shrinking Western Roman Empire. Emperors ruled here amid military pressure, court rivalries and the increasing influence of Germanic commanders within the Roman army. The city became associated with figures including Galla Placidia, whose mausoleum is one of its best-preserved late antique monuments, and Emperor Valentinian III. The empire in the West formally ended in 476, when Odoacer deposed Romulus Augustulus, but Ravenna remained a major seat of power. Its churches, baptisteries and court buildings established the architectural and artistic foundations for the monuments that visitors see today.

Ostrogoths and Theoderic

In 493, the Ostrogothic king Theoderic the Great defeated Odoacer and made Ravenna the centre of his Italian kingdom. Theoderic maintained Roman administrative practices while ruling a kingdom in which Gothic and Roman communities coexisted under separate legal traditions. His reign produced important buildings, including the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Mausoleum of Theoderic, an unusual structure built from massive Istrian limestone blocks. The mosaic programme at Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was altered after the Byzantine conquest, but surviving scenes preserve evidence of the city's Ostrogothic court. This period gave Ravenna a layered identity that combined Roman imperial symbolism with Gothic kingship.

Byzantine Rule and the Mosaic Age

Emperor Justinian's forces conquered Ravenna in 540 during the long Gothic War, bringing the city into the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire. Ravenna became the seat of the exarch, the emperor's representative in Italy, and experienced a major programme of church construction and decoration. San Vitale, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, the Archbishop's Chapel and the Neonian Baptistery belong to this broad late antique and Byzantine cultural inheritance. Their mosaics express Christian theology, imperial authority and the connections between Ravenna, Constantinople and the wider Mediterranean. The city's UNESCO-listed monuments are especially important because they preserve this fusion of Western Roman, Gothic and Byzantine traditions.

Medieval Transformation and Venetian Rule

After Byzantine authority weakened in the eighth century, Ravenna passed through Lombard and papal spheres of influence and developed as a medieval ecclesiastical and political centre. Its prominence was reduced as the coastline changed and the harbour at Classe declined, but churches, monasteries and civic institutions sustained the city. Venice conquered Ravenna in 1441, bringing it into the Republic's mainland territories until the Napoleonic era. Venetian rule left visible traces in the Piazza del Popolo and influenced the city's civic appearance, although Ravenna's most celebrated monuments remained those of late antiquity. The surrounding wetlands and channels continued to shape settlement, agriculture and communications.

Dante, Risorgimento and Modern Ravenna

Ravenna's literary identity is inseparable from Dante Alighieri, who spent his final years here under the protection of the Polenta family and died in 1321. His tomb became a place of cultural pilgrimage, particularly as interest in the poet grew during the nineteenth century. In 1861 Ravenna became part of the Kingdom of Italy, following the political changes of the Risorgimento. Modern development expanded beyond the historic centre and was influenced by the port, industry and tourism, while the Adriatic coast became increasingly associated with seaside recreation. Conservation of the late antique monuments, together with renewed study of their mosaics, has placed Ravenna's historic inheritance at the centre of its contemporary cultural identity.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Ravenna, Italy

Discover Ravenna like a local with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, and more.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich content including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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More about the Evendo app

Unlock the secrets of Ravenna with Evendo, your free, all-in-one travel guide app. Explore landmarks, book hotels, tours, and experiences effortlessly.

  • Comprehensive history of Ravenna
  • Travel essentials and curated local advice
  • User-friendly navigation
  • 'Near Me' feature to find nearby attractions
  • 100% free to use with no in-app purchases

Embark on an unforgettable journey to Ravenna, Italy with Evendo, the ultimate app-based travel guide designed to transform your travel experience. Whether you're wandering through the ancient mosaics of the Basilica di San Vitale or exploring the historic streets of the city center, Evendo ensures you won’t miss a beat. Dive deep into Ravenna's rich history with detailed information on iconic landmarks such as the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Piazza del Popolo.

Satisfy your culinary cravings with recommendations for the best local restaurants like Trattoria La Rustica and Osteria del Tempo Perso, where you can savor authentic Italian cuisine. With Evendo, you can easily find and book the top hotels, tours, and experiences, eliminating the hassle of planning and organizing your trip.

The app’s intuitive design includes a 'Near Me' feature, allowing you to discover attractions, shops, and eateries right around the corner. Plus, get insider tips from locals to experience Ravenna like a true native. And the best part? Evendo is completely free to use, with no hidden costs or in-app purchases.

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