All SEE in Ravenna

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Neonian Baptistery (Italian: Battistero Neoniano) is one of the most ancient and remarkable monuments in Ravenna, carrying profound historical, architectural, and artistic significance. Dating back to the early 5th century, it stands as the oldest building in Ravenna still preserved virtually intact and reflects the city’s transformation into a major center of early Christianity within the late Western Roman and Byzantine worlds. Today, the Neonian Baptistery forms part of Ravenna’s UNESCO World Heritage listing – the Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna. Despite its modest exterior, the baptistery houses some of the most stunning 5th-century mosaics in the world, giving insights into early Christian theology, symbolism, and artistic achievement.     Short History of the Neonian Baptistery The Neonian Baptistery was begun in the late 4th or early 5th century CE during the period when Ravenna became the capital of the Western Roman Empire under Emperor Honorius. It was initially erected at the behest of Bishop Ursus (Orso), who also founded the associated cathedral, known historically as the Basilica Ursiana – now largely lost except for fragments incorporated into later structures. Construction continued into the mid-5th century and was completed around AD 450 under Bishop Neon Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is one of the most extraordinary early Christian monuments in Ravenna, renowned worldwide for its exceptionally preserved 5th-century mosaics. Located in Via Galla Placidia, in the northern area of Ravenna’s historic center, this compact brick building conceals an interior of astonishing artistic richness. Despite its modest exterior appearance, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is considered one of the finest surviving examples of early Christian mosaic art and architecture in the Mediterranean world. Dating to the first half of the 5th century, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia belongs to a crucial historical period when Ravenna served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire. Its decoration reflects the transition from classical Roman artistic traditions to a new Christian visual language, combining symbolic imagery, theological meaning, and refined craftsmanship. For this reason, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna”, a designation that recognizes its universal cultural value. Although traditionally associated with Galla Placidia, one of the most influential women of late antiquity, the monument’s function, symbolism, and artistic program extend beyond its funerary reputation. Today, the mausoleum stands as a key stop Read more [...]

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto is one of the most important Baroque religious monuments in Ravenna, distinguished by its monumental façade, rich interior decoration, and centuries-long connection with the spiritual life of the city. Located along Via di Roma, in the southeastern area of Ravenna’s historic center, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto stands slightly apart from the dense medieval core, opening onto a wide rectangular square that enhances its architectural presence. Built over a long period between the 16th and 18th centuries, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto reflects the ambitions and devotion of the Canons Regular of Santa Maria in Porto, a religious community deeply rooted in Ravenna’s history. The church is especially renowned for housing the Greek Madonna, an early medieval marble bas-relief associated with an ancient local tradition of miraculous origin, which remains a focal point of devotion to this day. Despite suffering periods of decline, suppression, and wartime damage, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto has preserved its artistic and architectural integrity. Today it functions as an active parish church and a significant cultural landmark, offering visitors insight into Ravenna’s Baroque heritage, monastic history, and enduring Marian devotion.     Read more [...]

Piazza del Popolo is the main public square in the historic center of Ravenna, serving as the city’s civic and social focal point for over seven centuries. Its name, which literally means “People’s Square”, reflects the evolution of Ravenna from medieval commune to modern city. Bordered by significant public buildings, historic palaces, and architectural landmarks, Piazza del Popolo is both a living space for locals and a must-visit destination for travelers exploring the artistic, political, and urban history of Ravenna. Situated at the crossroads of the city’s most important streets, the square has always been a place of public assembly, political power, and urban life. Today it continues to be a vibrant gathering spot, framed by cafés and places for social interaction, while preserving architectural elements that testify to successive periods of civic rule – from the Da Polenta lordship and the Venetian era to the Papal Legation of Romagna and Italy’s unification.   Short History of Piazza del Popolo The origins of Piazza del Popolo trace back to the late 13th century, when the noble Da Polenta family established itself as the dominant power in Ravenna. Around this period, the stretch of land in front of the residence of Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:VivaTicket The Basilica of San Francesco is a historic Roman Catholic church located in the heart of Ravenna. With origins tracing back to the 5th century, it stands as one of the city’s oldest sacred buildings and plays a central role in Ravenna’s religious and cultural heritage. The Basilica of San Francesco is also well known for its connection to Dante Alighieri, as it hosted his solemn funeral in 1321 and sits near his tomb in the city’s “Zone of Silence”. Today, the basilica remains a living parish church affiliated with the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and welcomes visitors curious to explore its long history, distinctive architecture, submerged crypt, and art.     Short History of the Basilica of San Francesco The site of the Basilica of San Francesco has been sacred since shortly after AD 450, when Bishop Neone (Neo) – the same figure who founded the Neonian Baptistery – commissioned the original church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, known as the Church of the Apostles. Between the 9th and 10th centuries, that early building was demolished and replaced with a larger church still visible today, along with a bell tower dating to the Read more [...]

Palazzo Rasponi del Sale is a striking example of late-Baroque civil architecture in the historic center of Ravenna. Erected in the late 18th century, this palace stands close to the city’s central square, Piazza del Popolo, and reflects both the legacy of the influential Rasponi family and the urban transformations that shaped Ravenna during the early modern era. While lesser known internationally than Ravenna’s UNESCO monuments, Palazzo Rasponi del Sale offers visitors an authentic glimpse into the aristocratic residences that once defined the city’s civic identity.     Short History of Palazzo Rasponi del Sale Palazzo Rasponi del Sale was built around 1770, during a period when Ravenna’s historic center was no longer expanding rapidly and many noble families were facing financial constraints. The palace likely originated from the initiative of Count Fabrizio Rasponi. His son, Giuseppe Rasponi, married Benedetta del Sale, a union that gave rise to the Rasponi del Sale branch of the family. Before the palace was constructed, the land it occupies was home to the medieval residence of the Artusini family and may even have contained remains of Roman structures, underlining the long-standing strategic and symbolic value of the site. During the 19th century, the estate Read more [...]

Palazzo Rasponi dalle Teste is one of Ravenna’s most impressive historic buildings, renowned for its monumental Baroque architecture and rich connection to one of Romagna’s most influential noble families. Standing proudly in Piazza Kennedy, the palace occupies over 5,000 square meters and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful palaces in the city. Originally constructed between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the palace today houses cultural events, exhibitions, and institutional functions, contributing to Ravenna’s vibrant cultural life. Its façade, grand internal spaces, and historic symbolism reflect both the aspirations and the complex fortunes of the Rasponi family, whose influence shaped the city’s political and social fabric for centuries.     Short History of Palazzo Rasponi dalle Teste Palazzo Rasponi dalle Teste was commissioned in the late 1600s by Giovanni Rasponi, who served as Bishop of Forlì from 1689 until his death in 1714, together with his brother Count Giuseppe Rasponi. The palace was built on a site already owned by the Rasponi family since at least the 15th century, reflecting their long-standing prominence in Ravenna. The family’s name, “dalle Teste”, literally means “of the Heads” – a moniker derived from the distinctive sculpted heads featured on Read more [...]

The Ravenna Cathedral, officially known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, is the principal Catholic church in Ravenna, and one of the city’s most historically significant religious buildings. Commonly referred to as the Duomo di Ravenna, it hosts centuries of Christian devotion, architectural transformation, and artistic heritage. Situated in the heart of Ravenna near Piazza Duomo and adjacent to other landmark sites such as the Neonian Baptistery and the Archiepiscopal Museum, the Ravenna Cathedral stands as a testament to the city’s long role as a spiritual and cultural center in Emilia-Romagna. Originally founded in the early 5th century, the cathedral has undergone major reconstructions and stylistic evolutions, culminating in the Baroque-Neoclassical structure seen today.   Short History of the Ravenna Cathedral The history of Ravenna Cathedral begins with the establishment of Ravenna as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the early 5th century. Around this time, the episcopal seat was transferred from the ancient port city of Classe to Ravenna, prompting the construction of a new cathedral under Bishop Ursus (Orso). This early structure, consecrated on April 3, 407 AD, was dedicated to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, or Hagìa Anástasis in Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:VivaTicket The Tomb of Dante in Ravenna is the Neoclassical mausoleum that houses the mortal remains of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), one of the most influential poets in world literature and author of The Divine Comedy. Built in 1780-1781 next to the Basilica of San Francesco, this national monument stands at the heart of Ravenna’s historic center, forming part of a larger memorial area dedicated to Dante’s life and work. The burial site sits within a quiet, pedestrianized area known as the “Zone of Silence” (zona dantesca), where visitors are encouraged to observe silence and respect, reflecting the solemn legacy of the Supreme Poet. Although Dante was born in Florence, he died in exile in Ravenna on September 13-14, 1321, and was buried there the day after his death. Over the centuries, numerous efforts were made to relocate his remains to his native city, but they never succeeded. Today, the Tomb of Dante remains in Ravenna as a powerful symbol of literary history and cultural memory, drawing visitors from around the world.     Short History of the Tomb of Dante Dante Alighieri spent the last years of his life in Ravenna under the patronage of Guido Novello Read more [...]