What You Need to Know: Useful Information
Ravenna is a historic cultural center located 80 kilometers east of Bologna, near the Adriatic coast. Celebrated worldwide for its extraordinary, world-renowned 5th and 6th-century late antique and Byzantine mosaics, the city protects a unique artistic heritage recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Masterpieces featuring bright colors, intricate figures, and shimmering gold leaf decorate monuments like the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Neonian Baptistery, and the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Visitors can also join interactive mosaic workshops to learn ancient techniques firsthand and craft their own personalized souvenir.
Getting There:
By Train:
The Ravenna railway station is centrally located and serves frequent daily regional lines from Bologna (approx. 1 hour), Ferrara, and Rimini. For high-speed rail travel, connect through the Bologna Centrale hub.
By Car:
Drivers can easily access the city via the A14 Motorway branch (A14-dir) directly into Ravenna. If arriving from Venice or the south, follow the scenic SS309 Romea or the SS16 Adriatica coastal highways.
By Bus:
Regional and long-distance bus operators (including FlixBus) run routes stopping at the Piazzale Aldo Moro bus station, located right behind the main train terminal.
Below you'll find the locations marked on Google Maps. Click on them to open the locations directly on your device's maps.
Useful Contacts:
- Ravenna Tourism & Culture (Official Municipal Tourist Information): +39 0544 35404 | turismo.ra.it
What to Bring & Pro Tips:
- Save time and money by purchasing a single combined ticket that grants access to Ravenna's main UNESCO monuments, including San Vitale and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo.
- Many of the most breathtaking mosaics are positioned high up on cathedral domes and vaults. Bringing a small, high-quality pair of compact binoculars will allow you to admire the microscopic gold tiles and fine artistic details.
- Because these historic mosaics reside inside active or consecrated basilicas and baptisteries, ensure your shoulders and knees are covered when entering the monuments.
- Hands-on artisan mosaic workshops are highly sought after and maintain limited studio space. Reserve your workbench at least 1–2 weeks in advance, especially during the spring and summer school holidays.
The “Hidden Gem”:
Once you have admired enough ancient gold tiles, take a break from art history and drive just 10 minutes south of the city to visit the Museo dell'Aviazione (Romagna Air Museum).
Instead of another workshop, this outdoor park offers a complete change of pace for tech and history buffs. It features an impressive collection of over 40 authentic, full-sized historical aircraft, including Cold War-era MiG fighters, vintage Italian helicopters, and military transport planes. You can walk directly among these retired giants of aviation history on a hillside park, providing a fascinating, modern industrial contrast to Ravenna's ancient Byzantine treasures.
