Walking with Dante in Ravenna

A guided tour through the streets of the city center to delve into the rich historical and artistic heritage of Ravenna. With its churches, buildings and urban layout, our city tells us of its glorious past between the end of the Roman age, the beginning of the Middle Age and the Venetian domination.   Its distinctive features have been a source of inspiration for artists and intellectuals such as Byron, Klimt, Yourcenar, etc.   Starting from Piazza San Francesco and Dante's Tomb, we will move through the main streets of the city center, such as the elegant Via Mazzini, the majestic Via di Roma and the glamorous Via Cavour, thus reaching the iconic Piazza del Popolo, Piazza XX Settembre (also known as the Piazza dell'Aquila) and the twentieth-century Piazza Kennedy.   Thanks to this walk you will admire from the outside, the façade of the Basilica di San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the Arian and Orthodox Baptisteries, up to the more recent works by artists such as Kobra and Blub and the churches of Sant'Agata, Santa Maria in Porto, Santa Croce and San Michele in Africisco.   So, what are you waiting for? Come take a walk with us to discover our city! 

An exclusive itinerary, narrated in your own language by an official guide, which will take you to visit the most famous monuments of Ravenna. Ancient origins and a glorious past, a heritage of unique works and mosaics in the world, which enclosed within the city walls, transformed Ravenna in the past centuries and today bear witness to the original splendor. Ravenna and the light of its mosaics, the city of 8 UNESCO monuments, that inspired great artists of all ages: Dante, Byron, Klimt and Montale, just to name a few of them... Ravenna is art, history, crossroads of peoples and culture. Ravenna, a masterpiece to discover with this exclusive tour.

Ravenna for children!!! Buy online our Treasure Hunt KIT, pick it up at the Tourist Information Office and start exploring the city.  Walking through the center and solving the questions on the back of the map, you will discover many curiosities about Ravenna. When you are satisfied with your answers, come back to the office: we will give you the personalized certificate of participation with your name and instructions to reach the final destination, where you will receive the treasure.

An experience that offers the chance to observe the mosaics of Ravenna from an unusual perspective, focusing on the details of the natural world depicted within them. Inside the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe, equipped with binoculars, you will search for the elements of flora and fauna represented in the great apse mosaic: trees, birds, meadows, and symbols that tell the story of the relationship between humanity, nature, and spirituality. An experience that combines art and observation, perfect for both adults and children, and ideal when paired with a walk in the surrounding countryside to compare today’s landscape with the one portrayed in the ancient mosaics.

By following the traces that marked its history, we will introduce you to a hidden Ravenna, off the beaten tourist track, discovering the glorious past that made it famous, through an itinerary in search of lost elements of which only a few traces remain.     This time journey will first lead us to the Arian Baptistery, one of the most important testimonies of the Arian-Hostrogothic cult in Ravenna (later condemned to heresy), where we can contemplate the mosaic decoration of the dome, which makes it one of the city's Unesco heritage sites. Here we will also admire the decorative and structural changes that the monument has undergone over the centuries.   Then, we will wander through the alleys of the historical centre, until we reach the gardens of San Vitale, through which we will access the ancient Benedictine monastery that now houses the National Museum, silent guardian of the city's history. The museum, established more than 100 years ago, has in fact been housing archaeological finds and collections of applied arts since 1885, collected with care, love and patience by citizens and learned monks from the great abbeys. Inside, the Chapel of St Clare, with its Giottesque frescoes, will be the perfect conclusion to this journey discovering the history of Ravenna.

Ravenna, the city of mosaics... and not only!   Through this tour, we would like to tell you a story which has Ravenna as stage of important events, a treasure chest of wealth, an ancient and contemporary artistic workshop, a source of inspiration for many authors such as Dante Alighieri, Gustav Klimt and Lord Byron, and some contemporary street artists such as Kobra and Blub.    Starting from Piazza San Francesco, from the Zone of Silence, guardian of Dante's Tomb, and passing through Piazza del Popolo, you will be able to enter into the heart of the historical center of Ravenna to explore what has characterized a great past not to mention its curiosities.   Through this walk, we want to show you the spaces and actors that portray Ravenna in a different way, traveling between history and taste: discovering the "Mosaic Capital" and concluding with an aperitif inside the Covered Market based on Spritz and traditional Piadina.

Have you ever wondered what connects the renowned English poet Lord Byron to the city of Ravenna?   Perhaps not everyone knows that it was here, within the walls of the noble Palazzo of Museums of Via Cavour, that Byron experienced one of the most intense chapters of his life: his passionate love affair with Teresa Gamba, Countess Guiccioli, and his commitment to the Italian independence movements.   The guided tour will take you through the rooms of the palace, now restored and open to the public for the first time in decades, revealing stories of romantic love, ideals of freedom, and legendary poetic creations such as Don Juan and The Prophecy of Dante.   Strolling among original memorabilia, recreated historical settings, and modern multimedia displays, you'll uncover how Byron, a man of extraordinary life, found in Ravenna a source of inspiration and purpose. At the same time, you'll explore the history of the Guiccioli family and the role of the Palazzo during the Italian Risorgimento, when dreams of independence and unity intertwined with daily life.   Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in a unique experience of poetry, history, and intrigue—because every great story deserves to be heard where it truly happened.

A journey through art, play and curiosity that’s perfect for the whole family!   Accompanied by an expert guide, adults and children alike can discover Ravenna’s wonderful mosaics in a fun and engaging way. Starting from the Tourist Office in Piazza San Francesco, the tour unfolds as a pleasant walk through the heart of the historic centre.   Along the way you’ll enter four monuments designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale and the Neon Baptistery—true treasure chests of beauty and history.   Registered children receive a special “Treasure Hunt among the Mosaics” map filled with puzzles and riddles to solve step by step. While adults listen to the guide’s explanations, youngsters become real explorers of the past, on the lookout for details, hidden symbols and curiosities. At the end of the route, those who complete the mission will even find a little final “Treasure” to enjoy!   It’s an original way to experience Ravenna as a family, learning while having fun and letting yourself be enchanted by the timeless magic of its mosaics.

Guided tour discovering Ravenna in the time of Theodoric the Great From 493 AD, Ravenna experienced one of the most fascinating and significant chapters of its history. With the conquest by the Goths—an Eastern Germanic people of Arian faith—led by Theodoric the Great, the city was enriched with new institutional and religious buildings, harmoniously integrated with the pre-existing structures in an effort to encourage coexistence between the Arian faith and the Orthodox rite. This tour aims to shed light on a hidden past, deeply embedded in the urban and cultural fabric of Ravenna, which subsequent dominations attempted to conceal. The itinerary includes entry to four monuments, two of which are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The tour begins at the famous and legendary Mausoleum of Theodoric, a structure unique of its kind. It then continues towards the historic centre, with a stop at the “Palace of Theodoric”, located next to the Palatine Basilica of Saint Martin in Tours (now Sant’Apollinare Nuovo), before visiting the Arian Baptistery. Halfway through the route, at the Covered Market, you will enjoy a well-deserved break with a delicious breakfast or snack, tasting the specialities of the Romagna gastronomic tradition. Refreshed, we will continue towards the final stop of our trek: the National Museum of Ravenna, home to important artefacts from the city’s past. The Theodoric Urban Trek was created with the aim of offering a tourist experience beyond the traditional guided tour format. Join us on this new adventure that combines sport, art, flavour, and the discovery of Ravenna’s most hidden and intriguing places, while also promoting the healthy habit of walking.

A journey into the heart of ancient Classe, the former Roman port of Ravenna and a key site for understanding the city’s history during the Roman and Early Christian periods.   This private guided tour explores Classe, today a quiet district of Ravenna, but in antiquity one of the most important military and commercial harbours of the Roman Empire in the Adriatic Sea. Its strategic role made Ravenna a major political, economic and religious centre between the 5th and 8th centuries.   The itinerary begins at the Classis Museum, housed in a former sugar factory that has been carefully transformed into a modern exhibition space. The museum presents the history of Ravenna from its origins through the Roman and Late Antique periods, with archaeological finds, reconstructions and multimedia displays that illustrate the city’s development and its close connection with the port of Classe. Today, the Classis Museum is considered one of Italy’s most important museums dedicated to Roman and Late Antique history.   The visit continues at the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, a masterpiece of Early Christian art and one of Ravenna’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Renowned for its extraordinary mosaics, the basilica features symbolic religious scenes enriched with detailed representations of landscapes, plants and animals, offering valuable insights into the natural environment of the period. The building is an outstanding example of Early Christian and Byzantine architecture in Italy.   A private guided tour designed for travellers who wish to gain a deeper understanding of Ravenna’s ancient past, accompanied by a licensed guide and enjoyed at a relaxed pace.

Silent Play is not just a guided tour: it is a narrative experience that transforms the city into an open-air stage. Through special wireless headphones, participants hear not only the guide’s voice but also sounds, music, and scenic effects that create a collective and immersive storytelling. Unlike a traditional audio guide or radio system, this is a true “sound direction,” blending explanation, suggestion, and theatrical narration to bring places to life through all the senses.   Thanks to an original script, the journey reveals the Ravenna of Dante and Byron: the memorial sites of the Supreme Poet intertwine with those of Lord Byron’s adventurous stay. From the Zona del Silenzio to the Classense Library, all the way to Palazzo of Museums of Via Cavour, the city itself becomes part of the story, guiding participants on a journey through literature, history, and emotion.   Silent Play returns to Ravenna with a new and reimagined itinerary: those who have experienced it before will rediscover it in a different light, while newcomers will be surprised by a unique way of visiting the city—between soundscapes and timeless atmospheres.

Discover the final years of Dante Alighieri and the events that link the Supreme Poet to the city of Ravenna, the last stop of his exile and the place that preserves his remains. But who was Dante, and how did he come to be here? After his exile from his beloved Florence, due to political reasons and conflicts with the authorities of the time, Dante found refuge in Ravenna, where he was welcomed by the Da Polenta court. In this city, the poet completed the Divine Comedy, the work that would make him immortal and mark Italian and world culture.   During the tour, you will explore not only these aspects of Dante's life but also the most symbolic and intimate places connected to his figure. The visit begins at the Basilica of San Francesco, where the Poet's funeral was held, then continues to the Zone of Silence, an area of great charm and spirituality where Dante rests. This is the heart of Dante's Ravenna, which still honors the Poet’s memory and preserves his remains.   We will continue with a visit to Casa Dante, a multifunctional space created through collaboration between the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Classense Library in Ravenna. Here, you will discover fascinating details about Dante’s life and works in a setting dedicated to his cultural legacy.   The tour concludes at the Dante Museum, a historic museum recently renewed with multimedia technology, narrating the story of Dante and his legacy through the centuries. This museum is the ideal custodian of Dante's story, carefully preserved by the city he chose as his final refuge.

A fascinating opportunity to experience the MAR – Museo d’Arte della città di Ravenna at an unusual and evocative time of day. In the late afternoon, the galleries become quieter and more intimate, and the guided tour takes on a different pace: slower, more personal, and more engaging. Accompanied by an expert guide, you will explore the permanent collection of contemporary mosaics—a journey that reveals how this ancient technique has evolved and been reinterpreted, captivating generations of artists right up to the present day. From the avant-garde movements of the 20th century to the most current artistic languages, the works on display include names such as Marc Chagall, Afro Basaldella, Renato Guttuso, Bruno Saetti, Emilio Vedova, as well as contemporary artists such as Luca Barberini, Marco Bravura and Dusciana Bravura, the CaCO3 collective, Felice Nittolo, and many others. The evening then concludes in the beautiful Loggetta Lombardesca, where you can enjoy a relaxed aperitif in one of the city’s most atmospheric cloisters. A moment of pleasure, combining the flavours of the local area with the calm of a setting rich in history. An experience to share with art lovers, as well as with anyone looking for a different way to discover Ravenna.

Ravenna is home to one of the world’s most extraordinary collections of ancient mosaics, recognised by UNESCO as a unique testimony to the cultural and spiritual exchanges that shaped early European history. With Tessere di Mosaico (Mosaic Tiles), an expert local guide will lead you beyond the simple act of looking: you will learn how to read these mosaics, understand what you are seeing and grasp their historical, symbolic and cultural significance. This deeper perspective allows you to appreciate each masterpiece not only for its beauty, but for the meaning it has carried through the centuries. A perfect tour for solo travellers, couples, families and small groups of friends who wish to enjoy an engaging experience and discover why Ravenna is known as the capital of mosaic art.