One Day in Ravenna: Don’t Miss These UNESCO Treasures

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Why Choose Ravenna for a Day Trip?

Ravenna makes an ideal day trip. The Bologna to Ravenna train ride is just over an hour, or if coming from Florence, about 2 hours.

The historic center is compact, easy to navigate, and almost everything you’ll want to see is within walking distance.

What sets Ravenna apart is its character. The Byzantine mosaics are unlike anything else in Italy. Eight sites are protected by UNESCO, and the atmosphere carries a quiet dignity you don’t find in larger, more crowded cities.

For most travellers, one day in Ravenna is enough. You can see the highlights without feeling rushed. The exception is if you want to dive deep and visit all eight UNESCO sites. That takes stamina. I managed six in a single day on my own, and it required an early start. I arrived before the sites even opened, which gave me time to walk the historic center and find my bearings before stepping inside.

What to See in Ravenna in One Day

The Mosaics of Ravenna (UNESCO World Heritage)

Ravenna’s mosaics are the reason most travellers come here. Eight sites are UNESCO-listed, but in a single day you can comfortably see four. They’re covered by a convenient combined ticket (valid for several days, about €12.50), which makes it easy to move between them without buying a separate entry at each stop.

• Basilica di San Vitale (547 AD)
  This is the jewel. The mosaics shimmer with golds, greens, and blues, and they’re some of the best-preserved examples of Byzantine art outside Istanbul. The panels of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora are extraordinary—faces that still carry personality, 1,500 years later.
• Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (5th century)
  Small and intimate, built as a chapel for the sister of Emperor Honorius. Inside, a midnight-blue dome is filled with golden stars, forming a sky that feels eternal. It’s often quiet here, and the intimacy makes it unforgettable.
• Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo (6th century)
  Long walls lined with processions of saints and martyrs. The mosaics run like storyboards, showing scenes of daily life, miracles, and courtly ritual. It’s less overwhelming than San Vitale, but just as fascinating.
• Neonian Baptistery (early 5th century)
  The oldest monument in Ravenna. Look up at the dome: Christ being baptized in the Jordan, surrounded by the twelve apostles. It’s powerful, simple, and serene.

Travellers: I recommend you plan your visits carefully. I found it best to see San Vitale and Galla Placidia first, when they opened, before the tour groups arrived.

Dante’s Ravenna

Ravenna is where Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy, spent his last years. His tomb, a small, marble structure built in the 18th century, sits in a quiet corner of the historic center. Inside rests Italy’s greatest poet, who died in exile here in 1321. Just next to the tomb is a small garden, which I found lovely to walk through.

During my visit, there was a free art exhibition featuring Dante portraits by hundreds of different international artists. I thoroughly enjoyed it and broke up my day between admiring the mosaics.

An interesting fact: Florence, Dante’s birthplace, has long tried to reclaim his remains. Ravenna has refused. To this day, Ravenna guards its poet. Visiting the tomb is a simple act, but it connects you with one of Italy’s most enduring stories.

Piazza del Popolo

This is the city’s main square, built by the Venetians in the 15th century. It’s lined with cafés and elegant buildings, including the Palazzo Comunale. No matter the Italian town you visit, visiting the main piazza is a must, and I especially enjoyed this one with its clock tower and arcades.

What to Do in Ravenna in One Day (Beyond the Mosaics)

Be sure to leave time to explore Ravenna. The streets are elegant, with pastel façades.

If you wander around Via Roma, Via Cairoli, and Via IV Novembre, you’ll find artisan shops tucked among cafés and bookstores. Many specialize in Ravenna’s most famous craft—mosaic art. Small studios sell hand-cut pieces, from jewellery to framed designs. Koko Mosaico, just off Via di Roma, is one of the better-known workshops where you can see artists at work. These make meaningful souvenirs, deeply connected to the city’s heritage.

Hidden courtyards reveal themselves as you explore, often marked by ivy-covered archways. I recommend taking the time to slip into them—it’s these moments of quiet discovery that make Ravenna linger in memory.

For lunch, I chose Ca’ de Vèn, a historic wine bar on Via Corrado Ricci, the main street leading from Piazza del Popolo. Inside, vaulted ceilings and frescoed walls set the tone. Whatever you choose to order, be sure to enjoy it with a glass of Sangiovese di Romagna, the local red that pairs perfectly with everything. It’s the kind of place where you want to linger, letting time slow down.

Another option is to head to Mercato Coperto, Ravenna’s renovated indoor market. Here, you can grab a quick bite—fresh pasta dishes, cheeses, cured meats, or pastries—while still enjoying the energy of a space where locals actually shop and eat.

Final Thoughts

I left Ravenna with quiet images etched in my memory. Unfortunately, my photos from my DSLR camera got accidentally deleted.

Thankfully, it’s a standout city that is hard to forget.

If you’re planning a journey through Emilia Romagna, let Ravenna be part of it. And if you’re curious about where else to go, I’ve written many articles about Bologna, Parma, and Modena—all wonderful day trips, each offering its own flavour of this remarkable region.

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• Things to do in Bologna
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• What to do in Parma for the day