Afternoon and Evening in Ravenna

Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and the two baptistries, Sant'Apollinare in Classe if you have a car.

I spent a fine day in Ravenna two years ago, really enjoyed the wonderful mosaics at San Vitale and several other sites around town. Ravenna is a very flat town, and there are more people (per capita anyway) of all ages using bicycles for transportation than any place I've been outside of China. I did not have a guide, but really wished I had, especially at San Vitale. There were a few groups present when I was there, tourists and students, and they had guides pointing at and explaining the mosaics in various languages, I do remember Italian and French, high up in the church, and I was stuck trying to look down at a book, then up at the mosaics, with a lack of light for reading, and that was definitely inot effective learning or appreciation. I do not think San Vitale itself has tours, but if you Google "Ravenna guides" you will find some listings and reviews, one of which is for a well-recommended 3-hour tour of Ravenna. I enjoyed lunch at a traditional restaurant called "Ca de Ven" where they also serve dinner. Enjoy! Your question will encourage me to get my "Ravenna" book out this evening!

I think Zoe's post was struck by the auto-correct demon. As long as you're going to Ravenna, you should also visit Sant'Apollinare in Classe (it's a couple kms outside Ravenna) and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. They are also wonderful. Take an hour or two in the morning if you don't have time on your first day.

I don't think there are tours offered to individuals. Galla Placidia is very small, so there will probably be a line and it's quite possible that a group tour will get preference to enter.

Thanks for the advice!

Yes, Chani, thanks. Edited. ,@!*%#!