ravenna on mondays

Ralph,

My mom & I visited Ravenna this past October & I kept the combo ticket (€9,50) which lists the hours of operation for the 5 sights included (Basilica di S. Vitale & S. Apollinare Nuovo, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Neonian Baptistery & Archiepiscopal Museum).

There is no mention of closure on Mondays. Besides, I doubt RS guidebook would be incorrect, but I suppose anything is possible...

If you will be visiting Ravenna before Sept.30, the hours are 9am to 7pm, with last admittance at 6:30pm for the museum, or 6:45pm for the basilicas & baptistery.

I don't know where you will be coming from but try to get an early start so you can explore the city & it's amazing sights.

We spent a night there & wished we'd stay longer.

If you're arriving by train, as you walk down the main street ( Viale Farani) there is a Co-op grocery story on the left corner of Viale Farani & Via di Roma, and it's a great place to buy a snack or picnic supplies. My mom & I arrived there at around 2pm ( didn't get an early start...) & I knew most of the restaurants would be closed, so we purchased some fresh baked rolls, prosciutto, burrata, olives & drinks. We enjoyed our delicious picnic right across the street on the small tree covered plaza.

Our first destination after eating & dropping off our luggage at the hotel, was the Basilica San Vitale which was my favortite!

Make sure you buy your combo ticket at the souvenir shop a few yards before you reach the basilica, it's on the left side of the street.

You will love the magnificent mosaics!

EDIT: I just read one of your other posts where you mention that you plan to travel in October.

The hours of operation for the 5 sights listed above change as follow:

• Oct. 1 - 31: 9:30am - 5:30pm (last entrance 5pm for museum & 5:15pm for all other sights)
• Nov. 1- Feb 28: 10am - 5pm ( last entrance 4:30pm for museum & 4:45pm for all other)
• March 1 - 31: same hours as Oct 1- 31.
• April 1- Sept 30: 9am - 7pm

Ravenna is great. I spent four nights there last month. (I'm really into early Christian mosaics.) I had hired a private guide for a Monday afternoon and we saw all the major mosaic sites. The only place I remember being closed on a Monday was TAMO, the museum of mosaic techniques.

Here's info about Cinzia, the guide, and one of the tours she offers that includes Sant'Apollinare in Classe, outside Ravenna and harder to get to: http://www.toursbylocals.com/bestofRavennaClasse

You don't say where you're daytripping from, but it takes a chunk of time to get there from almost any main tourist destination. Definitely get the earliest start you possibly can.

I day-tripped to Ravenna from Bologna last year. I'd been to Ravenna once, so I knew that I wouldn't have time to see everything again. It's worth the time to take the bus to visit San Vitale in Classe, one of the best. If you can, do an overnight there. Besides the sights, it's a charming little town.

This site gives you lots of information. Looks like the sites with the mosaics are open on Mondays. Some of the museums may be closed, but those are not the primary sights in Ravenna.

Sant'Apollinare in Classe is about ten minutes by bus from Ravenna.

I like the Hotel Byron Carlyle (or vice versa) or the Bizanzio. Next door to the hotel Byron is a terrific restaurant, La Bella Venezia, have lunch even if you can't stay the night (but you should).

Oops, Sant'Apollinare, of course. Thanks for the gentle correction, Zoe. However, the bus, though a short ride, doesn't run very frequently, so it can take 1/2 hour each way - still well worth the time.