Ravenna day trip

[braindoc]

Looking for advice about coordinating a visit to the main historic sites in Ravenna. We will be back in Bologna in early November. I doubt we’ll get to Ravenna before mid morning and we do want to have a nice lunch there. Which attractions before lunch, which after? My wife and I saw some of the mosaics and Dante’s tomb briefly, several years ago. This trip we’re traveling with one of our daughters (adult not child), and she’s never been there. Transport by train, not car, so lunch will be in centro.

 

[Alpinista]

We did a day trip in July. Lots of walking involved to get to all the mosaics. The Mausoleum of Theodoric is an outlier, so would add to your walking (we had a car and parked there before moving on to train station). We parked near the train station to make a circuit to the other sites.

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Tedoricao Mausoeum 8:30 – 1:30 Battistero degli Ariani 9:00 – 12:00 Basilica San Appolonare Nuovo 9:00 – 6:45 Dante’s Tomb 10:00 – 6:00 Battistero Neoniano 9:00 – 7:00 Archiepiscopal Museum 9:00 – 6:30 Chiesa di Sant'Eufemia-Domus dei Tappeti 10:00 – 6:30 Basilica San Vitale 9:00 – 7:00 Mauseleo Galla Placida 9:30 – 5:00​

 

[braindoc]

Very helpful! Are we better off going on a Monday or Sat/Sun?

 

[Alpinista]

Very helpful! Are we better off going on a Monday or Sat/Sun?

We were there on a Tuesday. The sites were not crowded, so not sure how a S/Sn would compare. I would suggest going through the opening hours for each location to avoid any Monday closings (would assume none, but just to be safe).

BTW, there is a mosaics school across from Basilica San Appolonare Nuovo that let us watch the students doing their work -- Koko Mosaic, Via di Roma 136. We bought a few bags of mosaic chips and designs to bring home as little gifts for nieces to put together.

 

[Amy]

The advantage on Monday is that most Ravenna sites are open, as opposed to most museums in Italy. Downside is that many restaurants are closed Mondays! But many of the simple places will be open for salumi platters and such. I think Fricando is open every day. I can ask my local friend for recommendations.
I’d just look at Google Maps to plot out your route visits.

I’ll be based in Ravenna the first week in November to take a class at Koko Mosaico (I’ve been working in mosaic for several years) and further explore the area.

 

[Alpinista]

We really felt welcomed when we stuck our heads into Koko’s. Got to spend a lot of time chatting with owner and watching students at work.

 

[Amy]

We really felt welcomed when we stuck our heads into Koko’s. Got to spend a lot of time chatting with owner and watching students at work.

She’s delightful! I’ve worked with her online and am thrilled to be able to learn from her directly, in the mecca of Byzantine mosaics!

 

[Amy]

Antica Bottega di Felice is open for lunch on Mondays. Good pastas.

 

[braindoc]

Antica Bottega di Felice is open for lunch on Mondays. Good pastas.

Thanks for your advice. I’m pretty sure we will go on a Monday.