Ravenna, Italy

Cruises from Ravenna

Ravenna — the city of three empires and the mosaic treasury of the Adriatic. This is a city that does not proclaim its greatness but quietly preserves it in golden mosaics that shimmer through the twilight of ancient basilicas. Located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northeastern Italy, just 10 kilometres from the Adriatic coast, Ravenna is the only city in the world to have served three times as the capital of great powers: the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and the Byzantine Empire in Italy. This unique destiny has gifted it eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the richest collection of early Christian mosaics anywhere on Earth.
For the cruise traveller, Ravenna is a discovery that often flies under the radar of mass tourism yet captivates no less than Rome or Florence. Since 2024, the city has been rapidly transforming into a fully-fledged homeport on the Adriatic: Royal Caribbean Group is completing a brand-new terminal at Porto Corsini, which will open Ravenna to Mediterranean, Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean cruises at an entirely new level. In 2025, the port handled approximately 248,000 cruise passengers, and once the new terminal is fully operational, projected annual capacity will rise to 300,000 passengers. 🚢

📋 Before setting sail on a cruise from Ravenna or stepping ashore for a few hours, here is what you need to know:
🇮🇹 Country: Italy
📍 Region: Emilia-Romagna
👥 Population: approximately 156,000 inhabitants (municipality — over 156,000)
📐 Area: 654 km²
🗣️ Language: Italian (official); English is widely spoken in the tourist area and at the port
💶 Currency: Euro (EUR)
🕐 Time zone: CET (UTC+1), in summer CEST (UTC+2)
☀️ Climate: temperate continental with Mediterranean influence; mild winters (+4…+8 °C), warm summers (+27…+32 °C)
✈️ Nearest airports: Bologna (BLQ) — 80 km; Rimini (RMI) — 55 km; Forlì (FRL) — 45 km; Venice (VCE) — 145 km
⚓ Official cruise port name: Porto Corsini (Autorità di Sistema Portuale del Mare Adriatico Centro-Settentrionale)
🗺️ Distance from city centre to port: approximately 10 km

🏛️ History of Ravenna — from a lagoon settlement to the capital of three empires
⏳ 1,600 years of great history
The history of Ravenna is a gripping story of how a small lagoon town suddenly found itself at the centre of events that shaped the destiny of all Europe. The earliest settlements here date back to around 1400 BC. Later, Umbrians and Gauls inhabited the area, and in 191 BC the city became part of the Roman Republic. It was then that a major Roman naval base was established nearby at Classis — one of the most important fleets of the empire.
The fateful turning point came in 402 AD, when the young Emperor Honorius moved the capital of the Western Roman Empire from Milan to Ravenna — the city was surrounded by impassable marshes and lagoons that made it securely protected from barbarian raids. From that moment until 476 AD — when the last Roman Empire fell — Ravenna was the heart of the civilised West. Magnificent basilicas, palaces and mausoleums were erected here, adorned with mosaics of a craftsmanship the world had never seen before.
⚔️ Three crowns of one city
After the fall of Rome, Ravenna did not decline — it continued its triumph. In 493, the Ostrogoth Theodoric the Great made it the capital of his kingdom and proved to be an enlightened ruler: preserving Roman traditions and patronising the arts and learning. Under his reign, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo was built along with his famous mausoleum — the only surviving tomb of a "barbarian" king of late antiquity.
In 540, the Byzantine general Belisarius captured Ravenna and the city became the capital of the Exarchate of Ravenna — Constantinople's stronghold in Italy. It was then that masterpieces still astonishing today were created: the Basilica of San Vitale, with its mosaic portraits of Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora — the finest surviving example of Byzantine art outside Istanbul. In 1321, Dante Alighieri, creator of the Divine Comedy and father of the Italian language, spent his final days in Ravenna. His tomb remains here to this day — and Ravenna takes greater pride in it than in any other treasure it holds.

⚓ Port of Ravenna — the rising star of the Adriatic
📊 Scale and structure of the port
Porto Corsini is the maritime gateway to Ravenna, situated approximately 10 kilometres from the city centre. Technically the port faces the Adriatic Sea and is connected to the city by the 12-kilometre Candiano Canal. The Port of Ravenna itself is the largest cargo port on the Adriatic in Central-Northern Italy, with an extensive infrastructure of shipyards, container terminals and bulk cargo facilities.
For cruise travellers, the key area is Porto Corsini, with direct access to the Adriatic coastline. Nearby lies Marina di Ravenna — the largest yacht marina on the Adriatic. From the cruise berth it is possible to walk to the beach, while a short ferry crossing for a nominal fare connects passengers to Marina di Ravenna, where fish restaurants and a seaside promenade await.

🏢 The new Royal Caribbean terminal — the future of the port
In September 2021, Royal Caribbean Group won the tender to build and operate a new cruise terminal at Porto Corsini. The project, with a total investment of approximately EUR 27.7 million, is being carried out in partnership with the Ravenna Port Authority and private investor VSL Club SpA. The 10,000 m² terminal, designed by the architectural studio Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia, is seamlessly integrated into the natural environment: 12 hectares of landscaping, public green spaces, and pedestrian and cycling pathways. The concession has been awarded for 33 years. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place in October 2024, and the terminal is scheduled to open in 2026. Once complete, Ravenna will be capable of welcoming up to 300,000 cruise passengers per year as a fully operational homeport. ✨

🚢 Cruise lines operating from Ravenna
During the 2025 season, the Port of Ravenna hosted Celebrity Cruises (Celebrity Constellation) and Royal Caribbean International (Explorer of the Seas) on a regular basis every weekend from May through October. Grand Circle Travel and other operators also called at the port. In total, 84 vessel calls were planned for 2025, of which 33 were in homeport format. Strategically, Ravenna is positioned as a convenient departure point for cruises across the Adriatic, Eastern and Western Mediterranean, as well as itineraries to Croatia, Montenegro and the Greek Islands. 🌍

💡 Interesting facts about Ravenna and its port
Getting to know the city will be richer with a few lesser-known details:
🏛️ Ravenna is the only city in the world to have served three times as the capital of different states. First — the Western Roman Empire (from 402 AD), then — the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Theodoric (493–540 AD), and finally — the Byzantine Exarchate in Italy (540–751 AD).
🎨 Ravenna holds the world's largest collection of early Christian mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries. Seven of the city's eight UNESCO sites are decorated with mosaics that have survived more than 1,500 years — and still shine in their original colours.
⛪ The Basilica of San Vitale is believed to have inspired the creators of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Built in 547, this octagonal church, with its mosaic portraits of Justinian and Theodora, is considered the finest example of Byzantine art outside Turkey.
✍️ Dante Alighieri spent the final years of his life in Ravenna and died here in 1321. Florence spent over a century trying to reclaim the remains of its great citizen, but the monks of Ravenna concealed the poet's bones to protect them. Every evening, volunteers gather at Dante's tomb to read aloud passages from the Divine Comedy.
🏅 Ravenna is among the least overcrowded UNESCO cities in Italy — visitors can genuinely stand before masterpieces in peace, without jostling crowds, and truly absorb the art.
⛵ Marina di Ravenna is the largest yacht marina on the Adriatic Sea. A short ferry ride from the cruise berth takes you there in just a few minutes.
🍞 Piadina Romagnola — the local flatbread filled with cured ham and cheese — holds EU protected designation of origin status and is one of Italy's most beloved street foods.
📍 The Port of Ravenna sits exactly halfway between Venice and Rimini, making it an ideal base from which to explore the entire Adriatic region.

📍 Top sights in Ravenna — must-see for the cruise traveller
A cruise ship's call in Ravenna typically lasts between 8 and 12 hours. From Porto Corsini to the city centre is approximately 10 km (shuttle bus or taxi). Most UNESCO sites are within easy walking distance of one another in the historic centre. Advance online ticket booking is mandatory for the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Neonian Baptistery.
🎨 Basilica of San Vitale — a 6th-century octagonal church, Ravenna's greatest treasure and one of the most important examples of early Byzantine art in Western Europe. The mosaic panels depicting Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora have survived in immaculate condition for 1,500 years.
🌟 Mausoleum of Galla Placidia — home to the oldest mosaics in Ravenna (5th century), widely regarded as the most artistically exquisite in the city. This small, unassuming building on the outside conceals an interior of a star-studded sky and a breathtaking deep blue that stops visitors in their tracks.
⛪ Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo — a 6th-century church built by Theodoric, celebrated for the largest mosaic friezes in Ravenna, depicting processions of martyrs and virgins.
📖 Tomb of Dante Alighieri — an 18th-century white marble chapel beside the Basilica of San Francesco, where the creator of the Divine Comedy rests. Nearby are the small Dante Museum and the "Zone of Silence" dedicated to the poet's memory.
🏰 Mausoleum of Theodoric — the only surviving tomb of a "barbarian" king of late antiquity, built from Istrian stone around 520 AD. The unique dome, carved from a single monolithic block weighing over 230 tonnes, remains an engineering mystery to this day.
🕊️ Neonian Baptistery (Orthodox Baptistery) — the oldest surviving monument in Ravenna (5th century). The ceiling is adorned with a mosaic depicting the Baptism of Christ surrounded by the Apostles — a unique example of early Christian art.
🎵 Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe — a majestic 7th-century basilica located 5 km from the city centre (in the former port town of Classis), featuring an incomparable apse mosaic of the Transfiguration of Christ against a golden background.
🏛️ Piazza del Popolo — the charming heart of the old town, flanked by two columns topped with statues of Saints Apollinaris and Vitalis. The ideal spot for a coffee and a piadina after exploring the mosaics.
🌊 Marina di Ravenna and the beaches — the Adriatic coastline just minutes from the port: the largest yacht marina on the Adriatic, sandy beaches, fish restaurants and a seaside promenade.

✨ Why choose a cruise from Ravenna
Ravenna is one of those rare cases where the departure port is itself a discovery. This is a city off the beaten path of mass tourism, where 1,500-year-old mosaics can be admired in quiet contemplation rather than over the shoulders of thousands of tourists.
First, its strategic location: Ravenna lies at the heart of the Adriatic, opening cruise routes to Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Turkey, Malta and the entire Mediterranean. ✈️
Second, convenient logistics: the airports of Bologna, Rimini and Forlì, all within 80 km, serve flights from dozens of European cities. The fast train from Bologna to Ravenna takes just 1.5 hours.
Third, unparalleled cultural value: Ravenna is the only city in the world where a single walking tour encompasses eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and thousand-year-old mosaics that shine as though freshly laid. And an evening before departure is the perfect occasion to savour a piadina with local cured ham on Piazza del Popolo and stroll along the Adriatic shore. 🍷

The cruise specialists at Four Gates Group will help you select the ideal ship, itinerary and cabin, arrange airport transfers and Schengen visa support, and offer exclusive fares from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and other leading brands with whom we partner as a priority agent. 🤝

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and is accurate as of the date of publication. Prices, schedules, itineraries and visiting conditions are subject to change without notice. Please verify current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant attractions.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by Professionals

How to Get to the Cruise Terminal in Ravenna

Ravenna is a city that remains underrated in the shadow of its famous neighbours, yet it is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the finest preserved Byzantine mosaics in Europe. The cruise terminal is not located in the city itself, but in the coastal town of Porto Corsini — 10–12 kilometres from the historic centre. That distance is the key logistical challenge: there is no direct metro connection, and taxis in Ravenna number in the tens, not the hundreds. Below is a step-by-step guide covering all transfer options, current prices and expert tips from the Four Gates Group cruise team. 🎯

⚠️ Read This First: Ravenna Is Not Venice
If your cruise voucher lists the port as "Venice (Ravenna)" or "Venezia (Ravenna)" — your ship is not docking in Venice. Ravenna is 144 kilometres south of Venice, roughly a three-hour drive away. Some cruise lines continue to use the word "Venezia" in port names for marketing appeal, but this misleads passengers into flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport and then facing a three-hour transfer to their ship. Do not book flights to Venice if you are cruising from Ravenna: the correct airport is Bologna Guglielmo Marconi (BLQ).

📍 Where Exactly Is the Ravenna Cruise Port
The Ravenna cruise terminal is officially called Ravenna Civitas Cruise Port and is located in the coastal village of Porto Corsini on the Adriatic Sea. It is a joint venture between Cruise Terminals International and Royal Caribbean Group, operating under a 33-year concession from the Ravenna Port Authority.

⚓ The New Terminal — 2026 Season
In 2026, the port opened a brand-new 10,000 sq. m terminal building — Italy's first LEED Gold-certified cruise terminal:
• Two large berths simultaneously — the terminal handles up to 7,000 passengers per day
• Raised pedestrian walkway (passerella) — passengers walk directly from the ship to the terminal building without dockside shuttle buses
• Shore power (cold ironing) — ships switch off their engines while berthed, significantly reducing emissions
• Mosaic artwork in the main hall — a 25 sq. m original piece by a local Ravennate artist in the Byzantine mosaic tradition
• Bike hire, vendor kiosks, Parco delle Dune green space — the waterfront is designed for leisure
• On ship-free days the terminal is open to residents and visitors for exhibitions, fairs and sporting events

📌 GPS Address: Porto Corsini, 48123 Ravenna RA, Italy
🚶 Distance to Ravenna city centre: 10–12 km (approximately 20 minutes by road)
⚓ Main cruise lines in 2026: Royal Caribbean International (Explorer of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas), Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Gem), Celebrity Cruises (Celebrity Constellation), Silversea Cruises (Silver Muse)

❗ Important: the exact terminal and boarding time are always stated in your cruise voucher. Check them 48–72 hours before departure, as details may change if the port schedule is revised.

✈️ From Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) to the Cruise Terminal
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) is the most convenient hub for passengers travelling to Ravenna. It is located 90–100 km from Porto Corsini and receives direct flights from most major European cities, as well as connecting flights via Warsaw, Istanbul, Vienna and other hubs. The journey takes between 75 minutes (private transfer) and 2.5–3 hours (public transport).

🚐 Private Transfer — The Most Comfortable Option
For families, groups and passengers with heavy luggage, this is the optimal choice. A driver will meet you in the arrivals hall with a name board, assist with luggage and take you directly to the terminal at a fixed price.
• Cost: from EUR 80–120 for a saloon car (1–3 people), from EUR 130–160 for a minivan (4–8 people)
• Journey time: 75–90 minutes
• Advantages: fixed price, flight monitoring, no waiting or transfers
🤝 Four Gates Group arranges private transfers for its clients — simply provide your flight number when booking your cruise.

🚆 Train + Taxi — The Budget Option
The train is a reliable but slightly more complex route due to a required transfer.
Route:
1️⃣ From BLQ Airport, take the Marconi Express monorail shuttle to Bologna Centrale station (~7 min, EUR 12.80)
2️⃣ From Bologna Centrale, take a direct regional train to Ravenna (~75 min, EUR 9–12 on Trenitalia; trains run every 30–60 minutes)
3️⃣ From Ravenna railway station, take a taxi to Porto Corsini (15–20 min, EUR 20–25) or the tourism board shuttle (EUR 20, pre-booking required)
Total cost: EUR 40–60 per person (excluding cruise line shuttle)
Journey time: 2–2.5 hours
⚠️ Important: Ravenna has fewer than 20 taxis serving the entire city. On busy embarkation Saturdays, the queue can reach 40–60 minutes. Always plan your transport in advance or pre-book the cruise line shuttle.

🚌 Cruise Line Shuttle — The Most Convenient Option from Ravenna Station
Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity Cruises operate their own shuttle buses from Ravenna railway station directly to the terminal. A crew member with the company logo meets passengers outside the station, assists with luggage and coordinates boarding.
• Cost: approximately EUR 11–12 one way (pre-book or charge to your onboard account)
• Recommended: book in advance via the cruise line's app or website

🚌 Official Visit Ravenna Tourism Shuttle
The Ravenna tourism board also operates shuttle services from the train station and city hotels directly to the terminal.
• Pick-up points: Ravenna railway station and city hotels (scheduled stops)
• Cost: from EUR 20 one way
• Pre-booking required: via turismo.ra.it or WhatsApp: +39 348 450 40 49
• Season: 1 April to 1 November (cruise call days only)

🚂 From Ravenna Railway Station to the Cruise Terminal
If you are arriving in Ravenna by train from Bologna, Ferrara, Rimini or other Italian cities, you will arrive at the main station Ravenna FS. Porto Corsini is 12–15 km away.

🚕 Taxi: 15–20 minutes, EUR 20–25. Taxis wait at the rank outside the station, but numbers are limited. If no taxi is available, call Ravenna Radio Taxi: +39 0544 33 888. On major embarkation days it is best to book in advance.
🚌 Cruise line shuttle: Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity — EUR 11–12 one way; a company representative waits with a sign outside the station
🚌 Official Visit Ravenna shuttle: EUR 20, pre-booking required
🚌 City bus No. 90: runs from the station to the "Porto Corsini Via Sirotti" stop (~30 min), then a 10-minute walk to the terminal; ticket EUR 2 from the driver; not recommended with bulky luggage
💡 Tip: if you have heavy luggage, the cruise line shuttle or a pre-booked taxi is the best option. It takes 20 minutes and you are at the gangway.

🏙️ From Ravenna City Centre to the Cruise Terminal
If you have spent a night or a few days at a hotel in central Ravenna, here are your options for reaching the terminal:

🚕 Taxi from your hotel — EUR 20–30 depending on your location. Fast (15–20 min) and convenient with luggage. Important: always book your taxi in advance — through the hotel or by phone — as free-roaming taxis are rare on Ravenna's streets.

🚌 Cruise line shuttle — the most popular option among cruise passengers:
• Stop: in front of Ravenna railway station (Piazza Farini / Viale Farini)
• Cost: EUR 11–12 one way (Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity)
• Operation: a company representative waits with a sign to direct passengers
• Booking: via the cruise line app or at embarkation (availability not guaranteed on the day)

🚌 Official Visit Ravenna shuttle:
• Pick-up: from hotels and Ravenna railway station
• Cost: from EUR 20 one way
• Booking: turismo.ra.it or WhatsApp +39 348 450 40 49
• Operating hours: cruise call days only, April to November

🚌 City bus No. 90:
• Route: from Ravenna station to Porto Corsini; stop "Porto Corsini Via Sirotti" + 10-minute walk to the terminal
• Cost: EUR 2 from the driver
• Journey time: ~30–40 minutes
• Not recommended with heavy luggage

✈️ Other Airports: Rimini, Forlì, Venice
Besides Bologna, there are a few alternative airports, each with limitations:

✈️ Rimini Federico Fellini (RMI) — 70–80 km
• Serves some Eastern European routes (Ryanair and selected charters)
• Very poor public transport links to Ravenna
• Best option: private transfer (~EUR 80–100)

✈️ Forlì (FRL) — 30 km
• The closest airport to Ravenna, but with virtually no international scheduled routes
• Only practical if arriving on a charter flight

✈️ Venice Marco Polo (VCE) — 144 km
• Only choose this airport if you plan to spend time in Venice before or after your cruise
• Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises offer a transfer from Isola Nova del Tronchetto (Venice) to Porto Corsini — approximately 2–2.5 hours, EUR 45–55 per person (book through the cruise line)
• Not recommended as a primary option when flying in or out for a Ravenna cruise without separate Venice plans

🚗 By Car — Parking Near the Port
If you are arriving at the terminal by private or rental car, bear in mind that parking directly at Porto Corsini is limited. The best approach is to leave your car in Ravenna city and use the shuttle to the terminal.

🅿️ Parcheggio Via Cura (recommended) — the official cruise passenger car park in Ravenna:
• Address: Via Cura, 83, 48123 Ravenna RA
• Cost: EUR 4.50 per day (07:00–19:00), night rate EUR 1.25–1.50
• Convenient: the Visit Ravenna shuttle runs from the car park to the terminal (EUR 20, booking required at parcheggiravenna.com)
• Booking a space: recommended in advance at parcheggiravenna.com

🅿️ Free Street Parking at Porto Corsini
There are open-air street parking areas near the terminal used free of charge by locals. However, availability on busy embarkation days is not guaranteed, and security is at your own risk.

🛣️ GPS Directions: from any direction, the most convenient route is via the A14 Autostrada Adriatica motorway, then through Ravenna on the SS309 road towards Porto Corsini.

♿ Accessibility for Passengers with Reduced Mobility
The new Ravenna Civitas Cruise Port terminal fully meets modern accessibility standards:
✅ The terminal is equipped with lifts, ramps and wide corridors for wheelchairs
✅ The raised pedestrian walkway (passerella) allows wheelchair users to board directly without dockside transfer vehicles
✅ Visit Ravenna shuttles — please confirm the availability of adapted vehicles when booking: +39 348 450 40 49
✅ Wheelchair-accessible taxi minivans are available in Bologna and Ravenna — book in advance through the taxi service or your hotel
✅ Terminal staff provide boarding assistance — inform your cruise line of any requirements at the time of booking

⏰ When to Arrive at the Cruise Terminal
Most cruise lines open check-in desks 3–4 hours before departure. Recommended arrival times:
🕐 Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises: at your assigned check-in time (usually 30-minute windows)
🕐 Norwegian Cruise Line: 3–3.5 hours before departure
🕐 Silversea Cruises (luxury segment): any time after the terminal opens
❗ Boarding deadline: typically 60–90 minutes before departure — arriving late means watching the ship from the shore. All Four Gates Group vouchers include the exact boarding time for your specific cruise.

💡 Expert Tips from Four Gates Group
Over years of working with Ravenna, our cruise specialists have compiled a set of tips that will save you time, money and stress:

🌅 Arrive the day before your cruise. The transport network between Bologna and Ravenna is efficient but unpredictable on peak days. A delayed train or a taxi queue could cost you your entire cruise — the ship will not wait. Ravenna is well worth at least one night before embarkation.

🚕 Plan your taxi in advance. Ravenna has fewer than 20 taxis for the whole city. On peak embarkation Saturdays, you could wait an hour or more for a free cab. Book your car through the hotel or by phone the evening before departure.

📱 Install WhatsApp. Most local transport operators, hotels and tourism companies in Ravenna communicate via WhatsApp — it is the standard method of contact in the region.

🎒 Leave your luggage at the hotel until boarding. If you arrive in the morning but your ship does not board until the afternoon, most hotels in Ravenna and Bologna will store your luggage free of charge, even after check-out.

🏛️ Allow time for Ravenna itself. Most passengers rush onto a shuttle to Venice without noticing that Ravenna contains some of the most beautiful mosaics in the world. The Basilica di San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia are a 10-minute walk from the train station.

🚫 Do not assume a taxi will always be available. Unlike Barcelona or Rome, taxis in Ravenna are in short supply. Any unbooked transport on embarkation day is a risk.

☕ Do not rush to the terminal five hours early. Waiting areas at Porto Corsini are limited. It is far better to spend the time in Ravenna's city centre, with its excellent cafés, restaurants and queue-free mosaics.

🏨 Choose a hotel in central Ravenna. From there the terminal is 20 minutes by taxi, and every UNESCO site is within walking distance of your hotel door.

📞 Contacts and Useful Numbers
Ravenna Port Authority: +39 0544 21 51 11
Ravenna Radio Taxi: +39 0544 33 888
Visit Ravenna (shuttle and tourist information): WhatsApp +39 348 450 40 49 / transfer@visitravenna.it
Turismo Ravenna (official tourist office): +39 0544 35 404
Italian Emergency Services: 112
Four Gates Group Cruise Specialists (24/7 for clients): +38 097 653 05 53

Cruising from Ravenna does require more planning than most other ports — due to the limited number of taxis and the distance from the airport. But with the right preparation, it becomes a stress-free journey with the bonus of one of the Mediterranean's most underrated cities. The cruise experts at Four Gates Group support our clients at every step: from choosing the best flight to Bologna to arranging a private transfer with a name board waiting in arrivals. Speak to our manager — and your cruise from Ravenna will begin without a moment of stress. 🛳️✨

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is for guidance only and is accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please verify current details with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant operators.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises from Professionals

Ravenna Sights and Attractions: A Complete Guide for Cruise Travellers

Ravenna — a city where time stood still at the turn of the 5th–6th centuries. There are no grand Baroque cathedrals or tourist queues like in Florence or Rome. Instead — eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites within a two-kilometre radius, the world's best-preserved early Christian and Byzantine mosaics, and the unhurried pace of a provincial Emilia-Romagna town. For a cruise passenger whose ship docks at Porto Corsini for 8–10 hours, Ravenna is a true gift: a compact, walkable city centre where all the main sights can be covered in a single day. Below — a tried-and-tested guide to the key sites with up-to-date 2026 prices, opening hours and precise directions from the cruise terminal Porto Corsini to each location. 🎯

✨ 1. Basilica of San Vitale (Basilica di San Vitale)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
The Basilica of San Vitale is the undisputed queen of Ravenna and one of the most important monuments of early Byzantine art in the world. Built in 547 AD, it does not impress from the outside — the restrained brick octagon gives no hint of the breathtaking secret within. But the moment you step inside, the space explodes with gold and deep blue mosaic panels.
🔹 The basilica's crowning glory is the apse mosaics depicting Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora with their courts. These are among the most famous Byzantine portraits in the world and a unique document of the era: every face is a genuine individual likeness, not a stylised figure. 👑
🔹 The unusual octagonal plan and internal ambulatory corridor around the central space echo the principles of Constantinople's great shrines — in particular, the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus and the Hagia Sophia.
🔹 Construction spanned more than 20 years — from 525 to 547 AD. It was begun under the Ostrogoths and completed after Ravenna rejoined the Byzantine Empire under Justinian.
🔹 The mosaic panels preserve traces of an erased “damnatio memoriae”: after the Ostrogoths were expelled, the images of Theodoric's courtiers were replaced by curtains. If you look closely, you can make out the faint outlines of erased hands behind the draperies. 🖐
🔹 UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, as part of the “Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna” group (8 sites).

📜 History:
Construction of the basilica was initiated in 525–526 AD by Bishop Ecclesius, inspired by the architecture of Constantinople. The building was financed by the Greek banker Julian Argentarius — one of the most enigmatic figures in Ravenna's history. The basilica was built under the Ostrogoths but consecrated after Justinian had recaptured the city: hence the apse mosaics glorify the new masters of Ravenna, not its Gothic rulers. This dual nature — walls laid under Theodoric and mosaics commissioned by Justinian — makes San Vitale a unique hybrid of two eras. The basilica remains an active church to this day, with regular services held here.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• Cruise line shuttle: most companies (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises) provide a complimentary bus or sell tickets at 10–15 EUR per person. Journey time: 20–25 minutes. Address: Via San Vitale, 17
• Taxi: 20–25 minutes, 25–35 EUR. Taxis in Ravenna are limited — book in advance: +39 0544 33888
• Bus No. 90 (Start Romagna): stop approx. 500 m from the terminal → Piazza Farini (city centre) approx. 25 minutes, approx. 2 EUR. Then 15–20 minutes on foot to the basilica

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• 5-site UNESCO combination ticket (Opera di Religione): 14.50 EUR (adults), 11.50 EUR (students and groups of 20+), free for children under 10
• 4-site combination ticket: 12.50 EUR
• 2-site combination ticket: 10.50 EUR
• Supplement for Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and Neonian Baptistery: 2 EUR each (time-slot booking mandatory)
• Opening hours (2026): daily 9:00–19:00 (November–February: until 17:00)
⚠️ IMPORTANT: tickets for Ravenna's mosaic sites are sold exclusively as combination tickets — individual tickets are not available. Book online at ravennamosaici.it. For the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Neonian Baptistery, choose a specific time slot — these sell out weeks in advance during peak season.
👕 Dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered (active church).

💫 2. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (Mausoleo di Galla Placidia)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is the smallest and perhaps the most awe-inspiring monument in Ravenna. From the outside it looks like a modest brick building in the shade of an ancient plane tree, almost covered in moss. But inside — a 5th-century night sky, untouched for more than 1,600 years.
🔹 The dome of the mausoleum is covered with a mosaic of the night sky: a dark blue background, 570 golden stars, a cross at the centre. The American poet Henry Longfellow, upon seeing these mosaics, wrote an admiring poem about Ravenna. 🌌
🔹 On one of the walls is the celebrated scene of the “Good Shepherd”: a youthful Christ amid a flock of sheep. This is one of the earliest and best-preserved images of Christ in full colour.
🔹 The mausoleum was built around 425–430 AD — making it the oldest of Ravenna's mosaic monuments and one of the oldest surviving examples in all of Western Europe.
🔹 Despite its name, Galla Placidia is not buried here: she died in Rome in 450 AD and her remains could not be transported to Ravenna. The three porphyry sarcophagi inside bear her name, her brother's and her second husband's — but whether anyone actually rests within them remains unknown to this day. 🏛
🔹 UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

📜 History:
Galla Placidia led one of the most dramatic lives of any woman in late antiquity. Daughter of Theodosius the Great, she was captured by the Visigoths during the sack of Rome by Alaric in 410 AD. She spent seven years in captivity, married the Visigoth leader Ataulf (killed a year later), and after returning to Ravenna served as regent for her young son Valentinian III. The mausoleum was built during the height of her power, between 425 and 430 AD. The building combined the form of a Latin cross with purely Eastern-style mosaic decoration — a symbolic summary of her restless life between West and East.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• The mausoleum is located in the same complex as the Basilica of San Vitale, just 30 metres away. Getting there is the same: shuttle/taxi/bus No. 90 to Ravenna city centre → 15–20 minutes on foot
• Address: Via Fiandrini, 48121 Ravenna

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• Only included in the 4–5 site combination ticket + 2 EUR supplement. No individual tickets available
• Mandatory time-slot booking at ravennamosaici.it — the first site to sell out, often weeks in advance 🔑
• Opening hours (2026): daily 9:00–19:00 (April–September); 10:00–17:00 (November–February)
💡 Tip from Four Gates Group: if you can only choose one place in Ravenna — choose this mausoleum. Its atmosphere is unlike anything else. But book your time slot the moment you purchase your ticket!

🏛 3. Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo (Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
If San Vitale is gold and deep blue, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is all about solemn processions along the entire length of the central nave. Two of Ravenna's longest mosaic friezes: 26 saints and martyrs on one side and 22 virgin martyrs on the other — advancing towards one another against an unbroken golden background. Static figures, slow procession, 1,500 years without a single restoration.
🔹 The basilica was built between 493 and 526 AD as the palatine chapel of the Ostrogothic king Theodoric and was Arian in faith. After the Ostrogoths were expelled in 561 AD, Justinian converted it into a Catholic church — and it remains active to this day. 📖
🔹 The mosaics preserve the famous “invisible hands”: after the church was rededicated, the images of Theodoric's courtiers were replaced with curtains, but behind the draperies you can still make out the outlines of dozens of erased hands — anonymous witnesses to a change of power. 🖐
🔹 The name “Nuovo” (new) does not mean it is newer than the similarly named basilica in Classe. On the contrary, “Nuovo” is 30–40 years older. The name was added merely to distinguish two churches dedicated to the same saint.
🔹 The round bell tower from the 10th–11th century next to the basilica is one of the finest surviving examples of Ravenna's “cylindrical” architectural style. 🔔

📜 History:
Theodoric the Great — the Ostrogothic ruler who grew up in Constantinople as a hostage and absorbed all the refinements of late Roman culture — made Ravenna his capital and transformed it into a true architectural masterpiece. The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, built as his personal palatine chapel, was meant to demonstrate that, although Theodoric professed Arianism, he was in no way inferior in cultural brilliance to the Orthodox rulers of Constantinople. After Justinian's arrival in 561 AD the mosaics were partly reworked: where Theodoric's courtiers had stood, curtains with heavenly scenes now appear. The basilica was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• Shuttle/taxi/bus No. 90 to Ravenna city centre → 5 minutes on foot from the railway station or 15 minutes from San Vitale
• Address: Via di Roma, 53, 48121 Ravenna
• 💡 Best strategy: start your route at this basilica — it is closest to the station, making it the ideal starting point for the whole walking route

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• 2-site combination ticket (San Vitale + Sant'Apollinare Nuovo): 10.50 EUR, concession — 9.50 EUR
• 4- or 5-site combination ticket: 12.50 / 14.50 EUR
• Children under 10: free
• Opening hours (2026): daily 9:30–17:30 (April–September: until 19:00; Sunday mornings — reduced hours due to services)

🔵 4. Neonian Baptistery (Battistero Neoniano)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
The Neonian Baptistery is the oldest surviving building in Ravenna. The octagonal 5th-century structure looks unremarkable from the outside, but once you open the door you find yourself beneath a dome with an unbroken three-tiered mosaic carpet.
🔹 The central scene of the dome is the Baptism of Christ by John the Baptist. Around it — a solemn procession of 12 apostles bearing crowns and gifts. Below — allegorical thrones with the Holy Scriptures and altars. All executed in the 4th–5th centuries — and all perfectly intact. 💎
🔹 The baptistery was built on the foundations of 3rd-century Roman baths. The walls of the building sit below the level of the modern street: Ravenna has “grown” by almost three metres over 1,600 years.
🔹 The name “Neonian” honours Bishop Neon (mid-5th century), who completed the mosaic decoration. The building was originally founded by Bishop Ursus at the end of the 4th century.
🔹 Also known as the “Orthodox Baptistery” — to distinguish it from the “Arian Baptistery” built slightly later by Theodoric for the Arian community.

📜 History:
In the early Christian church, baptism was performed only in adulthood and exclusively by full immersion in water. This required a separate building with a pool — a baptistery. Ravenna, having become the capital of the Western Roman Empire in 402 AD, rapidly filled with prestigious buildings. Bishop Ursus founded the first baptistery; Bishop Neon completed the mosaics and expanded the décor in the mid-5th century. Today, the remains of the Roman bathing pool can still be seen in the baptistery floor — where thousands of Ravenna's citizens once received baptism. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• Shuttle/taxi/bus No. 90 to the city centre → 10–12 minutes on foot from the station
• Address: Piazza Arcivescovado, 1, 48121 Ravenna (next to the Cathedral)

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• Only included in the 4- or 5-site combination ticket + 2 EUR supplement for the time slot
• Mandatory time-slot booking (the building is very small — slots sell out quickly)
• Opening hours (2026): daily 9:00–19:00 (winter: until 17:00)

⚜️ 5. Archbishop's Museum and Chapel of Sant'Andrea (Museo Arcivescovile)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
The Archbishop's Museum is a less publicised but extraordinarily valuable treasure-house in the Archbishop's Palace of the 5th–6th centuries. It is here that one of Ravenna's rarest artefacts is kept — a 6th-century object in pristine condition.
🔹 The museum's star piece is the ivory throne of Bishop Maximian (546–556 AD), considered one of the finest examples of ivory carving in all of ancient and medieval European art. 🦷
🔹 But the true gem is the Chapel of Sant'Andrea (Cappella di Sant'Andrea) — a 6th-century mosaic oratory accessible only through this museum. Its dome and walls are entirely covered in mosaics, and above the entrance stands an image of Christ as warrior: He stands on a lion and a serpent, holding a book inscribed “Ego sum via, veritas et vita” — “I am the way, the truth and the life”. 📖
🔹 The museum occupies part of the Archbishop's Palace of the 5th–6th centuries — one of the oldest surviving episcopal complexes in the West.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• The museum is located next to the Neonian Baptistery and the Cathedral
• Address: Piazza Arcivescovado, 1, 48121 Ravenna

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• Only included in the 5-site combination ticket: 14.50 EUR
• Opening hours (2026): daily 9:00–19:00

⛩ 6. Mausoleum of Theodoric (Mausoleo di Teodorico)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
The Mausoleum of Theodoric is the most unlike any other UNESCO site in Ravenna. No mosaics, no gold — just a majestic grey-white decagonal structure in a park on the edge of the city centre. Yet it stands as one of the most enigmatic architectural achievements of all late antiquity.
🔹 The dome of the mausoleum is a monolithic stone slab 10.76 metres in diameter weighing over 230 tonnes, cut from a single block of Istrian limestone. It was transported by sea and placed atop the two-tiered structure. Exactly how this was accomplished remains a subject of debate among engineers and historians to this day. 😮
🔹 Around the edge of the dome are 12 large stone handles: according to researchers, ropes were attached to these during the lifting. Each is inscribed with the name of an apostle or evangelist.
🔹 Theodoric built the mausoleum for himself around 520 AD, but after Justinian recaptured Ravenna, his remains were removed. The porphyry sarcophagus in the lower tier is empty.
🔹 The mausoleum is a unique combination: Roman centrally-planned layout + Syrian and Gothic ornamentation. A living architectural image of Theodoric himself — a ruler who grew up in Constantinople yet reigned as an Ostrogothic chieftain.

📜 History:
Theodoric the Great (454–526 AD) was one of the most outstanding rulers of the Migration Period. Having spent his childhood as a hostage at the Constantinople court, he received a brilliant education and absorbed all the subtleties of late Roman culture. In 493 AD he took Ravenna and proclaimed himself rex Italiae — with the tacit consent of Constantinople itself. Under Theodoric the city experienced a genuine cultural flourishing: churches were built, aqueducts repaired, trade thrived. The mausoleum, laid down ten years before the ruler's death, was meant to immortalise his greatness. But fate had other plans. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• Taxi: 20–25 minutes from the terminal, 25–35 EUR. Address: Via delle Industrie, 14
• On foot from the city centre: approx. 15–20 minutes from the Basilica of San Vitale

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• Separate ticket: 4–5 EUR (managed by the Italian Ministry of Culture, not included in the Opera di Religione combination ticket)
• Combination ticket — Mausoleum of Theodoric + Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe + National Museum of Ravenna: 10 EUR
• First Sunday of the month: free admission 🎉
• Opening hours (2026): daily 8:30–19:30

🖋 7. Dante's Tomb (Tomba di Dante)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
Ravenna is a city of mosaics — but also a city of Dante Alighieri. It was here, in exile, that the great Florentine wrote the final cantos of the Divine Comedy and died in 1321. His tomb — a small neoclassical rotunda of the 18th century in a quiet corner beside the Church of San Francesco — draws pilgrims from around the world.
🔹 Dante spent the last three years of his 56-year life in Ravenna (1318–1321), invited by the city's lord Guido Novello da Polenta. It was here that he completed “Paradiso” — the third part of the Comedy. 📜
🔹 Florence spent five hundred years petitioning for the return of the poet's remains. Several times Ravenna agreed, but each time the Florentines found an empty coffin: the Franciscan friars had hidden Dante's bones in the monastery's underground passages. Only in 1865 were the remains discovered — and they have stayed in Ravenna ever since.
🔹 Above the lamp in the tomb is inscribed: “Onorate l'altissimo poeta” (“Honour the most exalted poet”) — a quotation from the Inferno. The oil for the lamp is supplied annually by Florence — a symbolic act of atonement for the poet's exile.
🔹 Nearby is the “Zona del Silenzio”, a quiet garden for reflection. Loud group tours and raised voices are prohibited here. 🌿

📜 History:
Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) was a Florentine poet considered the father of the Italian language. After his political allies were defeated in Florence, he spent more than 20 years in exile, moving from court to court. In his final years he found refuge in Ravenna under the patronage of Guido Novello da Polenta. Here he completed the Divine Comedy — and here he died of malaria on 14 September 1321, returning from a diplomatic mission to Venice. Florence long and fruitlessly tried to reclaim the poet's remains — and Ravenna would not give them up.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• Shuttle/taxi/bus No. 90 to the city centre → 10 minutes on foot from the station or 5 minutes from the baptistery
• Address: Via Dante Alighieri, 9, 48121 Ravenna

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• Admission to the tomb: free 🎉
• Opening hours (2026): daily 10:00–19:00
• Museo Dantesco (Dante Museum, nearby): 4 EUR, daily 10:00–18:00

🕍 8. Arian Baptistery (Battistero degli Ariani)
💡 Interesting facts and highlights:
The Arian Baptistery is the younger sibling of the Neonian, built by Theodoric at the end of the 5th — beginning of the 6th century for the Arian community. Despite its small size, it impresses with its dome mosaic in turquoise-blue and golden tones.
🔹 The baptismal scene in the dome is typologically similar to the Neonian Baptistery, but there is a significant theological difference: in the Arian version, Christ is depicted completely unclothed. This reflects Arian doctrine, according to which Jesus only acquired Divinity at the moment of baptism — in other words, he was primarily human. 🔵
🔹 After the Ostrogoths were expelled, the baptistery was converted into an oratory and later into a simple chapel. It was precisely this relatively modest status that allowed the building to survive intact, without alteration.
🔹 Part of the UNESCO ensemble “Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna” since 1996.

🚢 Getting there from Porto Corsini terminal:
• Address: Vicolo degli Ariani, 1 — 5 minutes on foot from the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

💶 Prices and opening hours:
• Separate ticket: 2 EUR (managed by the Ministry of Culture, not included in the Opera di Religione combination ticket)
• Children under 18 (EU citizens): free
• Opening hours (2026): typically 8:30–13:00 (mornings only — confirm the day before your visit)

🗺 9. Other sights worth visiting
• 🏛 Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe (Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe) — UNESCO World Heritage Site 6 km from the city centre, in the former seaport of Classis. The apse mosaic depicting Saint Apollinaris among lambs is one of the finest examples of early Byzantine art. 5 EUR, daily 8:30–19:30.
• 🏺 National Museum of Ravenna (Museo Nazionale di Ravenna) — in the same complex as San Vitale. Sculptures, sarcophagi, textiles and artefacts from the 6th–10th centuries. 6 EUR, Tue–Sun 8:30–19:30 (closed Monday).
• ⛪ Ravenna Cathedral (Duomo di Ravenna) — rebuilt in the 18th century, it retains the oldest cathedral chair of the 5th century with marble reliefs. Free admission.
• 🦁 Piazza del Popolo — the heart of the old city, where Venice and Saint Vitalis once “ruled” symbolically from their columns. The best spot for a coffee between sights. Free. 🌸
• 🌊 Beaches of Marina di Ravenna and Lido di Classe — if the stop is long and you fancy the Adriatic, these beaches are just 10–15 minutes from the port. Season: May–September.

🗺️ Three self-guided routes around Ravenna in 8 hours
A cruise ship's port call in Ravenna typically lasts 8–10 hours. Bearing in mind that Porto Corsini terminal is 12–15 km from the city, it is realistic to visit 4–6 of the main sights — provided the itinerary is well planned. Below are three options to suit different budgets and preferences.

🥉 Route No. 1. Budget — up to 20 EUR per person
⏱️ Total time: 8 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 18–22 EUR + meals

🕘 08:30 — Departure from Porto Corsini terminal
Bus No. 90 from the stop approx. 500 m from the terminal (approx. 2 EUR) → Piazza Farini, city centre (approx. 25 min).

🕘 09:00–09:15 — Piazza del Popolo
Free stroll around the main square. Coffee at a local café — 1.50 EUR.

🕤 09:15–09:25 — Dante's Tomb
5 minutes on foot. Free admission. A quiet moment in the “Zone of Silence”.

🕙 09:30–10:00 — Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
5 minutes on foot. Ticket included in the combination pass. Viewing the mosaic processions — 25–30 minutes.

🕥 10:15–11:00 — Neonian Baptistery + Archbishop's Museum
10 minutes on foot. Both sites share the same complex.

🕚 11:15–12:00 — Basilica of San Vitale
15 minutes on foot. The mosaic jewel of Ravenna.

🕧 12:00–12:15 — Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
30 metres from San Vitale. Pre-booked time slot — essential!

🕐 12:30–13:30 — Lunch in Ravenna city centre
Piada romagnola (the traditional Ravenna flatbread sandwich) — from 4 EUR. Set menu at a trattoria — 13–18 EUR.

🕝 13:30–14:30 — Free exploration or Arian Baptistery (2 EUR)

🕒 14:30–15:30 — Return to the terminal by bus No. 90

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Bus No. 90 return: approx. 4 EUR
• 5-site combination ticket: 14.50 EUR + 2 EUR (Galla Placidia supplement)
• Arian Baptistery: 2 EUR
• Lunch: 13–18 EUR
💸 TOTAL: approx. 36–41 EUR per person (without meals: approx. 18–20 EUR)

🥈 Route No. 2. Optimal — 60–80 EUR per person
⏱️ Total time: 8 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 70 EUR + meals

🕘 08:00 — Departure from the terminal by cruise line shuttle or taxi
Taxi: approx. 30 EUR. You arrive before the first site opens.

🕘 09:00–09:30 — Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Combination ticket. Viewing the mosaic processions — 25–30 minutes.

🕤 09:40–09:55 — Dante's Tomb (free)
5 minutes on foot. A quiet pause in the “Zone of Silence”.

🕙 10:15–11:00 — Neonian Baptistery + Archbishop's Museum
10 minutes on foot. Pre-booked time slot required!

🕚 11:20–12:10 — Basilica of San Vitale
15 minutes on foot. An audio guide is recommended (3–4 EUR on site).

🕧 12:10–12:25 — Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Booked time slot. 10–15 unforgettable minutes.

🕐 12:45–14:00 — Lunch at a restaurant in Ravenna city centre
Pasta with seafood, local Sangiovese di Romagna wine. 25–35 EUR.

🕝 14:20–15:15 — Mausoleum of Theodoric
15 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by taxi. Separate ticket 4–5 EUR. The monolithic dome weighing 230 tonnes.

🕒 15:30–16:30 — Return to the terminal
Taxi: approx. 30 EUR.

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Taxi return: 60 EUR
• 5-site combination ticket: 14.50 EUR + 2 EUR
• Mausoleum of Theodoric: 5 EUR
• Lunch: 25–35 EUR
💸 TOTAL: approx. 107–117 EUR per person
💡 Replacing the taxi with the cruise line shuttle saves 40–50 EUR per person.

🥇 Route No. 3. Premium — private tour from 300 EUR per person
⏱️ Total time: 8–9 hours | 💰 Estimated budget: 300–500 EUR + tickets

🏆 What is included:
• ✅ Meet-and-greet by private driver with a name board right at the ship's gangway
• ✅ Comfortable car or minivan for the full day
• ✅ Licensed guide — English-speaking or Ukrainian-speaking
• ✅ All combination tickets and time slots booked in advance
• ✅ Restaurant table reservation
• ✅ Option to visit Bologna (45 min), Ferrara (1 hr) or Florence (1.5 hrs)
• ✅ Guaranteed return to the ship

Book through your cruise manager or contact us in any convenient way:

Phone numbers:
• Office: +38 (044) 337 82 01
• Mobile (LifeCell):    +380 93 653 05 53
• Mobile (Vodafone): +380 66 653 05 53
• Mobile (Kyivstar):   +380 97 653 05 53

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🕘 08:00 — Meet driver and guide at the terminal

🕘 09:00–09:50 — Basilica of San Vitale with guide
Private tour, in-depth explanation of the Justinian and Theodora mosaics and the symbolism of each scene.

🕤 09:50–10:10 — Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
First booked slot. Guide narrates Galla's turbulent life and the symbolism of the “starry sky”.

🕙 10:30–11:00 — Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
Guide explains how the “invisible hands” in the mosaics bear witness to the clash between Arianism and Orthodoxy.

🕤 11:15–12:00 — Neonian Baptistery + Archbishop's Museum
The Throne of Maximian — one of the finest examples of ivory carving from the ancient world.

🕧 12:10–12:30 — Dante's Tomb
Free time at Piazza del Popolo. Guide recommends a local café.

🕐 12:45–14:15 — Lunch at a restaurant overlooking the old city
Traditional Romagnola cuisine: cappelletti in brodo, piada, squacquerone. From 35–50 EUR per person.

🕝 14:30–15:20 — Mausoleum of Theodoric + Arian Baptistery
5 minutes by car. Guide explains the architectural marvel of the 230-tonne monolithic dome.

🕒 15:30 — Return to Porto Corsini terminal in comfortable car

💰 Cost breakdown:
• Private guide (8 hours): from 200 EUR
• Driver with car (8 hours): from 180 EUR
• Combination tickets and time slots: approx. 35 EUR
• Lunch: from 35 EUR
💸 TOTAL: from 450 EUR per group (for 2–4 people — calculated per group, not per person)

🤝 Four Gates Group organises private tours of Ravenna with licensed guides, transfer from the ship's gangway and a guaranteed return on board. Contact your cruise specialist — and your day in the “City of Mosaics” will be truly unforgettable. 🛳️✨

⚠️ Important to know before going ashore
🕐 “All aboard” rule: you must return to the ship 60 minutes before departure. If you are late — the ship will not wait, and catching up with it at the next port will be at your own expense.
🚕 Taxis are scarce: there are few taxis in Ravenna and hailing one in the street is almost impossible. Always book in advance: +39 0544 33888.
🪪 Documents: carry a copy of your passport and your cruise Ship Card.
💶 Cash: have 30–50 EUR in cash — the bus, the Arian Baptistery and smaller cafés often do not accept cards.
👕 Clothing: for all active churches (San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo) — shoulders and knees must be covered. A light scarf or shawl in your bag will solve the problem.
🔖 Booking is essential: time slots for the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and the Neonian Baptistery sell out weeks in advance. Book ahead at ravennamosaici.it.
📱 Internet: free Wi-Fi “Ravenna Free WiFi” is available in the city centre. Download an offline Google Maps map before you set off.
🌡️ Climate: up to +32 °C in summer, with a humid Adriatic climate. Drinking water, a hat and sunscreen are essential.
🏃 Walking pace: all the main sights are within a compact pedestrian centre. From the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo to San Vitale is no more than 20 minutes on foot.

ℹ️ Please note: the information on this page is provided for general reference and was accurate at the time of publication. Prices, schedules, routes and visiting conditions may change without notice. Please verify up-to-date information with a Four Gates Group cruise specialist or on the official websites of the relevant sites.

FOUR GATES GROUP — Cruises by professionals