Day 1 – To Ravenna: Fly from London
Heathrow to Bologna. Transfer to Ravenna and
stay at the NH Ravenna Hotel for 3 nights.
Afternoon visit to Sant’Apollinare in Classe,
dedicated to the first bishop of Ravenna and
consecrated in 549AD. It demonstrates the
form and function of early Christian basilical
churches, and provides an introduction to
Ravenna’s glorious mosaics. (D)
Day 2 – Ravenna: Visit the so-called
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, where the
interior contains fine early Christian vault
mosaics. Continue to San Vitale, consecrated in
547AD by Bishop Maximian. This is one of the
most significant Byzantine centrally planned
churches to survive, with much of its interior
decoration still intact. Afternoon visit to the
Residenza dei Vescovo to view masterpieces
from the Museo Arcivescovile, including a
sixth-century ivory-clad archbishop’s throne.
Continue to the archiepiscopal chapel (now dedicated to St Andrew), located on the first
floor of the archbishop’s palace complex, where
entry to see the sixth-century mosaics inside
has been arranged. (B)
Day 3 – Ravenna: Morning visit to the
octagonal Orthodox baptistery, which bears the
name of Bishop Neon, who commissioned the
extensive interior mosaics and associated stucco
decoration. Visit the cathedral, built in the
18th century on the site of the original fifth-century
five-aisled Basilica Ursiana. It contains
important early Christian sarcophagi and a
sixth-century marble pulpit. Continue to the
late fifth-century octagonal Arian Baptistery,
which contains mosaics of Christ’s baptism
and a procession of apostles. Afternoon visit to
the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, built by
Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, as a palatine
church. The splendid mosaics include 26
Christological panels and processions of male and female martyr saints. (B)
Day 4 – To London: Morning visit to the
Mausoleum of Theodoric. This unique 10-sided
mausoleum was built from huge blocks of
ashlar masonry on the outskirts of Ravenna.
This afternoon, there is a special visit to San
Pietro in Silvis. Dating from the seventh
century, it provides useful comparisons with
the churches seen in Ravenna, and contains
some interesting 14th-century Giottesque
frescoes. Lunch at Bagnacavallo, before
continuing to Bologna airport. Fly to London
Heathrow with British Airways. (B, L)
Extensions: If you wish to extend your stay in
Ravenna, please contact us for details.
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
