Ravenna and Byzantine Art

If you can't leave your car all day at the hotel, you can leave it in this car park.

Start the day with a hearty Italian breakfast! You can choose one of the cafés on your way to the first monument you will visit in the morning: the Basilica of San Vitale. Note that during the spring/summer months, the monuments are open from 9:00, but in the other months they are open from 10:00. So the timetable and breakfast time will depend on that and on the amount of sites you want to see.
A nice place for breakfast is Pasticceria Venezia.
Open Hours Tuesdays - Sundays: 6:30 - 19:00 Closed on Mondays

The Basilica of San Vitale is the first and most important monument to visit. Its mosaic works inside are truly incredible: they represent emperors and their courts, archbishops and other ecclesiastics, a young Christ next to San Vitale and scenes from the Old Testament, among others. It is also possible to see an original floor from the 6th century and several frescoes. A fantastic place for art lovers.
Open Hours April - September: every day 9.00-19.00 (last admission 18.30). October - March: every day 10.00-17.00 (last admission 16.30).
You can buy a single ticket including the visit to these monuments: Basilica of St.Vitale, Basilica of St. Apollinare Nuovo, Archiepiscopal Museum (St. Andrew's Chapel and Ivory Throne), Neonian Baptistery and Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. This joint ticket is valid for 7 days, for one admission to each monument. You can also buy the tickets separately, depending on the sites you want to visit.
On this website you can find information about opening times, ticket prices, etc. (and find the link to buy them online).

A few metres away from the previous monument is the mausoleum of Galla Placidia. She was the daughter of Theodosius the Great and sister of Emperor Honorius. The monument takes only a short time to visit, but it is well worth the effort to admire the details of the mosaic images. True works of art!
There are geometrical figures, strong colours, crosses, stars, four creatures symbolising the evangelists, symbols of water and plants.
Open Hours April - September: every day 9.00-19.00 (last admission 18.30). October - March: every day 10.00-17.00 (last admission 16.30).
You can buy your ticket on the website

The visit continues to the orthodox baptistery of Ravenna, also called the Neonian Baptistery, where the mosaics are of course the highlight. Among them, the scene of the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan stands out.
It is called orthodox to differentiate it from the baptistery of the Arians, which was built several years later. The Arians were a Christian community of the time, but were considered to be outside the "true" creed (heretics).
Open Hours April - September: every day 9.00-19.00 (last admission 18.30). October - March: every day 10.00-17.00 (last admission 16.30).
You can buy your ticket on the website

In the Archbishop's Museum of Malaga you can see the Archbishop's Chapel, which was where the bishops of Ravenna prayed. In the museum you will also be able to see... mosaics! Pay attention to the details of flowers, doves and plants.
Open Hours April - September: every day 9.00-19.00 (last admission 18.30). October - March: every day 10.00-17.00 (last admission 16.30).
You can buy your ticket on the website

For a break in between all this art, you can have a light lunch with a bocata. One of the places that sells good sandwiches is in Piazza del Popolo, so in addition to lunch you'll get to see another historic site of the city.
Open Hours Sunday - Friday: 9:30-15:00, 18:00-23:00 Saturday: 9:30 - 15:00

The Arian baptistery is, like all baptisteries, octagonal in shape, and was built after the one mentioned above. It also has a scene of Christ's baptism in the Jordan River, with the Holy Spirit represented by a dove and the 12 apostles in procession.
The entrance fee is paid on site and the opening hours are similar to the previous ones.

This temple was first dedicated to the Arian cult and then to the Catholic cult. This transition from one to the other is reflected in the scenes depicted (and covered) in mosaics. When Ravenna came under the control of Justinian's Byzantine Empire, this basilica (like other Arian buildings) was converted to the Orthodox faith and its mosaics were modified to express the new religion. Look, for example, for columns showing hands. These hands are left over from the time of Theodoric, when instead of curtains there were people from his court.
Open Hours April - September: every day 9.00-19.00 (last admission 18.30). October - March: every day 10.00-17.00 (last admission 16.30).
You can buy your ticket on the website

Although Ravenna is undoubtedly known for its Byzantine art, it is also associated with Dante Alighieri, because this poet spent his last years of exile in this city. It is here that his remains lie, in a simple mausoleum that can be viewed (generally seen from the outside. If the gate is open, you can enter because it is free).
You can stroll around the area, which many call "the zone of silence" as a tribute to the poet. The tomb is located next to the Basilica of San Francisco, if you also want to look at it from the outside (or go inside if it is open).

After passing by the tomb, you can visit the Dante Alighieri Museum, which is housed in what used to be a Franciscan convent. A visit to the museum will give you an insight into the life and works of one of Italy's (and the world's) most famous poets: Dante Alighieri. There are interactive rooms, rooms with objects and rooms with information panels (in Italian and English).
Open Hours Tuesday - Sundays and Holidays: 10:00 - 17:30 (last admission one hour before)
You can buy the tickets on this website.

Before you continue your journey, nothing better than stopping for a good cappuccino and something sweet. A nice place is Methiu's cafè.
Open Hours The opening hours are not listed on the website, but the place is so nice and the cappuccino is so good, it's worth a visit to see if it's open. If not, you can choose anywhere nearby.

This basilica is located, as its name suggests, in the town of Classe. Therefore, on the way to Rimini it is suggested to stop here.
This basilica guards another of Ravenna's best-known mosaics, those located in the apse and the triumphal arch, in which the green tone predominates.
Open Hours Monday - Saturday: 8:30 - 19:30 Sundays: 14:00 - 19:30
For more information, see this website.

After a day of art and mosaics, you can make your way to Rimini, the city where you will spend the night. Return to the hotel or car park to pick up your car.

Look for a centrally located hotel with parking. Leave your bags and there, you can take a break or a duha and go out for dinner.

You can walk around the city centre and look for a good restaurant for Italian food. At Osteria Brodo di Giuggiole you can order traditional kilometre zero food.
Open Hours Monday - Saturday: 19:00 - 22:30 Sunday closed

It's time to rest and get ready for the third day on the road!