GB
US
Ravenna & Aquileia
From £2,545
Summary
In AD 402 the Roman Imperial court fled from Rome to Ravenna, and for a period this was the political centre of what remained of the Western Empire. The result? An astonishing flowering of art and architecture created in the dying days of the Empire. To this day, the city’s numerous churches and palaces remain resplendent with shimmering mosaics.
We begin in Aquileia, a great city of the Roman Empire, which played host to emperors and archbishops. We continue to Ravenna, one of the must-see archaeological cities, where we marvel at the artistry and explore the stories behind the glittering tiles.
Book Now
Your Departure date
Today's Price
£2,545
Benefit from this limited time offer:
- Pay a low deposit of £99, was £500.
Single supplement: £425
Includes flights
Keeping you safe on your next tour
-
FREE 'Travel Safe' kits for every traveller
-
COVID-19 insurance
-
Enhanced Health and Safety audits
-
Distanced seating on coaches
-
'Get me home' service and private airport transfers
-
COVID protocols at our hotels, and aboard our cruise ships
-
Packed lunches and flexible dining options
-
Flexible balance payment date and COVID-friendly refund conditions
-
COVID-testing and medical training for tour staff
-
Constant monitoring and post-tour tracing
Meet your Experts
Dr Eireann Marshall
Guide Lecturer
An Honorary Research Fellow for the Open University, Dr Eireann Marshall is bilingual (Italian and English), and she has led many Andante tours.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - London - Grado
We depart from London, and upon arrival in Venice, we transfer to our hotel in Grado. We have time to relax before enjoying our first group dinner.
| Hotel | Grand Hotel Astoria |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Dinner |
Day 2 - Aquileia
We travel to Aquileia. Founded by the Romans in 180BC on marshy ground between the mountains and the lagoons, the city lay on an important route between eastern and western Empires, and thrived in the late Roman period. We explore the Cathedral, and the Christian and earlier mosaics under its campanile. Afterwards, we walk along the riverine port, noting the mooring posts which pay homage to the city’s rich trading past, to the 6th century Church of Monastero and museum. We end the day at newly refurbished National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia, which houses some extraordinary mosaics and amber jewels.
| Hotel | Grand Hotel Astoria |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch |
Day 3 - Cividale
We head into the foothills of the Alps to the first Lombard city of Cividale. Here we visit the Tempietto Longobardo, an exquisite ducal chapel with wonderful stuccowork, before returning to the Diocesan Museum, with its Lombard Altar of Ratchis. After lunch, we explore the Cividale Archaeological Museum, which displays splendid finds such as armour, jewellery and glass from Lombard graves. Later we return to Grado and visit the 6th century cathedral and the churches of S. Eufemia and S. Maria delle Grazie. Tonight we have our final dinner in Grado.
| Hotel | Grand Hotel Astoria |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 4 - Pomposa
This morning we travel to Ravenna. En-route we stop at the former Roman colony of Concordia Sagittaria, to the site of an important early Christian basilica, which was discovered and laid out below the floor of the present cathedral. We proceed to the Abbey of Pomposa, the monastery where Guido D’Arezzo invented modern musical notation. Here we view a wonderful Cosmati floor and 14th century frescoes, hauntingly painting in the wake of the Black Death.
| Hotel | Palazzo Bezzi, Ravenna |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 5 - Ravenna
Today we start our exploration of Ravenna with a series of superb monuments, including the Arian Baptistery, the Neonian Baptistery, Ravenna Cathedral, and the Bishop’s Palace with its museum and mosaic decorated private chapel. In the afternoon we visit San Giovanni Evangelista, founded by Galla Placidia.
| Hotel | Palazzo Bezzi, Ravenna |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 6 - Ravenna
Still in Ravenna, we will also explore the remains of the church of Santa Spirito, which now contains the mosaics from ‘Theoderic’s Palace’ and then on to the Church of Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo, Theodoric’s Palatine chapel. In the afternoon a walk across town takes us to the late antique Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra. We end the day at the National Museum, with a vast and eclectic of architectural and archaeological material from Ravenna and its environs. This evening we plan to have our special private visit to San Vitale and the mausoleum of Gallia Placidia.
| Hotel | Palazzo Bezzi, Ravenna |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch |
Day 7 - Classe - Ravenna
We drive south this morning to Classe. This was the location of the commercial port of Ravenna and a city in its own right. We will pass by the excavated port and visit the church of San Apollinare in Classe with its distinctive belltower. In the afternoon on our way backing the city we will stop to visit Theoderic’s great stone mausoleum.
| Hotel | Palazzo Bezzi, Ravenna |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 8 - Ravenna - London
We drive to Bologna airport for our return flights home or onward connections.
| Meals included | Breakfast |
|---|
Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Accommodation
- Meals as per the itinerary, wine and tea or coffee with dinner
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single Supp. | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May 2021 | ARAV210510 | 10 May 2021 (Monday) | 17 May 2021 (Monday) | Dr Eireann Marshall | £2,545 (inc. flights) |
£99 |
£425 | Book Now |
| 1 November 2021 | ARAV211101 | 1 November 2021 (Monday) | 8 November 2021 (Monday) | Oliver Gilkes | £2,345 (inc. flights) |
£99 |
£315 | Book Now |
Tour Enquiries
