While tourists queue for hours outside Venice's St. Mark's Basilica, a smaller Italian city just 90 minutes south offers equally stunning Byzantine mosaics, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and authentic Italian experiences—without the overwhelming crowds or inflated prices.
Ravenna, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, remains surprisingly overlooked despite housing eight UNESCO-listed monuments featuring some of the world's finest Byzantine art. A recent detailed trip report on r/travel highlights exactly why this city deserves a spot on every Italy itinerary.
The traveler spent a weekend in Ravenna before heading to Tuscany, choosing to fly in early specifically to experience the city's Byzantine treasures. "I am a huge history fan," they wrote. "I have seen my share of Byzantine mosaics, but nothing prepared me for the sights of Ravenna."
The Byzantine Mosaics: World-Class Art Without the Crowds
The city's mosaic masterpieces rival anything in Istanbul or Venice. The Basilica of San Vitale, the traveler noted, was "unbelievable"—its 6th-century mosaics depicting Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora are considered among the most important surviving examples of Byzantine art.
The Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo features a stunning procession of 26 martyrs in glittering gold mosaics. The Cappella Arcivescovile di Sant'Andrea and Battistero Neoniano showcase intricate religious scenes that have survived nearly 1,500 years. Unlike major tourist sites, visitors can often view these masterpieces in near-solitude, allowing genuine appreciation without being jostled by tour groups.
The traveler made the journey to the Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe, located about 5 kilometers from the city center. "I walked down there, it's a long way so I wouldn't necessarily advise that—I got the bus back," they noted. The church, standing alone in former marshland, offers a hauntingly beautiful setting and mosaics that many art historians consider superior to more famous examples.
