Ravenna is famous for the ornate Byzantine mosaics that cover the interiors of its 6th-century basilicas, but some of the city’s oldest can be found in the mausoleum commissioned by Galla Placidia, the powerful sister of Honorius, Rome’s final emperor. Unassuming on the outside, the mausoleum is home to intricate mosaic decorations dating from more than a century before other Byzantine works in the city, making it an important example of the evolution from the Roman to the Byzantine style.
A visit to the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a highlight of Ravenna walking tours, and taking in the mosaics with the help of a guide is the best way to fully appreciate these singular works of art. Most tours of Ravenna include a stop at the Mausoleo di Galla Placidia along with the Basilicas of San Vitale and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. Ravenna is a popular day trip from Venice or Bologna, and can be combined with a stop in the nearby city of Ferrara.