Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe

The 6th-century basilica stands among the fields outside Ravenna. Its wide nave is lined with Proconnesian marble columns whose capitals curl like leaves in a breeze, topped by Byzantine pulvini and roundels of Ravenna’s archbishops. Along the aisles, sarcophagi trace four centuries of sculpture, from 5th to 8th. The apse glows in green and gold: a starry sky, a golden cross inscribed IXΘYOC above and Salus Mundi below, flanked by Moses and Elijah; and beneath, Saint Apollinaris lifts his hands among twelve lambs in a pine-studded landscape. UNESCO-listed, it is early Christian art at its best.

Wonderful mosaics, carved sarcophagus, lovely setting in Classe, just outside Ravenna. Definitely worth a visit along with the new museum a few blocks away. I have not been able to find out the name of the modern sculptor of happy cows placed on the lawn just outside the church entrance, though.

Worth a visit, situated a bit outside of town but with an easy bus connection. One of the Unesco monuments.

When in Ravenna, you should not miss out this basilica. You can take the train (station is 5min walking) or bus no.4 from Ravenna city centre (stops in front of the Theodoric palace, for example). Entrance is 10EUR. There were only few people inside on Saturday afternoon. Lots of things to study and admire!

We chose to make this our first site, so took the train down from Ravenna station and then the bus back up to Ravenna. It's a bit out of the way but so worth the logistical trouble and time out of the busy tourist schedule (to whoever is still undecided)! It is a hidden treasure and feels different from the other sites, a very authentic rural church with deep history rather than a tourist attraction. We went on a Saturday morning and were lucky because a wedding closed down the site half an hour later.

Free parking across the road. Very good price with the combined ticket that includes the National Museum of Ravenna and the Mausoleum Teodorico. Quite simple design but stunning mosaics.

This church located outside of the city of ravenna about 20 minutes by public transportation or 10 minutes by car is a wonderful example of Byzantine art and architecture melded with romanesque art and architecture as well as later additions from the baroque and neoclassical periods.

Worth the trip from Ravenna by bus or train, just a few minutes to walk, spacious architecture full of light and a nice bar/ristorante right next to it