Wonderful Ravenna, visit 3 UNESCO sites with a local guide on a private tour

We had a wonderful experience discovering the remarkable Ravenna with Silvia Giogoli. She met us exactly on time and for the next 3 hours we were treated like special guests with skip-the-line privileges to all the sites we visited. The mosaics are awe-inspiring, and so is her knowledge. Her pace was perfect - and she was sensitive to our vibe and our interests. She designed the best first experience in Ravenna by starting at Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and finishing with Gallla Placidia right before the grand finale of the Basilica San Vitale. We even stopped by a mosaic art studio and chatted with the students who were creating their own masterpieces. It was truly an enriching day and Silvia topped it off by letting us in on the secret of where to eat and to be sure to try the ficchi caramelatti (caramelized figs) with stracchino cheese! wow! Don’t hesitate to book her tour. She is a delight and makes you feel like you’re hanging out with an old friend.

Words cannot describe the mosaics. Our guide was very knowledgeable and explained the stories of the mosaics.

Silvia was so wonderful. She planned an entire day for us, including a bike ride through the forest, a mosaics tour, and a delicious lunch in Ravenna. She was so sweet and easy to work with. Response times were exceptional and she anticipated our every need. The bikes were brand new and rode so easily. The restaurant was authentic and delicious. Silvia explained all the history of mosaics and Ravenna. Highly recommend!

Silvia was wonderful from the moment I booked the tour. She clearly instructed me on how to buy the ticket we needed for our admission into the sites. Once we met for the tour, she gave such a wonderful history lesson about the area and the sites we saw. She even made a quick stop in the central food market for us to see. We learned so much more from Sivia than we ever could have on our own. Thank you Silvia!

The best $ we spent. We are experienced travelers who do a ton of reading and research in advance. My husband is particularly interested in art and art history and I’ve long wanted to see the mosaics. A friend who is a museum docent in NYC strongly urged us to consider a guide for Ravenna’s mosaics. After reading reviews, we chose Silvia. She was extremely responsive about availability, booking tickets (including specific timed entries), met us at the train station. And SO knowledgeable (about the mosaics, city, history) and fun to be with.

Silvia gave us a great tour for two couples. The pace was casual and just right for us. The mosaics would still have been beautiful to see, but to have the historical context made it so more special. Plus, Silvia pointed out things we would never have seen on our own. It was a thoroughly enjoyable two hours. Highly recommended!

A highlight of our Italy trip was the wonderful day we spent with Silvia who enhanced our experience of Ravenna's stunning mosaics by pointing out lots of details that would be missed and putting it all in the historic context. She has perfect English and a charming personality. She can give insights into contemporary life too. As a professional Tour Guide in London myself (and someone who trains London guides), I highly recommend hiring Silvia who combines the three attributes of a great tour guide - knowledge, personality and guding technique!

We had a very enjoyable morning walking round Ravenna with Silvia and gained a much deeper understanding of the beautiful mosaics thanks to her knowledge. She has brilliant English and was very good at pitching the tour at just the right level, allowing time to stop and experience some very good cafes. She's incredibly knowledgable and also great fun. She was also incredibly helpful in recommending good places to go during the remainder of the stay.

Silvia was a wonderful tour guide! Attentive and informative there was so much to learn! The outsides of all the buildings are brick but inside there are gorgeous one of a kind mosaics that are so special!! We especially liked a little bonus at the end where we got to see a mosaic workshop at work! So glad we took this tour

Silvia gave my wife and I a private tour of the mosaics in Ravenna which was one of the best tours we have taken anywhere. Silvia was prompt in responding to all of our communications, and was flexible in meeting us when we were not sure where our ship would dock on the day of our tour. Most importantly, Silvia is extremely knowledgeable about all the churches, buildings and mosaics in Ravenna and shares her knowledge in a friendly and engaging manner. She had pre-purchased all of the necessary admission tickets, so we wasted no time waiting in any lines. Her fees are very reasonable. All in all, I highly recommend using Silvia for your tour guide to Ravenna's mosaics.