On this 3-hour private guided tour of Ravenna, your guide will show you the most important treasures of the city. You'll explore some of its most important sites and admire the stunning mosaics all around you. Ravenna was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century AD. It then served as the capital of the Kingdom of the Ostrogoths until it was re-conquered in 540 AD by the Byzantine Empire. Subsequently the city formed the center of the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna until the invasion by the Lombards in 751 AD, after which it became the seat of the Kingdom of the Lombards. Although an inland city, Ravenna is connected to the Adriatic Sea by the Candiano Canal. It is known for its well-preserved late Roman and Byzantine architecture, and features 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Admire the early Christian and Byzantine mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Battistero Neoniano, the Arcivescovile Museum and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo. The monuments are all within easy walking distance. Walk along the streets of the old town and stop to admire the picturesque Piazza del Popolo and the Dante area, or Area of Silence. In fact, the exiled Florentine Dante died in Ravenna on 13 September 1321.