EYWandBTV,

If possible, bring opera glasses or low-powered compact binoculars for best viewing of the details of the mosaics, since most are high in the apses of the churches.

For my second mosaic class, I stayed again at B&B al Teatro, this time renting the cottage since I was there for a week. Still loved it.
http://www.bbalteatroravenna.it/en/

The Travel Monster got me. For reasons that are too boring to mention, we are going to Peru this fall instead of Italy... so Mantova goes on the bucket list for 2018. Thanks to everyone for your ideas, they shall not perish!