Ravenna --1 night or 2?
 

We have a week in Venice, and then we want to stop in Ravenna on our way to our next base in northern Tuscany. After a week there, we'll end up in the Lakes area before flying home from MPX. I know us well enough to know that when we leave Venice it won't be at the crack of dawn--mid morning is more like it. When we leave Ravenna we'll have about a two hour drive that day to our base for the next week.

So, do I need one night or two in Ravenna? One night would leave 6 nights/5 days in the Lakes area, and two nights would leave 5 nights/4 days in the Lakes.

I visited Ravenna forty years ago, right out of college, and I can remember the mosaics were lovely but that is all I can remember. Plus, I am well acquainted with the notion of church/museum/art overload where at a certain point your brain just can't take any more in and appreciate it and everything runs together. So, how much time? Thanks.

We easily went to all the mosaic sites in 1 afternoon last year. Ravenna is quite small and walkable...I would only plan 1 overnight myself.

I think one night would be adequate to see the mosaics and Dante's tomb.

I'm a slow traveler so I'd probably do two just so I could travel leisurely. Ravenna is small, has a large pedestrian zone - lots of shops, outdoor cafes and I think you can rent bikes and tool around a bit that way as well.

All depends on your interests. If you have just a look at the mosaics at Ravenna and at Classe, you can do it easily in half a day. If you study them more carefully, may be with a good guidebook or physical guide, you can easily spend a whole day in the area.

One day could be enough, but all depends on your interest: mosaics, but also nature. Between Venice and Ravenna there is a really interesting naturalistic area and the nice small town of Chioggia.

I had one night, wished for two. Like San Gimignano, it is a very different place when the tourists have gone for the day. There is a kind of paseo that takes place (passegiata, maybe?) with old and young strolling around the central square, stopping for drinks and snacks as a way of easing into the evening. Pretty charming, and you can tell the locals because they are better dressed than we are.

I would suggest 2 nights. You can take the ferry to Bellagio and Menaggio.

Those are good side trips.

Regarding departing by train; unless things have changed since I was there last, you will need to buy a ticket at the local tobacconist shop, as there is no ticket office at the train station.

I don't think you can take a ferry from Ravenna to Bellagio or Menaggio...?

rastaguy--Were you perhaps thinking Varenna?

Okay, now I am still torn by all of your helpful comments. I'll have to weigh the tradeoff of spending an extra night in Ravenna versus having one more night in the Lakes area. I appreciate the help.