Baptistry of Neon

Religious Site Early Christian baptistry in Ravenna with mosaics

Octagonal early-Christian baptistry in Ravenna famed for fifth-century mosaics and a marble font. Visitors come for intact tessellated ceilings and the city’s dense cluster of Byzantine monuments.

Main image

The Baptistry of Neon in Ravenna is an early Christian baptistry known for its fine late-5th- to early-6th-century mosaics and octagonal plan. It is one of the principal monuments among Ravenna’s early Christian sites.

The structure dates to the late 5th and early 6th centuries and is associated with the episcopal seat in Ravenna; later repairs and restorations preserved much of the mosaic programme. The baptistry has been a major early medieval monument continuously recognised for its artistic importance.

The baptistry sits in central Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, close to the cathedral area and within the cluster of early Christian monuments that make the city a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  • World Heritage: Part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna and best visited with other nearby monuments such as San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia.

What to See #

  • Dome mosaic: The dome mosaic in the baptistry interior is the principal artistic element, showing a central baptism scene surrounded by processions of the apostles and angels executed in tesserae.
  • Building fabric: An octagonal brick structure dating to the late 5th to early 6th centuries that preserves both interior mosaics and an early medieval baptistery layout.
Baptistry of Neon
Baptistry of Neon (Battistero Neoniano), Piazza del Duomo, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
44.4156, 12.1973
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https://mosaic.ravennaarts.it/
Usually open during daylight hours; access can be limited during religious services
Free to enter baptistry area; guided tours for wider complex sometimes charged at nearby museums

How to Get to Baptistry of Neon #

The baptistry is in Ravenna’s historic centre, adjacent to the cathedral (Duomo) and the Archiepiscopal Museum. From Ravenna railway station, it is a 10-15 minute walk through the city centre; local buses and taxis also serve the Piazza del Duomo area.

Tips for Visiting Baptistry of Neon #

  • Go for the mosaics and the sense of dark, cool air - this baptistry is one of the best-preserved early Christian interiors in Italy
  • Visit outside Mass times; services still occur and they can limit access to some spaces
  • Bring a camera with a wide-angle lens for the shallow octagonal basin and surrounding mosaics

Best Time to Visit Baptistry of Neon #

Ravenna's mosaics are easiest to enjoy in spring and autumn when crowds are thinner and the city's museums run full schedules.

Spring
April-June · 12-24°C
Mild, comfortable weather and fewer summer coach parties in Ravenna.
Autumn
September-October · 15-22°C
Soft light that flatters the gold tesserae inside the baptistry and good museum hours.

Weather & Climate near Baptistry of Neon #

Climate

Baptistry of Neon's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 0°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (666 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 54 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JulyJuneAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
34°
Warmest Month
-2°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

47 Poor

Comfort

3°
Feels Like Cold
3°C
Temperature
0° – 6°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

39 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.1
UV Index
Low
9.1h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

61 Good

Comfort

5°
Feels Like Cold
5°C
Temperature
1° – 9°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

37 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.3
UV Index
Low
10.3h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

9°
Feels Like Cold
9°C
Temperature
5° – 14°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

54 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.6
UV Index
Moderate
11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
8° – 17°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

55 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.0
UV Index
Moderate
13.3h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

83 Excellent

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
12° – 23°
72%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

54 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.4
UV Index
High
14.6h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 16°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

89 Excellent

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
16° – 27°
68%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

50 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.7
UV Index
Very High
15.3h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

91 Ideal

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
19° – 30°
64%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

46 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.7
UV Index
Very High
15.0h daylight

August

August is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
19° – 30°
65%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

61 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.4
UV Index
High
13.8h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm).

83 Excellent

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° – 26°
68%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

68 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.9
UV Index
Moderate
12.4h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
10° – 19°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

65 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.5
UV Index
Moderate
10.8h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with 82 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

51 Acceptable

Comfort

8°
Feels Like Cold
8°C
Temperature
5° – 12°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

82 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.5h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (55 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

47 Poor

Comfort

4°
Feels Like Cold
4°C
Temperature
1° – 7°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

55 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.7h daylight

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