Ravenna

<< Emilia-Romagna

Ravenna is a city located near the Adriatic coast in Emilia-Romagna, known for its rich artistic and architectural heritage, which includes some of the greatest masterpieces of the Roman and Byzantine style. Originally a small settlement, the city flourished under the Romans thanks to the nearby port of Classis. Ravenna was the capital of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century, then it became the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and later the seat of Byzantine rule in Italy. The city remained the center of the powerful Exarchate of Ravenna until its fall to the Lombards in 751. Throughout this time, Ravenna lived its golden age as one of the most important cities in the world, and it was adorned with many impressive buildings and artworks. The city gradually lost its importance and was mainly ruled by the Papal States, with brief occupations by other powers such as Venice and France, until the unification of Italy. Ravenna is now an industrial center and a tourist destination, famous for its historic monuments, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

✪ Basilica of San Vitale

The Basilica of San Vitale is a 6th-century church and a masterpiece of Paleochristian and Byzantine art. This octagonal church houses one of the richest sets of Byzantine mosaics in the world, which adorn most of its internal walls. Among all these breathtaking decorations, the most famous mosaics are the ones depicting Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora.

✪ Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

The small Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a small temple located just outside the Basilica of San Vitale. The building was commissioned by Empress Galla Placidia and it was erected in the 5th century, but she was actually buried in Rome. Nevertheless, the building houses some ancient sarcophagi, while rich mosaics adorn the internal walls of the mausoleum. The building was once part of a complex including the nearby Church of Santa Croce, which was later mostly demolished.

✪ Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo was erected in the 6th century, originally as an Arian church and later reconsecrated. The lateral walls of the church’s interior are adorned with breathtaking Byzantine-style mosaics depicting the life of Jesus, along with many saints, prophets, virgins, and angels. The church is flanked by a beautiful bell tower built around the 9th century.

✪ Archiepiscopal Museum of Ravenna

The Archiepiscopal Museum (Museo Arcivescovile) is a museum hosted in the Palazzo Arcivescovile, just behind the Ravenna Cathedral and next to the Baptistery of Neon. The exhibition features many archaeological findings and works of religious art mostly dating from the golden age of the city, such as the elaborate Throne of Maximian (Cattedra Vescovile di Massimiano). The museum includes the Archbishop’s Chapel (Cappella Arcivescovile), a 5th-century chapel adorned with rich mosaics.

✪ Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe

The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe is a 6th-century church located in Classe, the ancient port of Ravenna a few kilometers southeast of the city. The building is one of the most famous works of Byzantine architecture, and it features a wonderful apse mosaic. The church also houses numeorus sarcophagi, dating from the 5th to the 8th century.

Arian Baptistery

The Arian Baptistery (Battistero degli Ariani) is a small baptistery in Ravenna, erected between the 5th and 6th century. The ceiling of the baptistery is decorated by a striking mosaic depicting the baptism of Jesus surrounded by the Twelve Apostoles. The baptistery was once part of a larger religious complex of Arian faith which included the nearby Church of Spirito Santo. This site was built in order to separate the Arians from the Orthodox Chalcedonian Christians, who lived in another neighborhood of Ravenna, and was later reconsecrated.

Mausoleum of Theodoric

The Mausoleum of Theodoric (Mausoleo di Teodorico) is the monumental tomb of Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths. The very well-preserved building is made of Istrian stone and it was erected in the 6th century on the outskirts of Ravenna. The interior is not decorated, but the dome of the mausoleum is notable for being made from a single large monolith.

Baptistery of Neon

Also known as: Orthodox Baptistery (Battistero degli Ortodossi)

The Baptistery of Neon (Battistero Neoniano) is a small religious building erected during the 5th century on the site of a previous Roman bath. Located next to the Ravenna Cathedral and the Archiepiscopal Museum, this is the oldest intact building in the city, and it houses a rich ceiling mosaic.

Ravenna Cathedral

The Ravenna Cathedral (Duomo di Ravenna) is a large church in the center of the city, adjacent to the Archiepiscopal Museum and the Baptistery of Neon. The first church on this site was erected in the 5th century, but it was later demolished and replaced with the current building during the 18th century. The cathedral features many Baroque decorations, but it also houses some ancient Paleochristian artworks and it features a bell tower dating from the 10th century.

National Museum of Ravenna

The National Museum of Ravenna (Museo Nazionale di Ravenna) is an archaeological and art museum hosted in the historic monastery adjacent to the Basilica of San Vitale. The collection of this museum includes a series of Roman artifacts and an exhibition of archaeological findings from the area. The museum also displays ancient coins, historic weapons, and Renaissance artworks.

Tomb of Dante

After being expelled from his native Florence, the great poet Dante Alighieri spent his final years in Ravenna, and died here in 1321. In 1781, a Neoclassical mausoleum was built near the Basilica of San Francesco to house the remains of Dante. The small monument houses the sarcophagus of Dante and a 15th-century bas-relief depicting the poet. A museum dedicated to Dante is housed in an adjacent building.

Basilica of San Francesco

The Basilica of San Francesco is a church built between the 9th and 10th century on the site of a previous Paleochristian building. The church was reworked over the centuries, and now it hosts a few historic frescoes and artworks, along with an ancient crypt. In 1321, the funeral of Dante Alighieri was held here, and the Tomb of Dante was later built next to the church.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is the main square of Ravenna, surrounded by historic buildings. Among these are the Baroque Church of Santa Maria del Suffragio and Palazzo Comunale, the town hall of the city. Two 15th-century columns erected during the Venetian rule are located in front of Palazzo Comunale.

Biblioteca Classense

The Biblioteca Classense is a public library in Ravenna, hosted in a historic monastery. The library was founded in 1803, gathering volumes from different monasteries of Ravenna. Now, it includes hundreds of thousands of ancient books and documents, and its collection is housed in some richly adorned halls.

Museo Tamo Mosaico

Museo Tamo Mosaico is a museum dedicated to mosaics hosted in a former church in the center of Ravenna. The rich exhibition features a few historic mosaics from the Paleochristian era and the Middle Ages, along with the copies of various famous mosaics.

Art Museum of the City of Ravenna

The Art Museum of the City of Ravenna (Museo d’Arte della Cttà di Ravenna) is an art gallery hosted in the Loggetta Lombardesca, the cloister of the adjacent Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto. The collection of the museum includes hundreds of works spanning several centuries, along with an exhibition of modern mosaics.

Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto

The Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto is a Baroque church in Ravenna, erected between the 16th and 18th century, and adorned with an elaborate facade and rich decorations. The church houses the sculpture of the Greek Madonna (Madonna Greca), a Byzantine bas-relief dating from the 5th century.

Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra

The Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra is an archaeological site located three meters under the small Church of Sant’Eufemia. This underground area houses a series of floors adorned with rich Byzantine mosaics dating from around the 6th century.

Church of San Giovanni Evangelista

The Church of San Giovanni Evangelista is a church in Ravenna dating from the 5th century. Commissioned by Empress Galla Placidia, it was joined by a monastery in the Middle Ages, and later heavily reworked in Gothic style. The mosaics that once adorned the church were removed and only a few sections remain today.

Archaeological Park of Classe

The archaeological area of the ancient port of Classe is located just south of Ravenna. The strategic position of this port along the Adriatic coast made it an important trade hub in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. Over time, changes in the local environment caused the port to become further from the sea and this, along with pirate raids along the coast, led to the decline of the once flourishing Classe.

Mirabilandia

Mirabilandia is a the largest amusement park in Italy, located a few kilometers southeast of Ravenna. Opened in 1992, the park includes numerous attractions and a waterpark, and it also features Eurowheel, the second tallest ferris wheel in Europe, with a height of 92 meters.