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    Ravenna

    Italy

    Ravenna

    CityCulture

    Ravenna is located inland in Romagna and is connected to the Adriatic Sea via the Candiano Canal.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Italy
    7. Emilia-Romagna
    9. Ravenna
    Ravenna is located inland in Romagna and is connected to the Adriatic Sea via the Candiano Canal. In the 5th century, the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire, then the residence of the Ostrogothic King Theodoric, and the seat of the Byzantine administration in Italy.Dating from this period are churches, baptisteries, and mausoleums with early Christian mosaics; those of San Vitale are among the largest and best-preserved Byzantine mosaics outside Istanbul. Eight of these 5th and 6th-century structures have been UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1996. Additionally, Ravenna is home to the tomb of the poet Dante Alighieri.

    Sights in Ravenna

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Basilica di San Vitale
    Church

    1Basilica di San Vitale

    Octagonal church, begun around 526 and completed in 547, home to Ravenna's most famous mosaics. At the foot of the apse, the images of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora with their retinues face each other. Like seven other early Christian buildings in the city, San Vitale is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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    Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
    Historic Landmark

    2Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

    Small cruciform building from the years 425 to 450. Walls, vaults, and dome are lined with glass mosaics, the dome features golden stars on a deep blue background with a golden cross in the center.
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    Baptistery of the Orthodox
    Church

    3Baptistery of the Orthodox

    Octagonal Baptistery, also called Battistero Neoniano, begun around 400 and decorated with mosaics in the late 5th century under Bishop Neon. The dome mosaic depicts the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, surrounded by the twelve Apostles.
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    Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
    Church

    4Sant'Apollinare Nuovo

    Basilica, commissioned by Ostrogothic King Theodoric as his palace church in the early 6th century. On the nave walls, on a gold ground, 26 martyrs process toward Christ and 22 virgins toward Mary with the Child; Theodoric's palace and the port of Classe are shown below.
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    Grave of Dante
    Historic Landmark

    5Grave of Dante

    Dante Alighieri died in 1321 in exile in Ravenna. His tomb is in a small Neoclassical structure from 1781 next to the Basilica San Francesco. Quiet is requested in the surrounding Zona dantesca.
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    Sant'Apollinare in Classe
    Church

    6Sant'Apollinare in Classe

    6th-century basilica, consecrated in 549, at the former Roman fleet harbor of Classe. The apse mosaic depicts at the top a jewel-encrusted cross in a starry sky, below it Saint Apollinaris praying in a green landscape with twelve lambs.
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    City walks in Ravenna

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Imperial Splendour and Mosaic Magic: A Walk Through Ravenna

    Discover Ravenna, the former capital of the Western Roman Empire, on this 2-hour walk. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the UNESCO-listed Byzantine mosaics and follow in the footsteps of emperors and poets. A must for lovers of culture and history!

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (7)

    Food & Drink

    1

    Qui Si Pizza da Gianni

    Pizzeria on Via Faentina, just west of the Old Town.
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    2

    La piadina dello chef

    Snack bar for Piadina, the filled flatbread of Romagna, on Via Teodorico near the Mausoleum of Theodoric.
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    3

    Al Cairoli

    Restaurant on Via Cairoli in the center, a few steps from Piazza del Popolo.
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    4

    Ca' de Vèn

    Restaurant and wine shop in a historic building with vaulted ceilings near Dante's Tomb, featuring Romagna cuisine.
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    Food and Drink

    Ravenna's cuisine is that of Romagna, simple and hearty.

    Piadina

    Flatbread of soft wheat flour, water, and salt, with lard or olive oil, since 2014 with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

    Cappelletti

    The Romagnol variant of Tortellini, larger and with cheese filling, served in capon broth.

    Squacquerone di Romagna

    Soft fresh cheese, used among other things for Cappelletti fillings.

    Sangiovese di Romagna

    Red wine from Romagna.

    History and Culture

    At the beginning of the 5th century, Emperor Honorius moved his court to Ravenna, which remained the capital of the Western Roman Empire for most of the century. The nearby military port of Classis had been founded under Octavian around 31 BC. From 493, the Ostrogoth Theoderic ruled here, whose mausoleum is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 540, Belisarius conquered the city for Byzantium; Ravenna became the seat of the Exarch, and in 547, San Vitale was completed.From 1441 to 1509, Ravenna belonged to Venice, and thereafter until the mid-19th century, it was part of the Papal States. Dante Alighieri spent his last years of exile here and died in Ravenna in 1321.

    Exploring on-site

    The Old Town is compact and easy to explore on foot.From the station, Trenitalia trains run to Bologna, Ferrara and Rimini, among others.

    Accommodations in Ravenna

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    Campgrounds in Ravenna

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    Plan your trip to Ravenna

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      Trip to Ravenna

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      • 1Basilica di San Vitale3 days
      • 2Mausoleum of Galla Placidia4 days
      • 3Baptistery of the Orthodox5 days
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      Ravenna
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    Nearby

    Rimini

    Rimini

    Rimini, located on the Adriatic Sea in southern Emilia-Romagna, is known primarily as a seaside resort with some 15 kilometers of sandy beach. The city also features an old town with Roman structures, the Renaissance Tempio Malatestiano, and the Borgo San Giuliano district. Film director Federico Fellini was born in Rimini in 1920; the Fellini Museum is dedicated to him.
    Ferrara

    Ferrara

    Ferrara is located in the Po Valley, approximately 44 kilometres northeast of Bologna. From 1264 to 1598, the d'Este family ruled here, under whom the city became an important Renaissance court.The old town is enclosed by an almost completely preserved city wall, approximately nine kilometres long. To the north lies the Addizione Erculea, a city extension systematically planned from 1492. Since 1995, Ferrara has been a UNESCO World Heritage site; in 1999, the listing was expanded to include the Po Delta.
    Bologna

    Bologna

    Bologna is the capital of Emilia-Romagna and lies on the edge of the Po Plain at the foot of the Apennines. The old town, with its arcades and medieval towers, defines the cityscape. The university, founded in 1088, is considered the oldest continuously operating university, and the city is known for its hearty cuisine.
    Emilia-Romagna

    Emilia-Romagna

    Emilia-Romagna stretches across northern Italy from the Apennines over the Po Plain to the Adriatic coast; the Po forms its northern border. Along the ancient Roman road Via Emilia, cities like Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Bologna, the region's capital, are strung.To the east, in the Romagna, lie Ravenna with its Byzantine mosaics and the Adriatic beach resorts around Rimini. The region is known for its cuisine, from Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano to balsamic vinegar and egg pasta.
    Florence

    Florence

    Florence, Tuscany's capital, birthplace of the Renaissance. The Duomo (Brunelleschi's Dome), Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi, and Ponte Vecchio over the Arno are tightly grouped. Michelangelo's David is in the Galleria dell'Accademia. Across the river, Oltrarno features Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens, and artisan workshops. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, the Old Town is easily explored on foot. Florence is roughly 1.5 hours from Rome by high-speed train. You should reserve tickets for Uffizi, Accademia, and Duomo Dome in advance.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI