Ravenna is the capital of the province of the same name in the Emilia-Romagna region. The city has nearly 160 thousand inhabitants and has the second largest area in the country after Rome. For a time in the early Middle Ages, Ravenna was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The city boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage listed sites.
Ravenna travel guide
Useful information
Tourist information: Piazza San Francesco, 7 – Ravenna (tel: +39 0544 35404). Opening hours: From 08:30 to 19:00 (Sunday from 09:30 to 17:30). Free city maps and brochures.
Town hall: Piazza del Popolo, 1 – Ravenna (tel: +39 0544 482111).
Railway station: The city has its own train station, close to the city center. It is on the line between Ferrara and Rimini and is the terminus of the line starting in Castelbolognese. The Flixbus stop is on Via Trieste, 180 Pal de Andrè – Ravenna (about 2 kilometers from the central station).
Tourist attractions, what to see and do in Ravenna
Built between 1734 and 1735, the Cathedral is flanked by the Baptistery.
The Palazzo Comunale was built in the 15th century, but completely restored later in the same century and in 1681.
The Basilica of San Vitale is part of a larger complex and used to be seen as the symbol of the power of the Eastern Empire. Consecrated around the middle of the 6th century, this octagonal church is famous for its apse mosaics.
Until 1685, the San Francesco Church was the final resting place of Dante Alighieri.
The Sant’Apollinare Nuovo Basilica was built between 493 and 496 and was founded by the King of the Ostrogoths Teodorico. Originally constructed for the Arian cult, it was converted into a Catholic church in 560. The Baptistery of the Arians dates from the 6th century. The Mausoleum of Teodorico is also in Ravenna.
The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe is located about 8 kilometers outside the city proper.
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was built between 425 and 450. Although owing its name to the sister of Emperor Onorio, she ended up being buried in Rome. The mausoleum is decorated with several mosaics, including the famous stars on the cupola.
The octagonal Battistero degli Ortodossi dates from the beginning of the 5th century, and is graced by mosaics from the middle of the same century. The mosaic depicting the “Baptism of Christ and 12 Apostles” decorates the centre of the cupola. It is also known as Battistero Neoniano.
The iconography of the mosaic depicting the “Baptism of Christ and 12 Apostles” in the Battistero Ariano testifies to the Arian cult in vogue in Ravenna at the time.
The Museo Arcivescovile contains works of art from the cathedral and from other, since demolished, churches. Highlights are the Cattedra di Massimiano and the Chapel of Sant’Andrea. The chapel is preceded by a vestibule with a mosaic containing mosaics depicting 99 different species of birds.
The Rocca di Brancaleone is a castle built in the 15th century by the Venetians, which was used to keep the population under their thumb.
For children, but actually for adults as well, Ravenna has one of the largest amusement parks in Italy. Mirabilandia features a large number of roller coasters and various water rides.
A brief history of Ravenna
The first settlement on this site dates back to the 5th century BC and was of Etruscan origin. Later the Umbrians would take over the city, but from 191 BC it came under the Romans. It became a Roman colony and under Augustus a military port the seat of the fleet that was to cover the eastern Mediterranean.
Under Honorius, the city increased in stature, as the latter preferred Ravenna to Milan as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire because of the sea. After the fall of the empire, it became the capital of the kingdom under Odoacre and then under Teodorico. During this time, it became an important commercial city.
After the Greco-Gothic War, Ravenna was an outpost of the Byzantine Empire from 553 to 751. In the 5th and 6th centuries, it was the capital of the Exarchate.
In 751 the city was occupied by Astolfo and in 754 by Pipino. Two years later Ravenna came into the hands of the Church.
From 1287, the city was owned first by the Traversari family and then by the Polenta. In 1441 Venice took control of it, which lasted until 1509. After this it came back into the hands of the church. After the war between the Holy See and Louis XII, the city was pillaged.
Between 1796 and 1815 Ravenna was in the hands of the French, after which it came back into the possession of the pope. After a revolt in 1859, Ravenna became part of the new Italian kingdom.
How to get to Ravenna by car
The SS309 takes you to Venice, the SS16 to Rimini, and the E55 to Cesena.