Ravenna: a treasure trove of art, history, and culture

Galla Placidia Ravenna

Just a few kilometres inland from the Adriatic Sea and about 20 km north of Cervia, Ravenna not only boasts an extraordinary wealth of historical heritage, it is also seen as a relaxing and enjoyable destination thanks to its proximity to the Adriatic Riviera.

Ravenna and its surrounding area features a wide variety of stunning landscapes: farmland, wetlands, canals, ancient pine forests, broad sandy beaches. It has 35 km of coastline, including nine seaside resorts, each with their own unique characteristics that can satisfy any requirements.

There are so many places where you can go for a day amongst nature, whether immersed in the Po Delta Regional Park, where you can spot rare species of birds, exploring the natural oasis of Punte Alberete, the ancient San Vitale and Classe pine forests, the Sant’Alberto nature museum, the southern wetlands near Comacchio, or the oases of Ortazzo and Ortazzino, and the estuary at Bevano.

This is a city with a glorious past, indeed since the start of the 5th century AD Ravenna has been the capital on three occasions.

Thanks to that magnificent era, we have been left with a wealth of precious monuments in the city: eight of its buildings have been declared UNESCO World Heritage sites, built between the 5th and 6th centuries by incomparable artists and fearless builders.

The city also offers a wealth of culture and art, with a number of museums open all year round, including MAR (the city’s art museum), the Museo Tamo dedicated to the art of mosaics, the Museo Nazionale di Ravenna, the Museo Arcivescovile (the archbishop’s museum) and the Museo di Dante.

Did you know that Dante, the father of Italian literature, is buried in Ravenna? You can honour him by visiting the ‘Zone of Silence’, an area in the centre of Ravenna around Dante's tomb, as well as the ‘Quadrarco di Braccioforte’ monument and the Basilica of San Francesco.

Our list of things to see and do in Ravenna only offers a brief taste of the abundance of attractions which this wonderful city has to offer.

If you love art and culture, enjoy walking, being by the sea, or great food then Ravenna has something for you!