Italy

Famous for the elaborate early Christian and Byzantine mosaics adorning its World Heritage basilicas and monuments, Ravenna revels in its historical legacy and small town charm. Former Ravenna resident, Dante, described the mosaics as a 'symphony of colour' - even his tomb in decorated.

Before the 20th century

From the early swamp settlements of the Etruscans and Umbrians, Ravenna became a Roman colony from the 1st century BC. The city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 when Emperor Honorius moved his court from Rome believing Ravenna's surrounding malarial swamps made it easier to defend from northern invaders. The barbarians simply walked around him and sacked Rome in 410, leaving Honorius to wallow in Ravenna until his death in 423. The Goths followed, building many fine churches, but it was the arrival of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in 540 that heralded the beginning of a great architectural era. As capital of Byzantium in Italy, Ravenna rose to become one of the Mediterranean's most splendid cities. Ravenna later came under the rule of the Lombards (Dante lived here during this time) and Venetians before being incorporated into the Papal States in the 16th century. Construction of canals and reclamation of swampland eased the threat of flooding and created much-needed agricultural land. In 1861 Ravenna was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.

Modern history

After WWII, Ravenna developed as an industrial area with petrochemical plants and offshore gasfields creating an economic boom. Although landlocked, a navigable canal connects Ravenna's port with the sea. Still, Ravenna retains its charming small-town atmosphere and within the old city walls tourism is the most important industry. In 1996, eight of the churches and monuments of Ravenna were given World Heritage listing by UNESCO.

Recent history

Ravenna is not close enough to the Adriatic beaches to have a seaside vibe or the wild nightlife of Rimini, but its reputation as a city of culture extends to music, particularly during the summertime Ravenna Festival and Ravenna Jazz in July.

Top Accommodation

Top Restaurants

Ravenna has a maritime climate typical of the northern Adriatic - hot summers (June-August) and cold, grey winters (November-March). May and September are pleasant months with warm, sunny days. Strong winds can blow in off the Adriatic at any time. Although not a particularly soggy region, rainfall is fairly consistent throughout the year.

Average weather

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Transport

Getting around

Buses around town originate from Piazzale Farini, 500m east of Piazza del Popolo, the town's main square. A three-day tourist ticket for local buses costs €3. Ravenna is ideal for walking and cycling. The city provides a free bicycle-hire service. Pick up a key from the tourist office on Via Salara, borrow a bike from one of the parking stalls around town, then return it to the same rack. Red bikes are for residents, yellow for visitors.

Getting there and away

The nearest major airports are Rimini-San Marino and Bologna, but Rynair (www.ryanair.com) flies twice daily from London Stansted to Forli, 35km (21.7mi) southeast of Ravenna. The train station, at the eastern edge of town on Piazzale Farini, is connected to the main bus station (Via Darsena) by a pedestrian tunnel. Regional ATM buses run to towns along the coast from Piazzale Farini; get tickets and information from Punto Bus. Frequent trains connect Ravenna with Bologna (1.5hr), Ferrara (1hr; change here for Venice) and Rimini (1hr). Ravenna is on a branch of the A14 Bologna-Rimini autostrada, while the older and more scenic Via Adriatica (S16) runs south along the coast to Rimini.