Date post: | 26-May-2015 |
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An Introduction to the City of
Ravenna, Italy
Ravenna, Italy is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It is sometimes referred to as
Italy’s Byzantium.
It was once the capital of the Western Roman Empire until 476 A.D., and in 751 A.D., also became the
capital of the Kingdom of the Lombards.
These days, Ravenna is mostly known for hosting the annual Ravenna Festival
which is one of Italy’s most prominent
events for classical music and theater.
It is also famous for being the place where the poet
Dante is buried. He lived in Ravenna for 20 years, and it was
also here that he wrote his
masterpiece, the Divine Comedy.
The main stars of the show, however, would be the Byzantine and Christian mosaics that can be found at
various locations within the city, all of which are considered the best outside of Istanbul.
The main points of interest in the city are, first and foremost, the World Heritage Sites:
• Baptistry of Neon • Mausoleum of
Galla Placidia • Arian Baptistry • Archiepiscopal
Chapel
• Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo
• Mausoleum of Theoderic
• Basilica of San Vitale • Basilica of
Sant'Apollinare in Classe
All of these structures are at least 1500 years old, and each one of them contains beautiful and fantastic
examples of Byzantine mosaics.
Other points of interest include:
The Ravenna National Museum
which houses 14th century frescoes as
well as Roman and Byzantine
artifacts
The Dante Museum
Features the role played in Dante’s life by the city of
Ravenna, where the exiled poet spent his last days. Focus of the exhibition is
the iconography of Dante, exemplified by busts, paintings, medals and
icons
The Museo Arcivescovile di Ravenna
Where relics of early
Christian Ravenna are preserved.
Teatro Alighieri, Palazzo Mauro de Andre, and the
Basilicas
Where various cultural events such as
theatrical shows and operas are staged.
For those who would like to do a bit of shopping, there is an antiques market
held on the third weekend of every month.
Travelling to Ravenna
By Train:
Ravenna can be reached directly by train if you’re
coming from either Bologna,
Rimini, or Ferrara
It is also easily accessible by bus
and by car.
By air, there is a small airport in the
neighboring town of Forli, about 20
kilometers away from Ravenna
Take note if driving:
The city caters mostly to
pedestrians, and a lot of the locals travel by bicycle or on foot. The city’s historic
center is a pedestrian zone.
There is a combo-ticket available that grants you access to a majority of the attractions, so make sure
to ask your travel agent or tour organizer about getting one for you.
Ravenna offers a respite and a refreshing change of pace for those who want to get away for a while, so the next time you plan your trip to Italy, try adding it to your list of places to go
to!
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