Discover Ravenna

Ravenna is the largest city in Romagna. Its history is very ancient and puts it at the center of important political, cultural and artistic events. It has been for three times capital  (of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic Kingdom and the Byzantine Exarchate) and the complex of its oldest monuments has been included in the UNESCO heritage because of the splendid mosaics found inside them.

What makes Ravenna famous all over the world are in fact its unique mosaics, proving the cultural, artistic and political exchanges between West and East that took place between the fifth and sixth centuries and made with different styles that combine the Greek-Roman tradition and Christian iconography.

However, mosaic art does not belong to the past. The tradition of mosaic is still alive today and you can breathe it walking through the streets of the city where you meet several mosaic workshops or art galleries where contemporary mosaic works are exhibited.

Walking through the streets of the center you can see the plaques with flowers in mosaic ‘Ravenna City friend of women’ and it is not uncommon to find small or large open-air works.

What to see in Ravenna

Ravenna boasts eight monuments that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Neonian Baptistery, the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, the Arian Baptistery, the Archbishop’s Chapel, the Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Church of San Vitale and the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe – built between the fifth and sixth centuries AD.

In addition to the early Christian buildings that house the most beautiful mosaics in the world, Ravenna is rich in other historic buildings of worship, of artistic and architectural interest such as the Mausoleum of Theodoric, numerous churches, including the Basilica of San Francesco which deserves a visit to its crypt with the mosaic floor submerged by water.

In Ravenna it is also possible to visit Dante’s tomb, a small temple that houses the remains of the poet where a perennial lamp burns and where every day at dusk the perpetual reading of the Divine Comedy takes place.

Going to Piazza del Popolo, a large square in the city center, you can admire the Palazzo signorile di Bernardino da Polenta, today Palazzo del Comune, known by citizens as “Palazzo Merlato”.

Delta del Po Oark and beaches

Not only Ravenna offers unique testimonies of art, history and culture but also wonderful natural landscapes. The characteristic of the city is the flow to the sea that is part of the Park of the Po delta Emilia-Romagna.

Among the protected areas there is the WWF oasis of Punte Alberete, a wetland that includes a large pond of fresh water and a flooded forest, a birdwatching paradise, where you can admire a wide variety of birds.

Then there are the suggestive mouth of the Reno (the final stretch of the Po di Primaro) and several pine forests, including the Pineta di San Vitale, the Pineta di Punta Marina and the Pineta di Classe. In this area you can admire a picturesque landscape of dunes. It is a magical place for nature lovers and you can discover it on foot, by bike or canoe and where you can admire an extraordinary biodiversity of animals and plants.

Sea and beach lovers will also find nine Lidos, the closest are those of Marina di Ravenna and Punta Marina, easily accessible by bike because they are only about 10 km from the city center and the road has no differences in height.

The beaches can also be reached by car or by public transport buses. Here you can enjoy a relaxing day sunbathing and taking a swim in the sea in the summer season or a walk on the beach or in the pine forest when temperatures drop. Marina di Ravenna offers long beaches equipped with every comfort, excellent restaurants, courts to play beach volleyball or rackets, bars to listen to live music and have an aperitif at sunset.

Punta Marina, on the other hand, is famous above all for its thermal plant that overlooks the sea but is also a destination for kitesurfing enthusiasts.

After visiting the splendid mosaics of the city, the coast of Ravenna is undoubtedly the perfect destination to enjoy a bit of relaxation and breathtaking nature.

Where to sleep

Ravenna is a destination for many tourists, mostly for those passionate about art in general or musive art above all, but also ideal for those passionate about contemporary architecture and art, history, food and good wine. Touristic infrastructure are many and can satisfy any tatste and need.

The Pixel B&B is the Pixel Mosaici’s B&B,a facility surrounded by the green, only few steps away from the Ravenna’s old town and the seaside resort.

Thanks to its position Pixel B&B is just perfect to admire the perfect Ravenna’s mosaics

Pixel B&B is the perfect place to admire the famous Ravenna mosaics and to enjoy time on the beach, in the pine forest or go to the discovery of the river Po delta.

Our B&B is completely eco-sustainable, using renewable energies such as geothermal and photovoltaics. The rooms offer every comfort and guarantee privacy thanks to an independent entrance and a private bathroom. In the large garden you can sunbathe, have breakfast or simply enjoy some fresh air.

We provide our guests with bicycles with which they can reach the city center or the beaches in a few minutes. What makes our BB unique is the possibility to follow real mosaic classes, choosing from the various solutions that meet every need: the intensive, the short, the personalized ones or the Mosaic Experience.

The Pixel B&B is located in the same complex as the Pixel Mosaici laboratory. For our guests who want to learn the wonderful mosaic art there are unmissable offers. Discover our classes [link] and choose to stay at the Pixel B&B in Ravenna, you will live a unique and unforgettable experience and you will take home with you a mosaic souvenir made with your own hands. Contact us for more information or to book your holiday!

 HOW TO GET THERE

You can reach Ravenna by train, plane or road by car or bus of the public or private service

By train

Ravenna station is located right in the city centre. The main access is in Piazzale Farini, but you can also access from the city dock via an underpass from Via Antico Squero.

By airplane

To reach Ravenna by plane you can land in several regional or extra-regional airports connected to the city by public or private buses or trains

·        L’aeroporto Guglielmo Marconi in Bologna

·        Aeroporto Luigi Ridolfi in Forlì

·        Aeroporto internazionale di Rimini e di San Marino “Federico Fellini” in Rimini

·        Aeroporto delle Marche in Ancona

· Aeroporto Marco Polo in Venezia

By car

From the north several motorways connect with Ravenna: the A1 (Autostrada del Sole), the A21 (Turin-Piacenza) and the A22 (Brenner Motorway). The A14 (Bologna-Taranto or Autostrada Adriatica) connects Ravenna with Bologna (about 75 km)

From the South you can take the A1 (Autostrada del Sole) or the A14 (Bologna-Taranto or Autostrada Adriatica), the Strada Statale Adriatica (SS16) and the Strada statale 3 bis Tiberina (Orte-Cesena-Ravenna), known as E45, which connects Terni to Ravenna

By bus

The bus station (departures and arrivals) is located in Piazzale Aldo Moro, just behind the train station. There are several lines to choose from:

• Flixbus

• Start Ravenna

• Sulga

• Tper

• Busitalia/Autostradale (only in summer)

• Saca