• Bologna - Bologna: a city of art
  Bologna is remarkable for the preservation of its urban structure within medieval walls, constructed in the fourteenth century. This structure remains intact and visually dominates the individual architectural masterpieces. In cities like Florence and Rome, individual buildings are more significant than the city’s layout, whereas in Bologna, the opposite is true. Here, even the most stunning Renaissance and Baroque palaces are integrated into the medieval city plan, which radiates like spokes from the city’s center, marked by the two leaning towers, Asinelli and Garisenda.
• Mausoleo di Galla Placidia - Approaching the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, one might not expect that its simple exterior conceals such splendid mosaics, the oldest in Ravenna, within a few square meters. It is no exaggeration to say that the Mausoleum’s atmosphere is enchanting.

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna
Emperor Honorius, who moved the western empire’s capital from Milan to Ravenna in 402, commissioned this mausoleum for his sister Galla Placidia.

The mosaics’ theme is the triumph of life over death, fitting the building’s funerary purpose. However, it is the starry sky depicted on the vault that captivates visitors’ imaginations and remains etched in their memories. It is said that Cole Porter, who visited Ravenna on his honeymoon in the late 1920s, was inspired by the mausoleum’s starry sky to write the famous “Night and Day.”

• Basilica di San Vitale - The Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna
  This octagonal temple (the number eight symbolized Resurrection, as it was seven, time, plus one, God) is among the most significant monuments of early Christian art in Italy.

The Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna
The Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna
Not only for the splendor of its mosaics but also for its complete adherence to the canons of oriental art: there are no naves, only an octagonal central core topped by a frescoed dome.

If you can tear your eyes away from the mosaics, especially Theodora’s face, you will notice a series of concentric circles with arrows on the ground: it is a labyrinth, as found in many Christian churches. It symbolizes the path from sin to purification. If you wish to navigate the maze, here’s a tip: start from the center and discover the rest.

• Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo - Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna

Not to be confused with Sant’Apollinare in Classe, located outside the historic center, 8 km from Ravenna, the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo is named to distinguish it from another city church with the same name. It houses the world’s largest cycle of mosaics.

Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna
Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna
The walls of the central nave are divided into three distinct bands of mosaics: the highest band tells the story of Christ, the central one depicts Saints and Prophets, while the lower one portrays the famous Theodoric Palace.

The removal of the Emperor’s figure and other characters, covered with white cloths, occurred when the basilica transitioned from the Arian cult (for which it was built) to the Catholic cult. On the opposite wall is the port of Classe, one of the most important in the Mediterranean during the Roman Empire.

• Mausoleo di Teodorico - According to legend, the red porphyry basin on the upper floor of the Mausoleum is where the barbarian emperor died. Fearing lightning, he sought refuge in his mausoleum during a thunderstorm, but a lightning bolt struck him while he was bathing.

The Mausoleum of Theodoric in Ravenna
From the cross-shaped crack in the Mausoleum’s roof, a black horse supposedly arrived and threw him into Etna!

Many legends surround the death of this barbarian king who ruled Italy for 33 years, bringing tolerance, peace, and prosperity. He had this Istrian stone mausoleum built to find peace in Ravenna, where he lived. The two-story structure with a decagonal shape and a massive roof made from a single stone block makes it a unique monument, distinct from Ravenna’s brick buildings.

• Basilica Di Sant’Apollinare In Classe - Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna

Among Ravenna’s basilicas, it is the most imposing and majestic. The mosaics rival the beauty of other city churches and depict Christ surrounded by the four evangelists, while the sheep symbolize the apostles.

Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna
The face of Jesus appears in the center of the cross, in a circle adorned with 99 stars. The entire representation unfolds between the sky and the enchantment of a green paradise landscape filled with rocks, trees, flowers, and colorful birds. Today, the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe is 8 km from Ravenna’s center and a few kilometers from the sea, though it was originally by the sea. Next to the basilica are the excavations of the large archaeological area of the ancient city of Classe, the Roman fleet’s base in the Adriatic.

• Battistero degli Ariani - The Arian Baptistery of Ravenna was constructed during Theodoric’s reign when Ravenna was the Empire’s capital and Arianism was the court’s official religion.
  Arianism has always been considered a heresy of Christianity because, according to Arian doctrine, Christ was the son of God but retained his human nature: only through baptism was divine nature communicated to Christ. The mosaics on the baptistery’s vault celebrate Christ’s baptism. Unlike the nearby Baptistery of the Orthodox, here the young Christ is not depicted as coming from the East (“light from light, true God from true God”) but heads east, becoming divine only at the moment of baptism. He is a man, so there is no “censorship” of his nakedness while he is immersed in the Jordan’s waters and John the Baptist administers Baptism to him. The divine dove descends from above, to sprinkle Christ’s head with a breath of light, symbolizing the Spirit.
• Battistero Neoniano (Battistero degli Ortodossi) - The Neonian Baptistery was the Catholic response (by Bishop Neone) to the Arian heresy, which peaked in Ravenna under Theodoric’s reign. A contrast also found in the Christ depicted in the mosaic under the dome, which unlike the one in the nearby Arian Baptistery, comes from the East (“light from light, true God from true God”) and is divine even before the baptism administered by John the Baptist and the divine dove (the Aryans claimed otherwise).
• Ravenna - Ravenna can certainly be described as a hidden treasure to many Italians. Overshadowed by Italy’s more famous art cities (Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples), it is actually an extraordinary town that attracts tourists and art enthusiasts from around the world. Few people know it was the capital of three empires three times: the Western Roman Empire, Theodoric King of the Goths, and the Byzantine Empire in Europe.
  This history is evidenced by Ravenna’s basilicas and baptisteries, where the richest mosaic heritage of humanity from the fifth and sixth centuries is preserved. Few also know that Ravenna has eight monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage list and that Dante’s remains are preserved here, not in Florence. The cuisine is exceptional (we are in Romagna, after all). In short, if you were among those unaware of Ravenna, now you have no more excuses.
• Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra - The domus of stone carpets
  Italy is a country full of wonders that continues to reveal its extraordinary past: this was the case with the Domus of stone carpets, discovered in the early 2000s, 3 meters below the level of the church of Saint Euphemia.
  The Domus of stone carpets
  A magnificent Byzantine house from the 5th-6th century with 14 rooms, all adorned with polychrome mosaic and marble floors. The mosaics are absolutely extraordinary and allow one to imagine the wealth of the house’s owner and his appreciation for beauty. Geometric, floral, and figurative elements combine: the “Dance of the Four Seasons Geniuses” is a very rare representation showing the Geni dancing in a circle. Also unique is the mosaic with the figure of the “Good Shepherd” portrayed in a version different from traditional Christian representations.

• Private transportation
• Bottled water

• Museum tickets

In the early V Century AD (402-403 AD), the artistic and political landscape of Ravenna experienced a resurgence of glory. This shift occurred when Honorius, compelled to leave Milan due to the invasion of Visigoths, selected Ravenna as the fresh epicenter of the Western Roman Empire.

Undeniably, Italy recalls images of renowned cities such as Rome, Venice, and Florence. While these host magnificent attractions, they’re also hubs for an overwhelming influx of tourists. If you yearn for a more authentic, uncrowded Italian experience, Bologna is a city worth exploring. Though it may not top the list of tourist hotspots, it provides a truly immersive encounter with Italian culture, something difficult to come across in more frequented destinations.

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