Ravenna, Italy

Basilica of San Vitale

Basilica San Vitale is one of the oldest churches in Emilia-Romagna, having survived to this day from Byzantine times. The construction of the basilica began in 525 and was completed in 547. At that time, Ravenna was under Byzantine rule, so the temple turned out to be very similar to Constantinople churches: octagonal and crowned with a round dome. Inside the church you can see unique Byzantine mosaic portraits of Emperor Justinian and his wife, Empress Theodora. The mosaics made during their lifetimes are of immense artistic value and are protected by UNESCO. Copies of these works are displayed in many museums around the world, including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts (GMII) in Moscow.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia

Galla Placidia was the daughter of the Emperor Theodosius the Great. Even during her lifetime, she had her own mausoleum built, but she was never laid to rest in it. Quite modest on the outside, inside the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a true treasure trove. All its walls and vaults are covered with exquisitely preserved Byzantine mosaics-the oldest in Ravenna. At the center of the dome there is a Latin cross framed by eight hundred golden stars. On the walls-depictions of Saint Lawrence in spotless white garments and Christ as the Good Shepherd. You are not allowed to stay in the room for more than five minutes, so you have to run back and forth to take everything in properly.

Dante’s Tomb

In 1302, the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri was expelled from his native Florence, together with his family, for political reasons. After long years of wandering, Dante finally found refuge in Ravenna at the court of the city’s ruler, Guido da Polenta. It was here that Dante wrote “Paradise” - the final part of his “Divine Comedy.” In 1321, Dante died of malaria on the journey from Venice, where he had traveled as an envoy of Ravenna. He was buried in the Church of Saint Francis. But five centuries later, the poet’s remains were moved to a new marble tomb, where they still rest to this day.

Archbishop’s Chapel

Included among eight monuments protected by UNESCO in Ravenna, this chapel for a long time served as the local archbishop’s “home” chapel. It was built during the reign of Theodoric the Great. After taking Ravenna and making it the capital of his vast kingdom, he ensured it had a proper appearance. In addition to frescoes, the chapel houses a silver archiepiscopal cross adorned with medallions. Some of the medallions were made in the early 6th century-the same period when the chapel itself was built. The chapel is built in the shape of a cross; on the ceiling and above the entrance, there are well-preserved mosaics, which is precisely why so much attention is drawn to it. The building was restored in the early 20th century and survived the bombings.

Baptistery of the Orthodox Church

The baptistery of the Orthodox was named so in order to distinguish it from another Ravenna baptistery-the Arian one. By “Orthodox” here, we mean not the Byzantine Orthodox, but adherents to the “true” Christian faith as opposed to the Arian heresy. The baptistery building was constructed as early as the 5th century and is famous for its mosaics. On the walls there are images of the prophets, and in the dome there is the scene of the Baptism of the Lord, along with mosaic figures of the twelve apostles, shown full-length. In addition to ordinary smalti, precious gemstones were also used in the baptistery mosaic.

Mausoleum of Theoderic the Great

Not only enlightened Byzantines built their own tombs in Ravenna, but also the so-called “barbarians” - the Ostrogoths. The best-known of them, the Mausoleum of Theodoric the Great, stands not far from the city center of Ravenna next to the Ostrogothic cemetery. The two-tiered mausoleum, built of white Istrian limestone for the Ostrogoth king Theodoric, nicknamed the Great, has the shape of a rotunda. On the first tier there is a chapel for funeral services, and on the second - the sarcophagi themselves containing the remains of members of the royal family. The building is crowned by a massive dome carved from a single 300-ton stone. After Ravenna was freed from the barbarians, Theodoric’s remains were taken out of the mausoleum in an unknown direction. Since then, the Ostrogoth king’s porphyry sarcophagus has stood empty.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo is the city’s central square. Here, a large number of open-air bars and restaurants are located compactly-unlike in many other cities in the region, where they are spread all over the city, as is typical of mass tourism. A 15th-century Venetian palace rises on the square; it currently houses the city hall. Statues of the patron saints of Ravenna-Apollinaris and Vitalius of Milan-stand on two typical Venetian columns at the front of the building.

Dante Museum

To the left of the mausoleum is the Dante Museum, opened in 1921. The museum houses scale models of monuments to the poet, busts, reliefs, paintings, medallions, memorial wreaths, and certificates. The museum contains a wooden casket, created in 1677 for Dante’s remains by the Franciscan Antonio Santi, and a glass case in which his bones were kept during the examination of the poet’s skeleton in 1865.

Lido di Dante Resort

Lido di Dante Resort is far more distinctive than any beach on the Ravenna coast. A pine forest surrounds the entire coastline between the Fiumi Uniti and Lamone rivers. Eight kilometers of sandy beaches run alongside not paved promenades, where cars weave by and vacationers make noise, but wild protected nature that provides coolness and shade. Here, the Foce Bevano Natural Park is also located, where you can relax just like at a typical seaside beach resort.

Marina Roméa

Marina Romea is a seaside resort located 12 km north of Ravenna. It is separated from the sea by a narrow strip of pine forest. Here you will find a wonderful sandy beach, stretching for 5 km, with an average depth of 120 meters. Marina Romea offers well-equipped swimming centers, alternating with wild stretches of beach and dunes. The town has a fairly well-developed infrastructure. Here you will find many hotels and residences, pharmacies, shops, restaurants and cafés. Beyond Marina Romea stretches a vast lagoon, formed in the eighteenth century. Earlier, this area was a sea bay, surrounded by impenetrable forests with many natural resources.

Mirabilandia Amusement Park

Mirabilandia not only looks like a haven for real pirates, it also tests its visitors-are they strong of spirit, bold, courageous? Only a true corsair won’t be afraid to climb to the park’s highest point-the 90-meter Ferris wheel (after all, it was nicknamed “Damn” for a reason!). And only a real braveheart won’t hesitate to ride one of their most extreme attractions-the ISpeed roller coaster, dedicated, as you can easily guess, to “Formula 1.” For thrill-seekers, there are also other rides-for example, Katun, where you’ll experience all the delights of real g-forces. And for those who need a calmer holiday-there are relaxing cruises along the Angel River. Part of the territory is taken up by a water park.

Ravenna - a city of Byzantine art

During the excursion, you will get acquainted with early Christian monuments that were included by UNESCO in 1996 in the list of World Heritage Sites: the Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Arian Baptistery, the Orthodox Baptistery, the Basilica of San Vitale, the New Basilica of Sant’Apollinare, the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, and the Chapel of St Andrew. You will also learn why Byron stayed in Ravenna for a while, which architectural landmark Alexander Blok dedicated his immortal lines to, and what contribution the Byzantine empress Theodora made to the work of the famous Klimt.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can check it after booking your cruise in your “Client Personal Area”.