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 Introduction
Arrival Plane
The two nearest airports to Ravenna are Forli and Bologna. There are direct flights from Rome to these cities and vice versa. They are connected to all the major European cities. There are also the provisions for chartered flights.
Train
Ravenna has an easy rail road connection through all the major station's of Italy. Ravenna station has connections to cities like Rome, Bologna, Ferrara, Venice, Verona and Rimini.
Car
Ravenna is an important tourist hub with commercial appeal. With well established highways and International roads, Ravenna is easily accessible by cars and buses. There is a highway hub from Bologna from and state road 309 “Romea” from Venice leading directly to Ravenna. The fastest and smooth road connection from Rome to Ravenna is the E45 international road and for the rest of the Italy especially the bsouthern part, there is state street 16 “Adriatica”.
History and Culture
Ravenna was totally under the prosperity and power of Romans. Ravenna became the capital of Western Roman Empire in 402. It was Emperor Honorius who transferred the capital from Milan to Ravenna. Inspite of being surrounded by swamp and marshes, King Alaric I bypassed Ravenna and sacked Rome and took the hostage of Galla Placidia, daughter of Theodosius I. Fortunately Galla Placidia returned to Ravenna with her son. After peace reigned over Ravenna for a long time with establishment of several secular and Christian monuments in the city making a way for Christian religion to flourish.
But in 476 Ravenna witnessed the great fall of the Western Roman Empire. Under the watchful eye of Eastern Emperor Zeno Ostrogoth, king Theodoric the Great was sent to retake Italian land. In the battle of Verona Theodoric sieged Odoacer and until the taking of Italy he declared Ravenna as the capital of Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy. Then he started structuring Ravenna in his style by calling Roman architects for secular as well as religious monuments. After his death in 526 the control was taken by his daughter Amalasunta who was killed in 535 BC.
Then it was the turn of the Byzantines. The orthodox Byzantine Emperor Justinian I opposed Ostrogoth rule and religious philosophy. He invaded Italy in 535 BC and captured Ravenna in 540. This is quite well explained in the Gothic War. Ravenna was then the important official destination of Byzantine government in Italy.
Medieval and modern history
King Liutprand of the Lombards conquered Ravenna in 712 but he was then forced to return it back to Byzantines. But again in 751 Lombard King Aistulf conquered Ravenna by throwing Byzantines out of Northern Italy. But again after one more power battle of King Pepin of France and the Lombards, Ravenna became the territory of Papal States in 784. King Pepin just followed the orders of Pope Stephen II. King Charlemagne under the authorized permission of Pope Adrian I, looted Ravenna in three different attempts removing statues, mosaics and other portable items taking them to his capital Aachen.
With the help of donations of Ottonian Emperors and getting the privileged autocephaly from the Roman Church under Byzantine rule, archbishop of Ravenna became the richest in Italy after papacy. Then what followed was the complete papal authority in Italy as a whole. Though after the 1218 war, the Traversari family imposed its rule to the city but it was soon taken back by Papal state in the year 1248. Venice had complete authority over Ravenna until the Holy League war after which the territory came under the French prosperity. But after Venetian withdrawal Ravenna again became papal legacy. It was a part of Papal state until 1796 and in the year 1802 to 1805, in a special annexure, it became the official part of Italian Kingdom. It was but soon returned to pope in 1814 but again, in 1861, Ravenna and the surrounding Romagana region became the part of newly formed Italian Kingdom.
Churches and Museums
This is an ancient church of Ravenna which has its own charm of letting you into the Italy of 5th century. This was originally an Arian Temple. You can find here 5 arcade portico of 16th century.
St. John the Evangelist
This is also a 5th century church founded by Galla Placidia after a cyclone. It was renovated and restored after World War II.
St. Francis Basilica
Built in 11th century this monument is attributed or dedicated to the Apostles and St. Peter. It has a unique structure of its own and it has also got a literary significance. This church has two aisles and a nave with some fragments of mosaic visible on the floor. The Funeral of Dante Aligheiri was held in 1321 in this church.
The Basilica of Santa Maria in Porto
Again with a nave and two aisles and a cupola, this Basilica of Santa Maria of Porto (16th century) has a rich façade from the 18th century. The main feature here is the image of Greek Madonna brought from Constantinople.
Historical buildings and monuments
Rocca Branceleone built by Venetians in 1457 is a park divided into two parts; true castle and the citadel.
Palace of Theoderic
Palace of Theoderic is another attraction where you can see the mosaics from the Palace of Ostrogoth King.
Places of Interest
Events
This is a culture week organized by Italian ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities. This is basically held from 25th march to 31 march in the entire national territory but Ravenna is more popular for it. During this week you get free admissions to museums, monuments and other archeological sites. Exhibitions, Conferences, guided tours are its special attractions.
Ravenna Musica - May
There are 12 concerts organized at the Aligheiri Theatre in Ravenna Musica in the month of May. These concerts represent best combinations of Orchestras and ensembles of musical instruments and soloists.
La cura del bello - June
MAR (city art museum) always pays homage to Corado Ricci (1858-1934), one of the famous personalities in the history of Italian Art in an exhibition called “La Cura del Bello” held in the month of June. You can find here the display of great works done by the artist of 15th and 16th century. The exhibition has some famous works of Caffi, De Nittis and Fontanes. The exhibition also includes the art of Carraci, Gozzoli and Renni.
Otium - October
In the month of October the San Nicolo complex hosts an archaeological exhibition called Otium. This is organized in context of findings of excavations of D'Azeglio in Ravenna prior to Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra. Here you get to see statues, objects, furnishing, mosaics and other important remains of domus and village in Ravenna. The title of this exhibition is “The art of living in the roman home of the imperial age”.
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Ravenna Travel Guide
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