Sightseeing in Ravenna - what to see. Complete travel guide

This city is rich in historical and architectural complexes, which traditionally attract tourists from all over the world. Here you will see old churches and tombs that have survived from ancient times. Many of them were built during the reign of the Roman Empire.

Mausoleum of Galla Placido is one of the unique buildings of this city. Here have remained the oldest mosaics in Ravvenne. The mosaics are a precious piece of art. Basilica of San Vitale is known as one of the most beautiful churches. Its building took place in the middle of the 6th century. The facade of the basilica is decorated with beautiful carvings with gliding, and the inside decoration includes floor and walls lined with elegant mosaics. The shape of the building is also truly unusual - the basilica features an octagonal shape, while the most common shape for such buildings is a rectangular one. Basilica of Sant 'Apollinare Nuova built in the 7th century is a no less interesting building. Ravenna is often called the city of mosaics, and this name is true. The basilica is decorated with fascinating images made of pieces of colored marble. Over two dozen pictures made from the mosaic show the scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. You will also see the images of saints and angels.

Don’t forget to visit Santo Spirito Church. In addition to rich decoration of the façade this church is notable for picturesque garden surrounding it. Here you can walk in silence and solitude, and enjoy the splendor of the local countryside. The mausoleum of Theodoric is without a doubt the most extraordinary architectural structure of the city. The outdoor design features the decahedral shape, but inside the mausoleum is perfectly round. Besides these places of interest you can make a tour to Basilica of Sant 'Apollinare-in-Class or move your feet to the mausoleum near the tomb of Dante. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

You can diversify the exploring of historical sights by walking through the picturesque Klasse pine forest, whose huge area is more than 3000 hectares. Besides centuries-old pine trees in the forest, you can see numerous rare bushes, herbs, and medicinal plants. It is best to go there in summer. In addition to the rich flora, the forest is famous for its variety of birds. Ornithologists from all over the world come here to watch them.

No less interesting is Rasponi garden. It is surrounded by spectacular palaces, where the city's wealthiest families once lived. You need to go through the beautiful 18th-century gate to get to the garden. In fact, the garden turns out to be surrounded by ancient walls. Initially, plenty of medicinal plants are grown on its territory. An ancient fountain with a sculptural composition is its central decoration.

The Archbishop's Museum is the greatest cultural center. It occupies a beautiful ancient palace. The exposition of the museum is made up of ancient works of art, which decorated destroyed churches previously. Among them are valuable paintings of the 6th century, created by Byzantine masters. One of the most precious antiques is a carved archbishop's throne, made of ivory.

The National Museum of Ravenna is located in the building of an ancient Benedictine monastery. Its opening was held in 1804. For more than 200 years, the museum's collection has been filled up with a variety of exhibits. Nowadays, it has old church items, collections of ancient Roman coins, and antique weapons. The museum features a rich collection of archaeological finds discovered in the city.

Ravenna has preserved many historic houses, where outstanding artists formerly lived. In the Palazzo Guiccioli square, there is a house where Lord Byron used to live. It will be of interest to all admirers of his talents. Not so long ago, the historic mansion was restored. Today, it houses a small historical museum, and a museum dedicated to the poet's work. Despite the fact that Byron lived just about two years there, the house contains a rich collection of his personal belongings and manuscripts.