From the museum to the beach
The most popular vacation spots in the Ravenna area are primarily Lido di Savio, Casal Borsetti, Marina Romea, and Marina di Ravenna. Families with children also enjoy coming here and get their money's worth, for example at the Mirabilandia amusement park.
Consequently, the mosaics were frequently copied, for example in Pomposa. The city of Ravenna is a treasure trove of history, whether it be the artistic and cultural treasures to be visited, such as San Vitale, Theodoric's Mausoleum, or the tomb of the poet laureate Dante. Here - unfortunately, as is so often the case - there is more to see than can be covered in a single vacation.
San Vitale in Ravenna
Justinian
Mosaics in San Vitale
San Vitale
Dante's Grave
Piazza del Popolo
A section of Piri Reis's maps showing the cities of Ravenna and Cesena.
The fact that Ravenna and Cesena were already significant settlements around 1500 is evidenced by their inclusion on the remarkable maps of the Turkish admiral and cartographer Piri Reis. According to these maps, the lagoon shown is the area that is now used as salt pans for the production of sea salt.
Po Delta Park
You can really appreciate just how beautiful nature is when left undisturbed at the Po Delta Park, located to the north. Its flora and fauna are sure to surprise and amaze you. more
Not everyone knows that one of the most beautiful public beaches on the Romagna coast is located in Ravenna, south of Lido di Dante: La Bassona. This is due in no small part to the presence of the Bevano Estuary Nature Reserve.
That said, the meaning of "spiaggia libera" in Italian goes a bit further than in English, as it also implies freedom from restrictive clothing - that is, nudism. For years, there was repeated debate until the municipality finally officially recognized this beach as a nudist area. Consequently, a special ordinance and a code of conduct were enacted as follows:
- Nudism is permitted only in designated areas (late May through mid-September).
- The beach may only be accessed from the shore or via paths leading through the pine forest. In other words: entering the coastal dunes is prohibited.
- Any form of camping (i.e., sunshades or other shading systems) is strictly prohibited.
- Leaving trash on the beach or in the pine forest should, of course, be a no-go; strictly prohibited.
You can reach Bassona by leaving the town center and driving to Ponte Nuovo. Once you reach the ancient port of Classe, take Via Marabina toward Lido di Dante. Bassona Beach begins right there and extends to the mouth of the Bevano River.
