Easy hikes and walks in Ravenna

Built at the beginning of the 6th century AD at the behest of the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great, it was initially conceived as the Arian church of the royal palace. After the Byzantine reconquest, it was reconsecrated to Catholic worship and dedicated to Saint Apollinaris. It is called "Nuovo" (New) to distinguish it from the older Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, which already existed outside the city: it was therefore the "new" church compared to the previous one. The interior is famous for the large mosaics in the naves: on one side the processions of martyrs, on the other those of virgins, among the most extensive mosaic testimonies of the late antique world. It is part of the eight early Christian monuments of Ravenna inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

It is the square overlooked by the Cathedral of Ravenna, the city's religious center since the early Christian era. The area took on its current configuration between the 18th and 19th centuries, when the spaces around the episcopal buildings were reorganized. In the center of the square stands the Column of the Virgin Mary, a devotional element erected as a sign of protection for the city. At the top is a statue of the Madonna, a religious and historical reference symbol for the community of Ravenna.

The Basilica of San Vitale was built in the 6th century AD during the reign of Emperor Justinian, it is one of the greatest examples of Byzantine architecture and art in Western Europe. The interior is famous for its golden and luminous mosaics, among the most important in the Byzantine world, depicting Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora with their retinue. The structure has an octagonal plan, a symbol of perfection and the link between earth and sky. It is part of the eight early Christian monuments of Ravenna inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It was begun under Ostrogothic rule and completed after the Byzantine reconquest of the city, thus reflecting the transition between two very different political and cultural worlds. The interior is built with a typical Byzantine technique that creates an effect of "expanded space", where walls and surfaces almost completely dissolve into the mosaics. The apse is one of the most important points: here Justinian is represented not as a simple emperor, but as a representative of sacred power, together with Bishop Maximian. The basilica is also connected to the nearby Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, sharing the same historical period and the same artistic language, although with different functions.

Dante's Tomb is located in the historic center of Ravenna, next to the Basilica of San Francesco. It is the monument that houses the remains of Dante Alighieri, transferred to Ravenna in 1321 after his death. The current tomb is a small neoclassical temple built in the 18th century by the architect Camillo Morigia. Outside, there is a simple commemorative area with a votive lamp powered by oil donated each year by the city of Florence. The place is one of the main sites linked to the memory of the poet of the Divine Comedy.

The two Venetian columns in Piazza del Popolo with their Renaissance bases by Pietro Lombardo are striking examples of Italian Renaissance sculpture and bas-relief, unfortunately in a poor state of conservation.

Expelled from Florence, Dante Alighieri thought of finding his final refuge in Ravenna, but his mortal remains changed location several times to avoid theft until December 1945. In addition to the danger of German bombings and the recurring rumors of Hitler's creation in Berlin of a mausoleum to collect the remains of illustrious figures, some workers dug a hole lined with reinforced concrete at the bottom of which the box containing the poet's bones was placed. However, the custodian Antonio Fusconi cunningly placed another identical one on top of it, containing sawdust or apparently common bones taken from an abandoned tomb, thus the bones of the supreme Poet remained safe for 2 years.

I visited the grave of the author of The Divine Comedy. I recommend every tourist pay their respects to this wonderful writer.

It's worth purchasing a combined ticket for five religious attractions in Ravenna. The price includes visits to the Basilica of San Vitale, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of S. Apollinare N., the Arcivescovile Museum and Cappella, and the Battistero Neoniano. The ticket price for November 2025 is €12.50. I recommend a ticket valid for five days from purchase.