Aosta   Cuneo  Bergamo  Mantova  Ravenna  Faenza  Terni  

Foggia/S. Giovanni Rotondo  Bari/Barletta   Bari/Bisceglie  Arezzo  

Next: Terni + Foggia

Town: Ravenna (north east) 

The Emilia - Romagna region is the heartland of central Italy, a broad corridor through the hills and plains of the Po valley that marks the watershed between the cold north of the Alps and the hot Mediterranean south. With its rich agricultural land, historical cities and thriving industry, it is one of the most prosperous areas in Italy.
  

On the east coast lies Ravenna, a unique, historical city and once the chief city of the Roman-Barbarian kingdom. During the 5th century it was the last capital of the Western Empire and heir to the greatness of Rome, and down through the ages it has played a leading role in European history. Its splendid monuments bear witness to its role as political, commercial and artistic centre of a succession of different civilizations.

Affiliated hotels:   Classhotel Ravenna*
The ClassHotel of Ravenna is situated 2 km from the Town Center, surrounded by an atmosphere of art and history. The ClassHotel Ravenna offers 69 comfortable rooms. No smoking rooms and disability accommodations are available. All the rooms are perfectly sound proofed and fully air-conditioned, with private bathroom, hair-dryer, TV satellite, minibar, direct-dial telephone, key card, free newspaper from Monday to Friday.

 
 *Other affiliated hotel in this area.
 

Places to visit and things to do: 
Ravenna has an extraordinary complex of Romanic, Gothic and Baroque basilicas, baptisteries, and mausoleums in which the harmony of classical construction blends with the magnificent splendour of precious marbles and rich Byzantine mosaic decoration. Side by side with these, further attractions include the architectural heritage of the period of Venetian dominion (Piazza del Popolo and the Rocca Brancaleone), the splendid Renaissance cloisters and the 16th century Classense Library.
The city that inspired Dante, Boccaccio, Byron and Klimt is surrounded by the grandiose beauty of its natural environment: the magnificent pinewood inland and a sandy lido that stretches kilometres along the Adriatic Sea. There are no fewer than nine seaside resorts along 35 kilometres of coast which offer a great variety of possibilities and characterized by a tradition of hospitality and touristic organization that is well known throughout Europe. For nature lovers a must is a visit to the Punte Alberete reserve and the silent marshes of the Po Delta where rare species of fauna are found. San Vitale Pinewood, the tideways and Classe Pinewood are natural areas of great beauty and part of Po Delta National Park. This national park is famous for its various water constellations: marshes, bogs, lagoons, river outlets.
Ravenna is also a modern city able to offer the tourist the possibility to enjoy cultural events and prominent exhibitions and for everyone who wants to spend an unforgettable day the theme park of Mirabilandia is here!

Regional food: 

The food of this area is simple but often hearty. Specialities are: Sword fish carpaccio, Homemade ravioli with potatoes rucola salad and grana cheese, Sea-bass branzino with shrimps vellutata, Veal medaglioni on raw vegetables, Salt or bread croasted sea-bass, Gratinated strawberry with zabaione and Homemade tiramisù. 

Local wines: 

Vineyards are seen everywhere in this part of Italy. Popular wines from the Ravenna area are Trebbiano and Sangiovese.

Location: 

Motorway A14 Bologna-Ravenna. Ravenna exit. Distance: Forlì 30 km, Rimini 50 km,  Bologna 60 km

 

Next: Terni + Foggia

 

Town: Faenza (north east)

Of Roman origins, Faenza is an important centre in Emilia-Romagna, in the north of Italy, on the Lamone River, near Ravenna and southeast of Bologna. It is situated in a rich agricultural area and it is the seat of industries and of many commercial and artisan firms. Faenza is a splendid city of art whose fame already shone in the Renaissance period of the production of exquisitely made pottery that was exported all over Europe.
The very name has become synonymous with ceramics (majolica) in various languages among which French (faïence) and English (faience). From the second half of the first century A. D. the city flourished considerably as a result of its agricultural operations and the development of industrial activities such as the production of everyday pottery and brickwork objects and linen textiles.

Affiliated hotels:   Classhotel Faenza 

Just a few kilometres from the Town Center, the Classhotel of Faenza is ideally located amidst historical and architectural attractions and with easy access to cities such as Bologna, Forlì and Ravenna. The ClassHotel Faenza offers 69 comfortable rooms. No smoking rooms and disability accommodations are available. All the rooms are perfectly sound proofed and fully air-conditioned, with private bathroom, hair-dryer, TV satellite, minibar, direct-dial telephone, key card, free newspaper from Monday to Friday.

Places to visit and things to do: 

This historical and artistic town is a centre for the world-known artistic ceramics exhibited in the Museum of ceramics. The city is known all over the world for its beautiful Mosaics which are part of  impressive ancient buildings such as towers, cloisters and Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque palaces.

But Faenza is not only ceramics. It's a city beautified by architectural and urbanistic features of high interest, such as the magnificent Cathedral (one of the highest expressions of the Renaissance art in Romagna and built to Giuliano da Maiano's design), the two harmonious squares in the centre, the 18th century Palazzo Milzetti and the elegant Masini Theatre.

Bologna and the Adriatic coast are at easy reach. 

Regional food: 
Specialities are: Mix of cured pork meats and cheeses, Homemade ragù tagliatelle, Tortellini soup, Grilled mixed meat, Zuppa inglese, Scortichino (sliced veal meat) with radicchio cicory, aceto balsamico and pink pepper.

Local wines:
Some of the best wines from the Faenza area are: Trebbiano, Sangiovese superiore.

Location:
Motorway A14 Bologna- Rimini. Exit Faenza. Distance: Forlì 15 km, Bologna 60 km, Rimini 70 km