Ravenna

Ravenna

IT
Population159,116
Ravenna ( rə-VEN-ə; Italian: [raˈvenna], also locally [raˈvɛn(n)a] ; Romagnol: Ravèna, Ravêna) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its collapse in 476, after which it served as the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom and then the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna. It has 156,444 inhabitants as of 2025.Initially settled by the Umbri people, Ravenna came under Roman Republic control in 89 BC. Octavian built the military harbor of Classis at Ravenna, and the city remained an important seaport on the Adriatic until the early Middle Ages. The city prospered under imperial rule. In 401, Western Roman emperor Honorius moved his court from Mediolanum to Ravenna; it then served as capital of the empire for most of the 5th century. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Ravenna became the capital of Odoacer until he was defeated by the Ostrogoth king Theodoric. In 540, Belisarius conquered Ravenna for the Byzantine Empire, and the city became the capital of Byzantine Italy. After a brief Lombard control, Ravenna came under the authority of the Papacy and, save for minor interruptions, remained part of the Papal States until the mid-19th century when it was incorporated into the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. Although it is an inland city, Ravenna is connected to the Adriatic Sea by the Candiano Canal. It is known for its well-preserved late Roman and Byzantine architecture, with eight buildings comprising the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna". Because of the high concentration of mosaics, the city has been associated with workshops and schools teaching mosaics, and is often given titles like the "capital of mosaics".

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in Ravenna

Museo Dantesco

Museo Dantesco

Palazzo della Provincia

Palazzo della Provincia

Museo nazionale di Ravenna

Museo nazionale di Ravenna

The Museo Nazional di Ravenna or National Museum of Ravenna displays a collection of archeologic, artistic and artisanal objects. It …

Museo Nazionale di Ravenna

Museo Nazionale di Ravenna

The Museo Nazional di Ravenna or National Museum of Ravenna displays a collection of archeologic, artistic and artisanal objects. It …

Rocca Brancaleone

Rocca Brancaleone

Eurowheel

Eurowheel

Eurowheel is a 92-metre (302 ft) tall Ferris wheel at the Mirabilandia amusement park near Ravenna, in Emilia–Romagna, Italy. It …

iSpeed

iSpeed

iSpeed is a steel roller coaster at Mirabilandia in Italy. It opened on May 20, 2009, and is the second …

Katun

Katun

Katun is an inverted roller coaster at the Mirabilandia amusement park, Savio, outside Ravenna, Italy. It is the longest inverted …

Duomo di Ravenna

Duomo di Ravenna

Ravenna Cathedral or Metropolitan Cathedral of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Italian: Cattedrale metropolitana della Risurrezione di Nostro …

Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe

Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe

The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe ("Saint Apollinaris in Classe") is a church in Classe, Ravenna, Italy, consecrated on 9 …

Battistero degli Ariani

Battistero degli Ariani

The Arian Baptistry in Ravenna, Italy is a Christian baptismal building that was erected by the Ostrogothic King Theodoric the …

Battistero Neoniano

Battistero Neoniano

The Baptistery of Neon (Italian: Battistero Neoniano) is a Roman religious building in Ravenna, northeastern Italy. The most ancient monument …

Palazzo di Teodorico

Palazzo di Teodorico

Mausoleo di Galla Placidia

Mausoleo di Galla Placidia

The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a Late Antique Roman building in Ravenna, Italy, built between 425 and 450. It …

Cappella Arcivescovile

Cappella Arcivescovile

The Archbishop's Chapel (or Archiepiscopal Chapel) is a chapel on the first floor of the bishops' palace in Ravenna, Italy, …

Domus dei tappeti di pietra

Domus dei tappeti di pietra

Museo Arcivescovile

Museo Arcivescovile

The Archiepiscopal Museum (Italian: Museo Arcivescovile) is located in Ravenna, Italy, next to the Baptistry of Neon and behind the …

MAR Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna

MAR Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna

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