“Show and Tell”: Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit Ravenna, a city in Emilia-Romagna that is renowned for its mosaics. The city boasts not one or two or even three UNESCO World Heritage Sites but there are eight sites in Ravenna with this designation.

However, Ravenna is not only about mosaics. The city has a plethora of art events that take place throughout the year like the annual Ravenna Festival to the various exhibits in the Museo d’arte della citta di Ravenna.

And although it’s not situated on the coast, you’ll be surprised to know that the beach is less than a 10-minute bus ride from the town center. I have shared my experience in Ravenna live here and also on Instagram, but have a few more photos, to say the least, to share here on “Show and Tell”.

6 Favorite Photos of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna

1. As I’ve mentioned, the mosaics in Ravenna attract visitors from all over the world and without a doubt, everyone would visit San Vitale. And rightly so.

While there are some must-see places that are overrated, San Vitale, with only one section still covered in mosaic, is not one of them. Standing in front of the mosaic, it was almost overwhelming and this unforgettable experience is also thanks to our guide. With her detailed description, Francesca clearly painted the images of San Vitale in its full glory.

2. This photo for me is quintessential Ravenna. Taken in the main piazza, Piazza del Popolo, residents in this town get around mainly by bicycle. So what’s going on in Ravenna in 2019? Ravenna is one of the candidate cities for the European Capital of Culture 2019.

3. I did say that Ravenna is not only about mosaics. Step into the garden leading to the Rasponi crypt and it’s like you’ve discovered the secret garden. You’ll be enchanted by the sight of the place but don’t stop there, walk towards the crypt and make your way up the stairs to the roof garden that overlooks Piazza San Francesco.

4. TAMO is the acronym for “Tutto l’Avventura del Mosaico” which translates to “All the Adventures of Mosaic”, a museum dedicated to ancient and contemporary mosaic. What makes this place even more astounding is that it is housed in a 14th century church which is still evident.

This museum also boasts state-of-the-art technology with interactive touchscreens and a very cool projection of the evolution of mosaics. Even cooler than that? They have mosaic workshops, mainly for children, where kids can get hands experience. We got the chance to make our own mosaic art and even had a look at how they hand cut the marble used.

5. Another workshop where we got our hands dirty involved the edible kind – making fresh pasta and piadina. We had two wonderful ladies, Maria and Violetta (in the photo), who shared tips and tricks on how to make cappelletti and piadina, typical foods from Ravenna.

When I make fresh pasta at home I have the help of machine to roll the dough to the right thickness but here, we did it all by hand. We had to tough it out and like the ladies said “This is our gym”. More photos from the wonderful time spent in the kitchen of Mariani Lifestyle.

6.  And when in Ravenna, you also have got to try their typical cheese squacquerone, made of cow’s milk, that is more liquid than solid. It’s best eaten with piadina and had a taste of this cheese together with caramelized figs at Osteria dei Battibecchi. Divine combination!

A special thanks to the team at DiRavenna, Ravenna Tourism and Emilia-Romagna Tourism for the invitation and putting together a wonderful itinerary. It was a fabulous experience and I can’t wait to discover more of Ravenna and its surroundings in the very near future.

Have you been to Ravenna? What did you find most fascinating about this city?