Extraordinary basilica with the 6th century Byzantine Mosaic work. Vibrant colored mosaic tiles…read morethat has stood the test of time. The basilica is a protected site (UNESCO World Heritage status). Beautiful. One must buy a multiple site ticket at the ticket office close to the basilica in order to view inside. A must see and an easy day trip from Bologna in Emilia Romagna.

Ravenna is famous for the mosaics in the various churches in town. You can purchase a pass that…read moreallows you to visit a few places. We visited the Galla Placidia, San Vitale, Baptistero Neoniano, and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. The mosaics are stunning! One of my favorites was the Baptistery with its round dome and 12 apostles with the baptism of Christ in the middle. The gold and blue colors of the tiles are striking. (first photo) Another favorite is the Sant'Apollinare Nuovo with its wood ceiling and arched columns. (second photo)

Comacchio is a wonderful canal city not unlike, but much smaller than Venice…read more In fact, we opted to come here after learning about the difficulties of getting to Venice. It is now a two and half hour journey (one way), due to the ecological and climate change issues AND where large ships can now dock. Sadly, the flooding of the Grand Canal and of the Venetian Lagoon has been well documented. But Comacchio and it's Tre Ponte bridge are beautifully and is near the center of town. We enjoyed the many nearby museums, art galleries, Café shops and their impressive Cathedral. The walk along their canal was both meditative, as well as relaxing. See attached photos

Comacchio is a beautiful small town. Despite the compact center there are plenty of interesting…read moresights. The most famous one is the bridge "Trepponti". Depending on where you parked, this is the bridge you will cross to get into the Historic Center. And it's an interesting bridge. Not just by the style and architecture. It's also special because it's a bridge that spreads over not just one, but two canals on each side.So it's "three-legged" so to say. Three - Tre. Built in 1638 this bridge soon will be 400 years old. And it's still in wonderful shape. Some changes and improvements were made of course over the centuries. A great sight. Surely not to be missed when visiting Comacchio.

I'm not sure how anything I could write would do justice to this masterpiece. The floors are the…read moreoriginals from the 1400's. I can't get over the architecture in this country. They used the finest materials and people dedicated lifetimes to making these churches a spectacular place to worship. The art on the walls depicts famous biblical stories and tells of the time period that the church was built. This church stayed true to it's gothic design throughout and each detail is breathtaking. It now costs to enter on non worship days. You can get a pass for all the churches in the area for just a few euro. It would totally be worth it if you have a couple days to check them all out. However, if you are on a short visit I would recommend this one as a top choice for viewing.

Ravenna, city of mosaics, is a quieter city than the others we have visited in Italy…read more It is a city full of charm, history and art. Ravenna was once a capital of the Western Roman Empire and the city feels very serene and nostalgic. It's recognized by UNESCO with its world heritage. The Opera de Religione Della Diocesi di Revenna is the body responsible for the supervision, care and maintenance of the Cultural Heritage of the Diocese. It also studies and plans the promotion of its historical and artistic patrimony, particularly in view to Christian religious teaching considered in terms of the spiritual richness found in work of art. it's a great place to get more information about Revenna and getting the visitor card for a small fee which allows visit to 5 different places historical places of interest including: Basilica di S. Appolinare Nuovo, Battistero Neoniano, Museo Arcivecovile, Basilica di .S. Vitale, Mausoleo di Galla Placidia. As a tourist, it's a terrific first stop when coming to the city for allowing full experience of the history, culture and heritage.

Situated in Piazza Maggiore the imposing front face of the basilica stands out immediately, its…read morehalf-brick, half-finished white and red marble lower half stark in contrast. The finished face of the cathedral is sparsely adorned compared to similar church buildings of the same period. Inside the soaring cream-colored vaulted ceilings also contrast with the terra-cotta column and archway edges, another reflection of the white and red colors of the city. The main apse ceiling appears modest and undecorated, though a few of the smaller chapel ceilings exemplify the colorful murals that may have been intended for the total ceiling once finished. Interestingly enough when looking up some history this basilica was meant to serve as a more of a civil center rather than purely religious building. Entry is free (donations suggested) and no advance reservation is needed. When I came by on a Tuesday afternoon in April the church was finishing up a service, all the while allowing passersby to enter and visit, of course asking to maintain a respectful silence. Parishioners lit candles and prayed in front of the local patron saint as well as at individual chapels. Intriguing to get a glimpse into how different cultures interact in places of worship.

The Italian Gothic basilica is dedicated to Saint Petronius, who was the bishop of Bologna in the…read more5th century. A life size statue of him is in the basilica. It was built in 1390 and its main facade is still unfinished. The building was transferred from the city to the diocese in 1929 and was consecrated in 1954. 28,000 people can fit inside, it is enormous. The altar contains a 15th-century wooden crucifix. At the back, a fresco of the Madonna and cartoons. The ornate ciborium of the main altar was built in 1547. The 15th century wooden choir was completed by Agostino de 'Marchi. The vaulting and decoration of the central nave is by Girolamo Rainaldi, who completed it in 1646. The nave contains twenty-two side chapels each more ornate than the next. In 2002 five Al Quads terrorists were arrested, they were planning to blow up the basilica. They were angry a fresco depicts Mohammed in hell being devoured by demons.