Ravenna, Italy

Cruise to The mosaic city

Dante (more on him later) once described Ravenna’s magnificent gold, emerald, and sapphire artwork as a “symphony of color”, and that description still stands today. Dubbed “The Mosaic City”, Ravenna is best known for its churches, which date back 1,500 years and are decorated with stunning, multicolored Byzantine mosaics.

Between the years of 402 and 476, Ravenna enjoyed a brief stint as the capital of the Western Roman Empire. During this time, the city served as a kind of living art studio for Byzantine craftsmen, who graced its Christian churches with their mosaics in brilliant hues. Check out the Basilica San Vitale, Mausoleo di Galla Placidia, Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, and Battistero degli Ariani to see some spectacular examples.

Back to Dante: In Ravenna, you can visit his tomb, as well as the pile of rubble where locals hid his urn during the Second World War to keep it safe. The Museo Dantesco is located next to the tomb and is a must-see for anyone who has read the Divine Comedy.

Tour the grounds of the Azienda Agricola Vignato Virgilio winery then reward yourself for a day of sightseeing with a glass of crisp gambellara or a rich cabernet. Cin cin!