Ravenna - Nature - Mirabilandia

Ravenna is a very ancient city, founded from Etrurians probably before the Founding of Rome. It was three times Capital, in 402 a.d. Capital of the Western Roman Empire; in 476 a.d. Capital of Roman-Barbarian Reigns; in 540 a.d. Capital of Byzantine Empire.

Of that age eight ancient building, added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, remain:

Mausoleo of Galla Placidia, a tiny and sober Latin cross and terracotta building, doesn't let the amazing richness of its interior mosaics shine through.

Neonian Baptistry hedges in marble parts, several stucco-works and beautiful and colorful mosaic decoration of the cupola.

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and Aryan Baptistery were builded by king Theodoric in the very beginning of VI ad to Aryan worship, then they were consacrated to Catholic cult.

Mausoleum of Theodoric is a massive building, with a structure divided in two decagonal orders one above the other, and completely made of Istria stone. It is roofed with a single block of Istria stone of 10 metres diameter weighing 300 tons, one of the biggest cupola monolith in the world.

Archiepiscopal Chapel, whose mosaics depicted the fight against Aryan heresy, is the only Orthodox monument built during the reign of Theodoric, when the predominant religion was Aryanism.

Basilica of San Vitale is among the most important monuments of early Christian art in Italy, Byzantium Emperor Justinian's power emblem. The church has a central octagonal plan, various lofty volumes exterior, stupendous mosaic and marble decorations interior.

Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe: solemn and grand interior, the apse mosaic depict S. Apollinaire, the patron saint of Ravenna.

All these listed buildings are in historial center, except for Mausoleum of Theodoric, located in North entrance of the city (Venice direction), and Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, located 5 km far from our R&B in the southern city, near Roman-Bizantyne harbour.

In the Via Cura vicinity there is the Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra (Stone carpet house) with Roman and Byzantine pavement mosaics.

In central Ravenna you can visit two museums. One is MAR, City Art Museum, that embodies Ravenna Art Gallery (Guidarello Guidarelli statue included), a 50's mosaics collection and temporary exhibitions. The other is National Museum that preserves local archeological finds, coins collections, icons, ceramics, ancient weapons and the cycle of frescoes of Santa Chiara by Giotto school.

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Regional Park of the Po Delta

The Park of the Po Delta, established in 1988, extends along about 60.000 hectares between the provinces of Ravenna and Ferrara. Thanks to the richness of its natural ecosystem, Unesco appointed it World human heritage in 1999.

The Park develops along the last stretch of the river Po, which flows into the Adriatic Sea with a wide delta, thus creating a variety of fertile and wet natural environments.

The varied habitats, from lagoons to marshlands, from ponds to shrub woods, to the beaches and dunes of the Adriatic Coast, allowed the growth of a varied vegetation and the settlement of numerous species of animals.

Many protected areas are crossed by paths to be visited by foot or bike; the riding grounds are situated in the main seaside resorts where it is also possible to make interesting excursions by boat to discover the resort of Goro, the Gorino valley and the Island of Mazzanino.

One of the most appreciated activities in the Park of the Po Delta is bird-watching; several posts are situated all over the park.

The lovers of this sport know they can find the best possible posts in the marshes of Comacchio, thanks to their well-equipped naturalistic centre situated in the Palazzone Sant'Alberto, the seat of the Ornitholigical Museum of Natural Science in Ravenna.

The park is populated by more than 370 species of birds, included those which nest or winter there, as well as by rare specimen of pink flamingos, ashen, white or red herons, little egrets, stilt plovers, avocets, sandpipers, tufted ducks, woodcocks and kingfishers.

Guides and expert environmentalists are available to provide information and organize guided excursions all the year round.

Fishing, a traditional economic resource since ancient times, is played in all its varieties which involve both rivers, seas and valleys. In recent times, equipped facilities for sports fishing have been created and visitors can fish in specific areas and periods of the year, in compliance with the relevant laws of environmental protection.

Not to be missed in the Ravenna vicinity

San Vitale Pinewood

San Vitale Pinewood is a mixed plantation with characteristic umbrella-like shape Stone Pine, Pedunculate Oak, Poplars, Ash Tree, Holm Oak and bushy brushwood. Besides several forest birds – among which we can remember Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, some predatory birds (Scops, Tawny, Little and Eagle Owles), many Passeriforms and forestal Chiroptera – , an important Egret nest area, located in Cavedone Hole and Pirottolo downstream, ideal environment for nutrition and reproduction. Downstream you can notice Pond Terrapin. Even the number of skunks is relevant on San Vitale Pinewood. L’Oasi di Punte Alberete

Punte Alberete Oasis

Punte Alberete is a merged forest of Willow, Ash Tree, Poplar, Elm, Pedunculate Oak, Buckthorn and Alder. Downstream is ploughed with large pools full of White Waterlilies, Salvinia, Fragmites, Willows, Carexes, Fen-sedges and Rushes. Among the rare merge plants there are someone very gorgeous: Orchid, Iris, Flowering rush, Purple-loosestrife, Spring snowflake and White Waterlilies. Fishes, reptiles ( among which Pond Terrapin), amphibians (frogs, toads, newts), insects, molluscs and rare bird species: the great Punte Alberete Egret nest area hosts Purple, Grey, Night and Squacco Heron, Great Egret, Glossy Ibis (Oasis logo), Pygmy Cormorant and many others. Relevant Tufted duck Nidification.

Routes Advice:

South of the Comacchio valleys

Turning westwards form the Romea road just South of the Reno River you reach Mandriole and S. Alberto. Here on the Reno riverbank you can take a small ferry (bicycle and canoe hire) to go to the opposite bank, next to Furlana valley, located on the South of the Comacchio valleys. This is a protected reserve where herons, egrets, shelducks and spoonbills live and nest. Looking East you can admire the splendid Boscoforte Peninsula and visit the Oasis of Volta Scirocco. West the bank runs along the vast wetlands. Continuing inland you can visit the Alfonsine Nature Reserve and its pond and wood habitat.

In San Vitale Pinewood

Turning into Via del Fossatone, from the SS. Romea, you enter the century old S. Vitale forest and continuing inwards reaching a large open area with its Delta information and document centre, the Cà Vecchia. From here it is possible to take up one of the footpaths or bicycle routes that take you to visit the small church of the “ Madonna del Pino” and across the bridges over the canal Fossatone and finally to the wetlands where you can marvel at the herons, coots and ducks and the Pialassa Baiona lagoon rich in fish and bird life. The Valle Baiona can also be reached from Casal Borsetti, Via delle Valli and from Porto Corsini and Marina Romea.

At Punte Alberete

Turning into Via Fossatone, from the SS. Romea, you can reach the merged forest of Punte Alberte. You can park next to the highway and start your exploration. It takes two hours to visit the oasis. From the several setted posts it's not difficult to say herons, wild and tufted ducks, kingfishers, little egret.