cathedral
Basilica of San Vitale
A 6th-century church in Ravenna housing some of the most famous and best-preserved Byzantine mosaics in the Western world.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeItalyEmilia-Romagna
Ravenna
Emilia-Romagna, Italy · Europe
About Ravenna
Ravenna is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Madonna Dell'Albero, 59km from San Leo.
Ravenna is in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, with about 81,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Madonna Dell'Albero, about 4 km away.
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 fifth century AD until its collapse in 476, after which it servedRead more
as the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom and then the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna. With a population of 156,475 inhabitants as of 2026, it is the 24th-largest city in Italy. Ravenna is also the second largest city in Italy by area with 653.82 km2.
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".
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ravenna?
Within an hour or so of Ravenna: Basilica of San Vitale (1 km), Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola) (39 km), Dozza (46 km), Historic Centre of San Marino (57 km).
Are there any good drives near Ravenna?
The nearest famous roads are Passo della Futa, Autostrada del Sole and Strada Chiantigiana (SR222).
Where is Ravenna?
Ravenna is in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, about 4 km from Madonna Dell'Albero.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 80,868
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Emilia-Romagna
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 44.4134, 12.2012
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Ravenna
5 notable places within an hour's drive.
racetrack
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola)
Historic circuit at Imola named for Enzo and Dino Ferrari, host of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix; its fast, old-school layout and the Tamburello and Rivazza corners are motorsport legend.
39 km · about 45 min drive
photogenic
Dozza
Tiny fortified borgo near Imola whose house walls are an open-air gallery, over a hundred murals painted directly onto the facades during the Biennale del Muro Dipinto since 1960. The Rocca Sforzesca holds the regional wine cellar of Emilia-Romagna.
46 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Historic Centre of San Marino
UNESCO-listed micro-state capital atop Mount Titano with three iconic medieval towers and panoramic views to the Adriatic.
57 km · about 65 min drive
castle
San Leo
Fortress town on a sheer limestone crag in the Montefeltro, where the Renaissance rocca, prison of the alchemist Cagliostro: seems to grow from the rock itself. The single road in climbs through a cleft in the cliff.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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