Best Things to do in Ravenna, Cervia & Comacchio! Highlights of Emilia Romagna

If you’re looking for a unique city break in Italy, which hasn’t been overrun by tourist crowds yet, then head to Ravenna, in the Emilia Romagna region!

Despite being Italian, I had never visited this part of Italy. So when the Emilia Romagna tourism board reached out with this opportunity, I was pretty excited to see more of my home country.

Ravenna is a city with a long history, beautiful architecture, delicious food, and incredibly varied surroundings. From ancient mosaics to unique cycling routes, or from stunning beaches to interactive museums, Ravenna has it all.

In this article I have outlined everything you need to know about exploring Ravenna and its surroundings, especially the cities of Cervia and Comacchio. Including the best things to do, where to stay and much more!

So what are you waiting for, read on to discover the best of Ravenna and its surroundings!

Things to know before visiting Ravenna

About Ravenna

Located in Emilia Romagna, in the north of Italy, Ravenna has a long and fascinating history, which is still visible throughout the city.

Over the centuries, Ravenna was actually the capital of Italy on three separate occasions. First of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th Century, then of the Ostrogothic Kingdom, and finally during the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna.

Throughout the city you can see countless relics of these ancient times. Especially in its well preserved mosaics, which have made the city famous amongst modern tourists, and given it the name “City of Mosaics”.

Ravenna is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which you can visit with the Ravenna Pass, a combined ticket that includes 5 monuments for a discounted price.

Where to stay in Ravenna

During our trip to Ravenna we stayed at Santa Maria Foris, a lovely boutique hotel in the centre of Ravenna. It has spacious rooms, an elegant style and a beautiful inner courtyard where you can relax.

They also serve the best breakfast I have ever had in a hotel in Italy, with fresh bakery croissants and tasty savoury bites. You can enjoy breakfast in the greenery of their rooftop terrace.

How to get to Ravenna

Ravenna is well connected to the rest of Italy, as well as most European cities, so it’s pretty easy to get to.

The closest international airports are Bologna Airport and Rimini Airport, which are just over 70km away, and connected to Ravenna by regular buses throughout the day.

You can also take the train to Ravenna from any major Italian city, as well as by car on the main north-south or east-west highways.

If you want to see more of Ravenna, check out my YouTube video all about it!

Best things to do in Ravenna

Admire the mosaics of Ravenna

Ravenna is known as the city of mosaics, so no visit to Ravenna would be complete without admiring the beautiful mosaics that adorn baptisteries, chapels, basilicas and even floors in Ravenna.

Here are the most famous mosaics in Ravenna that you should definitely visit.

Mausoleo of Galla Placidia

Built in the 5th Century AD and nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, this unassuming building holds a stunning secret in its interior. 

As soon as you step in, the mosaic decorations on the domed roof and arches will leave you speechless. You will be dazzled by a golden starry sky on a blue mosaic, as well as religious and historical art.

It was meant to be the final resting place of the Roman Empress Galla Placidia, but she died in Rome in 450 AD and was buried there, and the marble sarcophagi inside her mausoleum are actually empty.

Arian Baptistery

The outside of the Arian Baptistery is very simple, but it hides one of the beautiful domed mosaic ceilings that Ravenna is famous for. Built in the 5th century AD, it’s one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ravenna.

It was the first mosaic we visited during our trip, and seeing the golden dome and detail of the mosaics left me speechless. It depicts a young Christ immersed in water surrounded by the twelve apostles.

Neonian Baptistery

The mosaics in the Neonian Baptistery were my favourite of the trip. Although our guide told us these were mosaics were older, and that’s why the tiles were more visible, that’s actually what I liked about it.

The Neonian (or Orthodox) Baptistery dates back to the beginning of the 5th century, it’s one of the best preserved buildings in the city and another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Similarly to the Arian Baptistery or Galla Placidia’s mausoleum, the exterior is very unassuming, and doesn’t give away the beauty of the interior decorations.

Besides the mosaics on the ceiling, also the octagonal basin and decorations on the walls are super well preserved, and are simply mesmerising with their colours and details.

Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra

Located 3 metres below street level, beneath the church of Santa Eufemia, the Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra is a collection of 14 floor mosaics.

Dating back to the 5th and 6th century, these mosaics belonged to a private Byzantine building. In the mosaics you can admire geometrical and floral patterns, as well as religious icons.

It was only discovered in 1993, when they were digging to build an underground carpark. This project was obviously stopped when they found the mosaics, and the exhibition was set up.

Stories like this, of hidden history at every corner, are one of the things I love about Italy. 

Basilica di San Vitale 

The Basilica di San Vitale is a very imposing octagonal building, with the most stunning interior decorations. It’s home to some of the most famous mosaics in Ravenna, as well as a second affresco dome.

Construction began during the Gothic Kingdom, in the early 6th Century AD, and took 20 years to complete. It was nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Stepping inside the Basilica, looking up at the vastness of its space and grandeur of its decorations is simply breathtaking.

The mosaics and affresco depict religious iconography from the Old and New Testament, as well imperial and political powers of the time.

If the Basilica itself wasn’t incredible enough, you can pair your visit here with a concert during the Ravenna Festival. The Ravenna Festival takes place every summer, and is a series of artistic performances that take place all over the city.

During our stay we had the pleasure of seeing the “Alla Palestrina” Concert by the Odecathon Vocal Ensemble. Performed inside the Basilica, with its incredible acoustics and scenery, it was a simply magical performance.

That said, if you do come to Basilica di San Vitale for an evening concert. I would highly recommend visiting twice, in the evening for the concert and also during the day, so that you can enjoy the mosaics with natural light.

Basilica di San Francesco

Right next to Dante Alighieri’s tomb you will find the Basilica di San Francesco.

The church itself is pretty imposing, but the highlight is the crypt, whose floor is constantly submerged under water, and where you can see glimpses of the original floor mosaics. There are even fish swimming in it!

It dates back to the middle of the 5th Century AD, although it was rebuilt and renovated numerous times over the centuries.

Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe

The Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe was built to house the remains of Sant’Apollinare, saint patron of Ravenna, and dates back to the 5th century AD. 

Located a little outside Ravenna, this church was nominated UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It’s known as the greatest Basilica of the Early Christian period, and it’s easy to see why.

The facade is already pretty imposing, but once you step inside you can admire the beautiful mosaics that decorate its apse. They depict Saint Apollinare himself, as well as other religious and natural symbols.

Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo

The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, not to be confused with the above Basilica di Classe, took on its new name in the 9th Century AD, when the relics of Saint Apollinare were moved here in the 9th Century AD.

In the 5th Century AD it was originally built as an Arian church, but after the Byzantine conquest of Ravenna, it was converted to the Orthodox cult.

It has vast mosaic decorations that cover the whole central nave of the church. Given that all the other mosaics we saw were on ceilings or apses, it was cool to see a different type of art work.

See modern mosaics at MAR – Museo d’Arte della Città di Ravenna

During our trip we also visited MAR, the art museum of Ravenna, where you can see many examples of modern mosaics. I found this particularly fascinating, as I didn’t realise that mosaics were an art form still in use today.

It was also really cool to see how modern artists use mosaic techniques, creating statues and paintings that go beyond the classic religious styles we had previously seen.

Especially when it came to a mosaic statue of a piadina Romagnola!

Do a mosaic workshop

And if you still haven’t had enough of mosaics, you should definitely join a mosaic workshop. We did at Barbara Liverani Studio, and it was a great way to learn firsthand about this historical art form.

Barbara first gave us an introduction about the glass pieces you use in mosaics, and showed us techniques for cutting them in smaller pieces. We then proceeded to make our own mosaic pendants.

Not going to lie, it’s much harder than it seems! 

Visit Dante Alighieri’s tomb

A visit to Dante Alighieri’s tomb should definitely feature on your Ravenna itinerary. Dante Alighieri was the father of the Italian language, and one of the most famous and influential Italian poets ever.

Being Italian, I remember studying his “Divine Comedy” in school, but I admit I remembered very little of his personal history. I knew he was Tuscan, which is why I was surprised to find him buried in Ravenna.

But when visiting the tomb, and the Dante Area, I learnt about his exile from Florence and the adventures that his bones then went through after his death.

Regardless of whether you studied “The Divine Comedy” or not, it’s a pretty fascinating story.

Visit the Byron Museum & Risorgimento Museum

Located in the heart of Ravenna, in the Palazzo Guiccioli, you will find two fascinating museums; the Byron Museum and the Risorgimento Museum.

The first floor of the building hosts the exhibition dedicated to Lord Byron, a famous English poet who lived in this very palace from 1819 to 1821, with his Italian lover Teresa Gamba (although the palace actually belong to her husband, count Alessandro, which is a bit ironic).

It’s a very interactive museum, with videos that start only when you perform a certain action, like hanging a painting or opening a box, which makes it very engaging for all visitors.

You’ll also find original poems and items that belonged to Lord Byron and Teresa. It’s a very interesting museum, which will take you to explore highlight of Lord Byron’s life and his work.

On the upstairs floor you will find the exhibition dedicated to the Risorgimento in Ravenna.

Lord Byron was very involved with politics in Ravenna, especially with the rebel Carbonari, hence why the two exhibitions are on show together.

The Risorgimento exhibition covers the story of Italy’s fight for independence, from the Napoleonic era to the Unification of Italy.

It’s displayed in a similar format as Lord Byron’s museum, with interactive elements and engaging videos.

Visit the Mausoleum of Teodorico

Located outside of the historic city centre, the Mausoleum of Teodorico is another of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ravenna. 

Its architecture shows a variety of techniques and influences, which exemplify the mix between the Roman people and the Gothic “invaders”. It’s surrounded by a peaceful park that you can explore and relax in.

Go to the beach

Ravenna isn’t just a city for history and culture lovers. From Ravenna it’s a just 10km drive to the sea, and there are plenty of beaches to choose from.

From Milano Marittima to Marina di Ravenna, and many other beach destinations on the Riviera Romagnola, you will find that this stretch of Italian coast is perfect for all beach lovers.

Here there are some sections of public wild beaches, but also many “Bagni”, which are basically Italian beach clubs with sunbeds, umbrellas, restaurants and services. Spending a day at a beach club is a very Italian summer experience.

Enjoy the party at Beaches Brew Festival

Beaches Brew is a free music festival that takes place every summer at the beach in Marina di Ravenna. It lasts three days, and sees numerous artists from different countries come together for an epic indie music event.

In 2025 they also did a music parade, with local artists playing music while walking from “bagno” to “bagno” along the beach, gathering people along the way, and ending at Hana-Bi, the beach club where the festival is held.

It was their first year doing it and I think it worked really well. Following the parade along the coast was very fun and it got us in the festival mood. I hope they do it in future years too!

It’s a great festival where you can enjoy indie music, chill vibes, and beautiful views over the beach, Adriatic Sea and pine forests. The perfect place to relax after a long day of sightseeing!

Best things to do in Comacchio

We also explored beyond the city of Ravenna, venturing to neighbouring towns like Comacchio. I loved Comacchio for its cute town centre and the outdoors experiences we had there.

Cycle the Argine degli Angeli

This is becoming one of the most viral cycling routes in Italy, and it’s easy to see why! 

The Argine degli Angeli, or Angel’s Embankment, is a thin strip of land 5km long, which divides two of the “Valli” of Comacchio in the Po Delta. You will cycle along the embankment, surrounded by water on both sides.

It’s completely different from any other route I have ever cycled before. As you cycle you will likely spot flamingos as they fly overhead or relax in the lagoons.

It’s a truly unique landscape, and exploring it up close with a bike tour is one of the best way to do so.

Walk amongst the canals of Comacchio city centre

If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Venice, but don’t want to deal with the tourist crowds, then head to Comacchio instead.

The town centre of Comacchio is characterised by a network of canals and picturesque bridges. You can enjoy a walk along the canals, taking in the pastel coloured houses and peaceful surroundings.

One of the most iconic spots is Pallotta Bridge (or Trepponti), famous for stretching across two canals and being formed by three bridges (and five sets of stairs). It’s particularly photogenic, hence its fame.

Visit the Museo Delta Antico

As you explore the canals of Comacchio, make sure to pop into the Museo Delta Antico. Located inside an 18th Century hospital, this museum tells the history and geology of this region.

Here you can learn about the environmental changes of the Por delta over the centuries, as well as of the civilisations that sailed amongst these waters and settled on its shores. It’s a very interesting exhibition. 

Learn about Comacchio’s fishing history at the Manifattura dei Marinati

While in Comacchio, you should also head to the Manifattura dei Marinati. It’s not in the canals like the Delta Antico Museum, but it’s a short 10-minute walk away.

This is a museum / laboratory, where you can learn about Comacchio’s eel fishing history, as well as the fishing practices and processes to make marinated eels.

It’s located inside a factory where these exact processes used to be carried out, and much of it has been preserved.

In the “Sala dei Fuochi” they still cook and marinate eels, and produce a small amount of eels as “Presidio Slow Food”. It’s a really interesting place to visit, and the best place to purchase eel if you want to try it!

Admire modern art at Remo Brindisi House Museum

Remo Brindisi was a famous Italian painter. He had the famous architect Nanda Vigo design his summer home, which he built in Lido di Spina. It was designed to be a House Museum to display his, and other, artworks.

His House Museum is home to a collection of over 1,100 art pieces, both by him and other famous artists. You will find artworks by Lucio Fontana, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol to name a few.

Exploring the house itself is very cool too, as the layout is very unique, and you will find the artworks spread out all over it, from bedrooms to sitting rooms. You can even see Remo Brindisi’s art studio.

It’s a must-see for all modern and contemporary art lovers. Even if you’re not that into modern art, you will still find it very interesting.

Go for canoe sunset tour and apericena

The perfect way to end a day in Comacchio is to head to the Lagoons of Comacchio for a sunset canoe tour. You will navigate through peaceful lagoons, surrounded by their unique landscape with pink flamingos flying overhead.

Half way through the tour you will stop at a “casona”, one of the old houses where fishermen used to live back in the day. Today it’s abandoned, but it will be the perfect backdrop for a sunset “aperitivo”.

At the aperitif you can try the typical eel, the local catch that they used to fish in these lagoons, as well as other traditional Italian nibbles. You will paddle back as the sun goes down, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the lagoons.

Best things to do in Cervia 

Beyond Ravenna, we also explored the town of Cervia and its surroundings. This is another great destination that combines nature, beach escapes, history and more.

Explore the Casa delle Farfalle

The “Casa delle Farfalle”, or Butterfly House in English, is a great place to explore if you’re travelling to Cervia as a family. Although I must say that, even without children, we thoroughly enjoyed visiting it!

The Butterfly House is divided in various sections, with the main ones being the tropical butterflies greenhouse, the insects house, and the Italian butterflies greenhouse.

The tropical butterflies house is home to over 60 tropical butterflies. It’s spread out across 500 square metres, with tropical plants and a climate with 65% humidity and at least 28°C, to ensure the butterflies can survive.

It’s a very relaxing place to walk around, surrounded by greenery and tropical plants, as colourful butterflies flutter past.

The insect house is a little less relaxing, with massive insects held in glass cages, but it’s still a fascinating place to discover and learn about them. There are lots of signs and interactive games for children.

Explore the Cervia city centre & see the view from Torre San Michele

The Cervia city centre is a lovely place to walk around for a few hours, admiring the architecture and enjoying the vibe of the canal front and old Salt Warehouses area.

Torre San Michele was built in 1691, and served both as a salt storage house and as protection against outside attacks. Today it offers great views over Cervia and its surroundings.

From here you can see the canal, the sea and neighbouring buildings. It really helps to understand the layout of the city centre.

See the Endless Summer art exhibition

Inside one of the old salt warehouses, close to Torre San Michele, you will find the Endless Summer art exhibition.

Organised by MAGMA, it’s a varied exhibition put together by eight curators from different generations, each with their own personal style, and displaying art pieces by 43 contemporary Italian artists.

The exhibition aims to evoke an Endless Summer, and does so through a variety of unique artworks. I really enjoyed checking out all of the different art pieces, seeing how different artists chose to represent an Endless Summer.

Learn about Cervia’s salt history at MUSA, the Salt Museum

Located inside an old salt warehouse right on the canal front of Cervia, you will find MUSA, the Salt Museum. 

Here you can learn about Cervia’s history as the City of Salt, and the tools and processes for harvesting “white gold”, as salt was known back in the day.

It’s home to numerous documents, photos, videos and tools that document Cervia’s salt history, as well as a “burchiella”, the typical iron boats used to transport salt.

It’s a really interesting place to explore, and you can also purchase Cervia’s “sweet” salt. This is produced following traditional techniques, and is a “Slow Food Presidium”.

Go on a bike tour of the Cervia Salt Pans

After visiting the Salt Museum, you have to head to the salt pans of Cervia, so that you can see in real life the places that you saw in photos at the museum.

We met our guide at the Salt Pan Visitor Centre, where we picked up our bikes and cycled past shallow lagoons to reach the Camillone salt pan, the oldest salt pan in the area.

Here you can also see some of the traditional wooden tools used to farm the salt.

In summer they still collect salt here by hand, following the traditional techniques, and producing 100,000kg of “sweet” Cervia salt. If you want to see them in action, make sure to visit on Thursdays and Sundays.

It’s a pretty unique landscape, and exploring it by bike is a very fun way to do so. You can get up close to the salt pans, admiring the flamingos and other birds that hang out there.

It’s an open-air museum and an incredible bird watching opportunity in one.

Go to the beach

Cervia is located right on the coast, so obviously one of the best things to do here is go to the beach! The beaches here stretch across 9km and you’ll find both equipped “bagni” and free public beaches.

The beaches in Cervia are Blue Flag beaches, meaning they are globally recognised for the quality of their sea, coastline, services and environmental management.

After exploring the historical sights of Cervia, head to the beach for a relaxing afternoon of sunbathing and swimming in the sea!

Explore Milano Marittima

Not far from Cervia you will find Milano Marittima. Milano Marittima is located right on the Adriatic Coast, and is a renowned beach resort destination for young people and families.

It was born in 1912 as a seaside getaway for Milanese residents, hence the name. Throughout the town you can still see some of the historical Art Nouveau villas, some still in use and others abandoned.

If you visit in summer, from May to September, you will also see throughout Milano Marittima the floral installations that turn the town centre into one of Europe’s largest open-air flower exhibitions.

 Milano Marittima is a great spot to visit if you’re looking for a lively beach getaway, with some beautiful green spaces.

Where to eat in Ravenna and surroundings

Delicious Italian food is always one of the things travellers love most about Italy, and Emilia Romagna is one of the regions with the best cuisine. Here are some of the amazing restaurants we had the pleasure of trying during our trip.

Ondina

Located on the beach at Marina di Ravenna, this chic restaurant offers delicious seafood. The fanciness of the restaurant is partly offset by the casualness of the beach, which make it a really cool venue.

Here we had a variety of seafood dishes, an amazing mussel stew, a pink risotto with prawns and mixed fried seafood. If you’re looking for a fancy dinner after a day at the beach, this is the place to go.

Taverna Byron

After visiting the Byron Museum, head downstairs to Taverna Byron. The venue itself is really cool, with exposed bricks, a refined atmosphere and delicious food.

Here you can taste authentic cuisine from Emilia Romagna, as the restaurant focuses on respecting traditional recipes and ingredients.

Casa Spadoni

Located right in front of the Basilica di San Vitale, this restaurant offers a variety of traditional dishes from Emilia Romagna. It’s a great place to enjoy an Italian-style aperitivo, with view over one of Ravenna’s most beautiful churches.

Ristorante Circolo Pescatori

Located on the canal front in Cervia, this restaurant was born as a gathering place for the families of local fishermen. They focus on fresh fish products and traditional seafood recipes.

It has a very laidback vibe, and is popular with tourists and locals alike. If you’re looking for delicious fish recipes, this is the place to go!

Ristorante Officine del Sale

Located in the heart of Cervia, right next to Torre San Michele and the salt warehouses, you will find this gorgeous restaurant. Both the interior and exterior decor are very unique, with an easygoing vibe.

They offer a variety of traditional and local dishes, amongst which piadina Romagnola, Tagliolini with wild local herbs and stuffed courgette.

Final thoughts on visiting Ravenna, Cervia and Comacchio

And that’s a wrap on the best things to do in Ravenna, Cervia and Comacchio! Have you been to Emilia Romagna before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

My grandma had been telling me for years about how beautiful the mosaics of Ravenna are, so being able to finally see them in person was pretty amazing.

I also loved exploring the surroundings of Ravenna, like our bike tours on the Argine degli Angeli and Cervia salt pans, or the sunset canoe tour of the Valli di Comacchio. They’re all unique landscapes I hadn’t seen before.

And obviously the beaches, the food, the history and architecture are all things that make Ravenna and its surroundings a must-see destination. Especially now, while it isn’t yet on the main tourist radar!

I hope you found my Ravenna travel guide useful. If you have any questions, just drop them in the comments below!

Disclaimer: This article was created in partnership with the Emilia Romagna tourism board. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enjoyed reading about the best things to do in Emilia Romagna? Pin it!