dina4

We hope to travel between Florence and Milan, and our goal is to spend at least a half day in Ravenna. We can actually stay in Ravenna, of course, but were also thinking we could stay somewhere close by (also worth seeing).

(Other than Venice and a very quick stop in Bologna, we have not been anywhere else in the area.)

We have two teens, so we thought a beach town would be nice.
What is Rimini like?

But we're open to any of suggestions you might have for any gems in the area.http://fodors.com/forums/images/post_newbutton.gif

Thanks!
dina

abbydog

Hi! I was just in Ravenna two weeks ago. Although some people say it's worth just an afternoon, I was glad I stayed overnight. It's an incredibly cute town with great street culture (a lively square, everyone on bikes) as well as the famous sights for mosaics, and there were plenty of good restaurants too.

I originally planned to stay at this widely acclaimed bed and breakfast: www.gallaplacidia.it, but we couldn't check in there until 7:00 p.m. so we opted for the Hotel Centrale Byron instead. I was skeptical (no character!), but it was actually very pleasant and the location couldn't be beat -- it was about a five minute walk to the Basilica San Vitale and Mauseleo di Galla Placidia.

We did stop in Rimini for lunch as well. The kids might really go for that -- it's very much like an American beach town, colorful but super-touristy. If it were me I'd stay in Ravenna and just cruise through Rimini to look at boats and the sea, but there might be fun places to stay with teens in Rimini.

dina4

Thanks, Abby. It does sound so nice to stay in Ravenna. I am definitely looking into that and am happy to hear you enjoyed staying there overnight.

Do you remember about how long the drive was to Rimini?

(by the way, i have no idea why that fodors website is at the end of my last sentence!!)

thanks again!
dina

dina4

any other recommendations?
we'd love to hear....

thanks!

ellenem

I've visted Ravenna as a day trip from Bologna. You mention you visited Bologna briefly--perhaps it deserves more of your time?

I also spent two nights in Ravenna and really enjoyed it. It seems like group tours arrive in the morning and the various sights can be packed. By afternoon they're on their way to the next place, so we had the city mostly to ourselves. (This was true even of our daytrip from Bologna.) We enjoyed this slower pace in the middle of a more active trip.

I remember a particularly magical moment in San Vitale in the late afternoon, the church mostly empty, staring at those amazing mosaics. Suddenly we heard a choir begin to sing quietly, but with great resonance. We couldn't tell if it was live or a recording--the music sounded so perfect, so true to the place, as if it was truly echoing off those amazing arches and mosaics. We discovered it was indeed a recording of the church's own choir, recorded in the church and not available for sale. The woman in the gift shop who played the music was pleased that we'd been so struck by the experience. She explained that she prides herself in playing the music at just the right volume, not too loud, as close as possible to how it would sound 'live.'

Ravenna is very flat and many locals use bicycles for transport. On that visit in 2001, there were public bikes available at many bike racks for anyone to use. I'm not sure about now, but certainy there must be rental shops--your teens might enjoy biking aroud town or into the countryside.

wren

abbydog, we are also considering going to Ravenna in 2008 in Mid-June---could you tell me how the weather was when you were there?
I had thought that just a day-trip would be appropriate, but you all are convincing me that is would be much more our "speed" to stay overnight.

abbydog

Hi all --

Re: the drive to Rimini, I can't remember how long it took but I think it was about an hour. The viamichelin website can tell you for sure. . .

Re: weather, we were VERY lucky -- we were there on June 23 and it was just gorgeous, about 75 degrees.

My trip included lots of towns in Le Marche and ended in Venice, but I considered Ravenna a high point. I thought it was delightful!

Also, we had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant called Il Melarancio on Via Mentana.

wren

Thanks abbydog---I was en route to visit my daughter and had not seen your reply...

dina4

sorry i haven't responded-- i've been out of town and away from the computer.

This is all great information. Ellenem and abbydog, -- thanks for all the great tips. Bike riding in Ravenna sounds lovely, as does being there in the late afternoon and evening.

I sure hope we can hear that same choir singing when we're there!