Small Town Italy
 

I am still not 100% positive that I will go to Ravenna for 4 days in between Venice and Rome. I want to go to a place that screams ITALY. I have been to Florence and loved it. Does Ravenna fit this bill?
Any suggestions?

Some might say Ravenna for 4 days would be too much. On my most recent trip there, my second vist to Ravenna, we stayed two nights. We enjoyed the smallness, and the ability to visit the sights at a slower pace. We spread our visit to the churches with mosaics over two days instead of cramming them into one, which I had done before. It is not a dramatically beautiful place--no mountains surrounding town, no river views--very flat in fact with lots of sky. But the pace is lovely. Most of the center is closed to traffic. Because of the flatness, everyone bikes. There were even "public bikes" left around town in certain bike racks. Just pick up and go. I did not bike beause my traveling companion was physically unable to do so, but even today I think of those bikes and the possibilities. You might run out of things to do, but that's only if you don't enjoy exploring, walking, stopping at the local grocer for a liter of water, sitting in cafes...

Another stop between Venice and Rome, not small town, but with much to offer is Bologna. This is definitely a city. You could day trip to Ravenna from there.

ellen,
Thanks for the reply. I will be staying outside of Ravenna on Casel Borsetti. Did you happen to go over there?

No, we stayed in town. I was traveling with someone who had survived a near fatal car accident the year before, so we went at a slow pace without too much hopping around.

I was in Ravenna for 1 1/2 days and I thought it was plenty compared to other small towns where there seemed to be more to see and had a lot more character. Our goal in Ravenna, of course, was to see the mosaics and they are stunning...but you can see most of the highlights in a full day. IMO.