Ravenna: The Living Mosaic, a treasure to the World

Ravenna, 280 kilometres north-east from Rome, is one of the most important ‘comune’ in the Emilia-Romana region, by the Adriatic Sea. The city’s ancient origins and glorious past as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th Century, and as the seat of the Ostrogoth Crown and the Byzantine Empire until the 8th century left a vast artistic heritage to raise which can today be considered as one of the most culturally rich cities in Europe.

Indeed, not many cities in the World can boast having up to eight monuments classified in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, with the worldwide-known Mosaics from the early Christian and Byzantine periods that mean the most characteristic feature of the ‘comune’: The simple external shell of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the refined composition that decorates the Neonian Baptistery is inspired by cultured Greek tradition, the Arian Baptistery; the majesty of the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, the Chapel of Sant’Andrea, where a triumphant Christ is celebrated; the majestic Mausoleum of Theodoric, with its enormous monolithic roof covering; the Basilica of San Vitale, the greatest treasure of the early Christian era, the elegant Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, with its wonderful mosaic in the apse…

Together with this amazing patrimony passed down to us for centuries and centuries, Ravenna rests amid spectacular natural surroundings that empower Its lagoon, its pine woods and its landscape inspired the talent of pillars of the Universal Literature such as Dante, Boccaccio, Lord Byron or Oscar Wilde, amongst others. Just a short distance from the sea, Ravenna also offers lovely resorts along its 35 kilometres of coast with a rich variety of possibilities for holidays.

Ravenna is a city that lives in the present and plans its future, protecting the past and putting it to good use. A living mosaic. The combination of the natural environment where the city lies, its multiple fun possibilities and the cultural heartbeat felt in every one of its streets, make Ravenna a perfect place to host such an important international event as the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011.