Planning a trip to Ravenna

Getting There -- With hourly trains that take only 1 hour 20 minutes from Bologna, Ravenna can easily be visited on a day trip. There’s also frequent service from Ferrara (1 hr., 15 min.), which has connections to Venice. The train station is a 10-minute walk from the center at Piazza Fernini ((tel) 892021).

If you have a car and are coming from Bologna, head east along A14. From Ferrara, take the S16.

Getting Around -- Ravenna operates a useful bicycle rental scheme; get keys from the tourist office that provide unlimited access to bikes all over the city. Rates are 9.50€ per day for adults and 8.50€ for students (free for children 10 and under).

To visit the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare in Classe from central Ravenna, take bus no. 4—buy tickets (1.20€) in advance from any bar or tabacchi.

Visitor Information -- The tourist office is at Via Salara 8 (www.turismo.ravenna.it; (tel) 0544-35404). It’s open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 7pm, and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Stop in here for a good map, bicycle rental, and combination tickets to the city’s attractions. The office also books accommodations.

Special Events -- If you're here in June and July, you can enjoy the Ravenna Festival Internazionale. Tickets begin at 10€ ($15) but go much higher. For information, call tel. 0544-249211; for tickets, call tel. 0544-249244 (Teatro Alighieri). A Dante Festival is held the second week in September, sponsored by the church of San Francesco.