Ravenna and the Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire, which existed from 330 to 1453, was actually the Eastern Roman Empire.

The Byzantine Empire was an heir to the classical Greek-Roman culture of the Middle Ages, and they contributed to the greatness of the Italian Renaissance by exporting their culture with all its treasures. As a result, they caused great personalities to migrate and spread these priceless texts throughout Italy.

The capital of this Empire for many years has been Ravenna; for this reason a crucial town in the Western world's history and beyond. 

Ravenna retained the great memorials of this glorious past; in fact, the city preserves one of the most precious world heritage of mosaics dating from the 5th and the 6th-century a.d., kept within its Paleochristian and Byzantine religious buildings, all Unesco World Heritage sites. 

During the tour of the old town, you will admire the majestic gold of the Basilica of St. Vitale; experience the intense emotions accompanying entry into the Mausoleum Galla Placidia, where cobalt blue mosaics embrace a dome of golden stars. Walk through Piazza del Popolo, visit St. Francis' crypt, the tomb of Dante Alighieri, and the Basilica of Sant'Appollinare Nuovo.