Ravennate and Faentino

<< Emilia-Romagna

The Province of Ravenna is part of the historic region of Romagna. The low-lying area to the east is known as Ravennate. This area is dominated by the city of Ravenna, but also features some seaside resorts along the coast. To the east is the town of Faenza and some hills and mountains, a region called Faentino.

Cervia

Cervia is a seaside resort located on the Adriatic coast south of Ravenna. The town was founded in ancient times as Ficocle, but this settlement was destroyed in 709. The city was later rebuilt as Cervia, and it emerged during the following centuries thanks to the nearby salterns. Cervia experienced a period of turmoil as various powers vied for control of the territory and pirate raids devastated the coast. The city was then ruled by the Papal State before the Italian unification. Today Cervia is a popular summer destination thanks to its long sandy beaches.

Milano Marittima

Milano Marittima is a famous seaside resort just north of Cervia. The area was developed since the early 20th century by Milanese entrepreneurs and built among a coastal pine forest. The resort is now a popular and busy destination, famous for its nightlife.

Magazzini del Sale

The area around Cervia has been known since ancient times for its salterns. The Magazzini del Sale is a historic warehouse complex built between the 17th and 18th century, once used to store salt. Now it houses a museum dedicated to salt production and the local environment. A defensive tower known as Torre San Michele is located just outside the complex.

Faenza

Faenza is a city in the Province of Ravenna, located along the Via Emilia between Imola and Forlì. The settlement was a flourishing Roman town and, after a few centuries of decline, it thrived again the Late Middle Ages. The city lived its golden age during this time, under the rule of the Manfredi family. Eventually Faenza submitted to Venice in the 16th century, and soon afterwards it became part of the Papal States until the unification of Italy. Faenza is renowned for the production of pottery known as faience, which is the French name for the city.

✪ International Museum of Ceramics

The International Museum of Ceramics (Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche) is a rich exhibition of ceramics and pottery from all over the world, spanning several centuries. The museum mostly focuses on the long tradition of ceramics production of Faenza, with pieces dating from the Middle Ages until today, but it also hosts artifacts from other parts of Italy, Europe, and the world.

Piazza del Popolo and Piazza della Libertà

Piazza del Popolo and Piazza della Libertà are two adjacent squares in the center of Faenza, surrounded by historic buildings. The medieval Palazzo del Podestà faces the first one and it is flanked by a Clock Tower. Palazzo Manfredi, the town hall of Faenza, stands in front of Palazzo del Podestà. Meanwhile, the Faenza Cathedral (Duomo di Faenza) is on Piazza della Libertà, and it is a Renaissance church featuring a few interesting artworks.

Brisighella

Brisighella is a town among the hills southeast of Faenza, in the Province of Ravenna. The settlement grew around a fortification in the Late Middle Ages, and to this day it is known for its medieval old town.

Tre Colli

Brisighella is dominated by three hills (Tre Colli), each featuring historic buildings. The largest one is the Rocca Manfrediana (or Rocca Veneziana), a fortress erected in the 14th century under the rule of the lords of Faenza, and later expanded during the brief Venetian occupation of the area. The castle is located on the central hill and now it hosts a museum. The western hill houses the Sanctuary of Monticino, a 18th-century church, while the eastern one is topped by a Clock Tower erected in 1850 on the site of a previous fortification.