Hotel Le Palme

Ravenna

Ravenna has been the capital of no less than four Empires: the Western Roman Empire, under King Theodoric, then the Goths and later the Byzantine Empire of Europe. When the Byzantines were expelled from Italy, Ravenna became part of the Papal States and, thanks to its incredible history, is therefore also a treasure trove of architecture and art. The beautiful squares and magnificent churches and chapels leave nothing to the imagination. But above all, Ravenna is known for its very fine Byzantine mosaics. Also visit the final resting place of the famous Florentine poet Dante Alighieri and find out why he spent his last years in Ravenna.

Ravenna also offers great shopping, take a stroll up ´via Cavour´, ´via Diaz´, ´via Corado Ricci´ or visit ´piazza del Popolo´. Everything from shoes to mosaics, art and more shoes are on sale. The landscape is of course characterised by pizzarias, ice cream and cake shops and the streets are very lively. So enjoy some lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants or sidewalk cafes and follow the bustle of the day as it unfolds in the centre of Ravenna.

Dante's tomb

Dante Alighieri was born in May, 1265 in Florence and died September 1321, thus being only 56 years old. Dante was one of the great Italian writers of the Middle Ages and his most famous work is probably the 'Commedia', later called the 'Divina Commedia', the Divine Comedy. Sentenced to death in Florence for feuding and politics mixed with pride, he was unable to return to his beloved hometown. Dante is therefore buried today in Ravenna, and although Florence has tried for hundreds of years to recover his remains, it has never succeeded. For centuries, Florence has tried to recover the remains of its famous son, but it has never succeeded and so there is only an empty tomb, a cenotaph, in the church of Santa Croce in Florence.

Visit the neoclassical monument and see Dante's urn and final resting place. Take the walk down the street that leads visitors to his tomb, feel the peace and enjoy the beautiful historic buildings that stand on either side of the road towards the tomb, which is a small white building at the end of the street.

Galla Placidia's mausoleum

The beautiful mausoleum was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1996 because of its beautiful mosaics and their highly artistic design. The story goes that Galla Placidia, a fifth century AD Roman patron of the arts and half-sister of the Emperor, intended the building as a mausoleum for herself and her family. The mausoleum contains three sarcophagi, but there is still not clear evidence that they were also the Placidia family. Galla Placidia was buried in the family chapel in St Peter's, so who was buried in the three sarcophagi? Get the fascinating story served up in the mausoleum under the stunning starry sky of the mausoleum's dome. The decoration in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is simply sumptuous and there are depictions of the Apostles and the saint Lazarus while Jesus appears as the Good Shepherd. After the visit, it is much easier to understand why the Mausoleum of Galla Placida is on UNESCO's list.

Museo Arcivescovile

This unique museum, Arcivescovile, or Archbishop in English, is located in Ravenna and was built in the first half of the 17th century. Located just behind the Duomo di Ravenna, the museum's relics date back to the early Christian period, mosaics from the first cathedral built on the site, and the Sant'Andrea chapel, which dates back to the time of the Goths.

Basilica di San Vitale

Go on a cheap holiday to Ravenna and discover the beautiful city on a family holiday. Discover the wonderful Basilica di San Vitale which is surely one of the best known churches in Ravenna and is built over an octagonal plan and with a combination of Roman and Byzantine elements, with the very famous Byzantine mosaics which are quite unique. The church was built between 526-547, but various parts have since been added to the church and today it is probably one of the best and most well-preserved examples of early Christian Byzantine architecture. Find your trip at Risskov and try a self drive holiday and find a last minute hotel at Risskov.

Italia in Miniatura

Italia in Miniatura is located on the outskirts of Rimini and is an 85,000 m² family-owned theme park. The park opened in 1970 and started out over half the size it is today. Today the park contains more than 300 small models of various monuments, churches and palaces at a scale of 1:25. All these miniatures are surrounded by hilly landscapes, rivers and oceans, train tracks and more than 6,000 real miniature trees. Discover the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a faithful replica of Venice, complete with bridges, canals and gondolas - an ideal excursion, full of impressions, on a family holiday at Rimini!

Forlì

The small town of Forlì was founded by the Romans in the 2nd century BC and lies at the crossroads of the Via Consolare and the road that went to Tuscany. The town lies at the eastern end of the Po Valley, along the famous 'Via Emilia' at the foot of the green hills of the Tuscan Romagna Appernines.

The city's historic centre consists of two main Roman roads, which can still be seen, but is divided into four main streets, Mazzini, Garibaldi, Diaz and della Repubblica, all of which converge on Piazza A. Saffi.

There are a number of buildings representing the different eras, such as the Romanesque Basilica di San Mercuriale with its impressive authentic 12th-century bell tower. The Town Hall, Palazzo Comunale, dates from the 14th century and has been rebuilt several times, and there are also the 15th century Palazzo del Podestà and Palazzo Albertini, which are certainly worth a visit. During the Ordelaffi reign, which lasted two centuries, Forlì was enriched with several palaces, which can be enjoyed on a stroll up, for example, Via P. Maroncelli or Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi. The Ravaldino Fortress, also known as the Rocca di Caterina Sforza, rises at the end of Corso Diaz and the whole complex is surrounded by a lovely park.

Try the 'Passatelli' at one of the many local restaurants. Noodles cooked in broth, a very traditional dish that has its origins in Forlì itself. There is much to see and admire in the city, so set aside a day to discover this friendly and very beautiful town.

Rimini

Rimini is known as one of Italy's popular seaside resorts, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have more to offer. Rimini is a historic city where you can still see many signs of its historical past. From the ancient Roman Empire, for example, you can still see the Tiberius Bridge, which is still used today, as well as the remains of the great amphitheatre, which in its day could hold 15,000 people. Rimini is of course popular for its beautiful sandy beaches, but the harbour is also worth a look when the small fishing boats set sail in the morning. In the old town's narrow streets, you'll find many cosy cafés and shops, and the town is also a great place to shop, with a market taking place pretty much every day.