Sightseeing in Italy

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.

Find a car holiday in Europe at Risskov and also find child-friendly hotels for your trip south. If your trip is to Italy, there are plenty of options. One of them is the beautiful Ravenna province and the historic city of Lugo. The city is located in the inner area of the province of Ravenna, not far from the Adriatic Sea or from the hills of the Romagna Appennines, between the cities of Bologna and Ravenna. Lugo can be enjoyed all year round not least because of its many monuments, shops and sporting events.

The city's landmark is the Rocca Estense, an ancient fortress that today houses the city hall. The dungeon 'Uguccione della Faggiola' dates back to the end of the 13th century, while much of the town's other architecture dates back to the end of the 16th century. Also visit the 'hanging gardens' which are a breathtaking sight. Opposite the fortress is the 'Pavaglione', a building dating from the 18th century. An impressive 'square' where silkworms were traded in ancient times. There is still a market every Wednesday and it can certainly be an entertaining visit if you want to take a bit of shopping home. Next to the fortress is a monument erected in honour of the Italian World War I aviator Francesco Baracca, and there is of course a museum in town commemorating the famous Italian. On the western side of the 'Pavaglione' is the beautiful 'Teatro Rossini', which was completed in 1761.

A few kilometres from Lugo is the village of Santa Maria in Fabriago, known for its ancient church with the characteristic bell tower with Romanesque windows, typical of the Byzantine style in the 9th century. Enjoy the architectural masterpieces on your car holiday to Lugo with Risskov and discover Ravenna at your own pace.

The town of Faenza is located on Via Emilia, between the sea and the mountains, right at the crossroads of the road connecting Ravenna with Florence. Faenza is probably best known for its pottery, a tradition that dates back to the 12th century and which, during the Renaissance, became of great artistic importance for ceramics throughout Italy. As a result, there are many ceramics workshops and schools where the art of ceramics has been greatly refined over time and beautiful works of art continue to be created and can be seen throughout the city. There are also many elegant shops and mixed with the gastronomic delights that Faenza has to offer, it will only be a pleasure to stop by the city centre.

Since the 14th century, Faenza has been an important political and cultural meeting place, with strong ties to the Medici family in Florence. The town is adorned with many different monuments, which help to preserve its ancient charm. There is the impressive ´Piazza del Popolo´, bordered by arcades, and the ´Piazza della Libertà´ with its beautiful cathedral, built at the end of the 15th century.

Founded in 1908, the International Ceramics Museum has a unique collection of ceramics from different periods and geographical origins and, of course, a section dedicated to Faenza ceramics from the Renaissance.

In summer, the 'Martedì d'Estate' or 'Summer Tuesdays' are a traditional event with exhibitions in the streets and guided tours of historic buildings and churches, as well as live music and tastings of local produce. A trip to Faenza is highly recommended, especially for its cosy atmosphere and beautiful architecture.

Verona is known for its medieval houses, which characterize the cityscape. Furthermore, it is also the place where Shakespeare's famous work Romeo and Juliet takes place on the famous balcony. Verona is also known for the old colosseum from the 15th century.

The wine castle, Castelnuovo di Noarna, is built on the ruins of an ancient Roman building. The renovation was started in 1974 by Giulio Zani, who took over both the ruins and the associated vineyards. The buildings now appear carefully renovated.

The unique and fascinating waterfall Cascata del Varone is located 3 km north of the town of Riva. Over more than 20,000 years, water from Lake Tenno has carved a gorge almost 70 metres deep into the mountain itself, where the water falls from 98 metres. An unusual and exciting visit, where you will discover both the mountain and the waterfall from the inside and outside by paths, stairs and bridges. Due to the special microclimate of the gorge, it has been possible to create a small botanical garden, which you will pass through during your visit.

Spend the day in Malcesine, which most people refer to as the most charming town on Lake Garda. Well-kept old houses, narrow winding cobbled streets and alleys with a great selection of shops and many outdoor cafés and restaurants create that special atmosphere and ambience. Perfect for a summer holiday and family getaway. In addition to the lovely urban environment, there are fine sights such as the Palazzo dei Capitani and especially the ancient castle of Scaligeri, named after one of its many owners over the years. The castle now houses a museum of the region's flora and fauna as well as a museum of paintings by Goethe. Malcine is an ideal destination for a cheap car holiday in Italy.

Italy's largest amusement park, Gardaland, can easily entertain you for a whole day! Plenty of rides, dolphin shows, restaurants and much more. This is a good place to go if you have children and childlike souls with you on your holiday!

Find a cheap holiday to Brescia in Italy with child-friendly hotels at Risskov. Visit the lemon museum, Limonaia del Castel. A lemon museum doesn't sound interesting at first, but it's an exciting few hours you can spend there. As the name of the town also suggests, the lemon fruit has played a big role for the town, Limone Sul Garda. You can learn about it at this small and cosy museum in the northern part of the town of Limone Sul Garda. Find and organise the perfect family holiday with cheap hotels at Risskov.

Riva del Garda is a cozy little town which among other things offers shops, cafés and restaurants, where you can enjoy dining outside. As the name suggests, it lies down to the beautiful Lake Garda.

Go on a car holiday in Europe and discover Italy on a weekend break or a self-drive holiday with Risskov. Find child-friendly hotels for a summer holiday or winter break in beautiful Limone Sul Garda, a cosy town on the west shore of Lake Garda. It has about 1200 inhabitants and is characterised by cosy streets with small shops, restaurants and cafés. On the beach you can enjoy the good weather and take a cool swim in Lake Garda. Find cheap hotels for your holiday at Risskov and enjoy some days at Lake Garda with your family.

The centuries-old spa town of Montecatini Terme is located in the Valdinievole Valley. The small town is the largest spa town in Tuscany. It was founded in the 8th century and has a very turbulent history. Montecatini Terme was ruled by the principalities of Lucca, Florence and Sienna and was influenced by Lorraine in the 18th century. This lovely town is pleasant to explore on foot.

The healing springs of Montecatini have a beneficial effect both internally and externally. The nine spas of Montecatini are visited by about two million tourists every year.

A visit to Florence offers many great experiences. One of the most important sights is the beautiful Renaissance building Palazzo Medici-Riccardi and the Medici family church San Lorenzo, where the Danish Niels Steensen is buried. The church is picturesquely situated by the old leather market. The impressive three-coloured cathedral complex with the campanile, the octagonal baptistery with the bronze doors and of course the cathedral itself with Brunelleschi's breathtaking and dizzyingly large dome are worth a visit. These are just a few of the many impressive buildings Florence has to offer.

A visit to Campo Miracoli is one of the great experiences in Pisa. It is almost a miracle to see the beautiful buildings: the cathedral, the baptistery, the cemetery building and then the bell tower "the Leaning Tower of Pisa" standing side by side. Of course, the great experience is the "Leaning Tower" where, after a long and costly renovation, you can once again climb the 294 steps to the top at 55 metres, from where you have a wonderful view of the area.

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.

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.

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.

The small town of Russi has a history that goes back thousands of years, as the Roman villa just outside the town is good evidence of, and the historic town centre still hides remnants of the medieval castle that once stood on the site.

The cosy town also offers shopping opportunities, with both speciality and convenience stores in a jumble, tempting you with lots of exciting colours and delicacies.

Just outside the city lies the Roman Villa, surrounded by natural greenery. It is an archaeological site located on Via Fiumazzo and is one of the best preserved examples of a Roman country villa in northern Italy. The country villa was discovered in 1938 when excavators were digging for clay to burn bricks and accidentally stumbled into the thermal baths. The excavation itself did not start until the 1950s and continues to this day.

Close to the Roman Villa is also the 'Palazzo di San Giacomo', built in the 18th century and still able to impress visitors with its magnificent exterior and the very beautiful frescoes inside.

The International Ceramics Museum in Faenza, or simply MIC, is one of the most important art museums in the world when it comes to ceramics. The stunning exhibition features works from various ceramic workshops from the Middle Ages up to the 18th century. There are also collections from the Near East and from the Mediterranean during the Hellenistic period, as well as exhibitions of modern and contemporary ceramic art.

The collections give the visitor a complete overview of Italian and international ceramics, the development of techniques for working ceramics and how art has evolved through figurative art, such as sculpture and design in general. But much of the space is devoted to Faenza's own 'faience ceramics'. The 'Faience of Faenza', also known as 'majolica', was a special technique developed in the late 16th century in which ceramics were painted with a protective layer of milky white paint and then decorated, usually in blue. This type of pottery became an important competitor to Chinese porcelain because of, among other things, its better durability.

The museum is a great experience for the whole family, young and old, and a short visit to the International Ceramics Museum in Faenza will certainly not be regretted.

Palazzo Milzetti is probably the best example of the elegant architectural and decorative civilisation that flourished in Faenza during the neoclassical period. Palazzo Milzetti belongs to the Italian National Museum and represents the Neoclassical period in Romagna. The beautiful building was completely remodelled between 1792 and 1808 by some of the greatest Italian artists of the neoclassical period, including the architects Pistocchi Giuseppe and Antonio Antolini, the painter Felice Giani and collaborators, and the sculptors Giovan Antonio Trentanove and Giovan Battista Ballanti Graziani.

The very beautiful Palazzo Milzetti is certainly worth a visit and the beautiful architectural details are very impressive and testify to a time when the decorations were more important than the functionality itself.