Ravenna, in northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region is often dwarfed by Venice, Florence, and Bologna, all within easy reach of the city. But skipping the former capital of the Byzantine Empire would be a huge mistake.
The city is filled with some of the most important and jaw-dropping artwork of Medieval times in the form of large-scale mosaics decorating churches, palaces, and homes.
And, the food is amazing, too. The local pasta, called Cappelletti is served in a way different from the rest of the rest of the region. There’s also a local bread that that’s stuffed with meat, cheese, and veggies (and sometimes Nutella!) A cookie named for a martyred saint and a festival celebrating a bivalve only adds to Ravenna’s deliciousness.