Ravenna, Italy

If you'll be in the area it's definitly worth checking out. It's a nice little town, San vitale and the Placidia tomb are beautiful and several other sights to see.

http://goitaly.about.com/od/ravennaitaly/a/ravenna.htm On that page you will find the 8 Unesco sites to see, as well as a couple of links. The Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo as well as the adjacent Mausoleo di Galla Placidia are simply stunning. And the Basilica of Sant'Appolinare in Classe is not to be missed of course, as previously mentionned. Bon voyage ! The Unesco sites with some pictures and links
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/788/

RS likes it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUdGWRn67YE

Definitely go to Ravenna. It is famous for its mosaics. I was there in June, stayed at Hotel Byron Centrale (a sister property of Hotel Bisanzio, recommended in RS Italy). All the sights are easily walkable. Suggestions: Church of San Vitale, Sant'Appolinare Nuovo, the two baptistries. When I was there, a baptism was being celebrated at the Duomo's baptistry; you don't have to be particularly religious or a history buff to be moved by the fact that people have been celebrating in this space for a millennium and a half. If you have time, the church of Sant'Appolinare in Classe is about a10 minute drive (or bus ride) outside of Ravenna.

Here's a Ravenna site: http://www.turismo.ravenna.it/index.php?lang=2 We are going there for three days after Verona and staying here: http://www.casamasoli.it/ Our artists friends have been there and are returning this September. It is a compact "bicycle city" and you can pick up one for free in one location and ride it to another and leave it. This was a good suggestion for a restaurant on the Slow Travel Talk board: http://www.cadeven.it/ Solw Travel Ravenna Trip report with good pictures of the mosaics etc:
http://www.casesf.com/ravenna.htm Ravenna is known for Piadina which sounds yummy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piadina

Little known fact: There are precisely 1,317 towns and cities in Italy that are absolutely not to be missed according to someone and you will never be able to see all of them. What your friend is actually doing is a very common phenomenon when it comes to travel - Your friend had a wonderful time in Ravenna and they want to relive it through you. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But of course, you are a different person with different interests. Good for you for finding out more about Ravenna before you decide to go there. Only you can decide whether it might be worth it to cut your time in the other places that you love. Happy travels.

The mosaics are stunning - the best outside of Istanbul. All the World Heritage Sites (8, I believe) are within about 1 square kilometer, except for the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, which is a short bus or bike ride away. The town is charming. If you're returning to places you've been before, it's nice to add a new spot.

Agree that Ravenna is a worthwhile stop. The mosaics, and World Heritage sites are beautiful. In addition there are other worthwhile sites and even a leaning tower! If you're looking for a place to stay, check out Casa Masoli (also recommended by RS). We spent three days in Ravenna and loved it.

Are you interested enough in Byzantine churches and mosaics to skip something in favor of Ravenna? If not, don't do it. The majority of stuff to see in Ravenna is Byzantine churches and mausolea with mosaics. I loved Ravenna and wish I had gotten over to Classe to see Sant'Apollinare in Classe, but I like medieval art so my travel interests might be different than yours.

Exactly. The question isn't whether Ravenna has amazing stuff to see. The question is whether Ravenna would be interesting enough FOR YOU that you should decide to go there instead of someplace else. That's the "problem" with Italy - an abundance of choices so much so that you can easily fall into the trap of wondering if you should be someplace "better" instead of enjoying where you are. FWIW, I also love Byzantine and early Christian mozaics, and focused on them in my recent third trip to Italy (esp. in Rome), but I still have chosen not to go to Ravenna. It's just been too out of the way with my itinerary and I've chosen to go other places instead. I still had an amazing time. Happy travels.