Milano Marittima is an elegant and famous place on the Adriatic coast, which has preserved a truly unique fascination and an enchanting atmosphere, able to satisfy even the most discerning guests.
The center, a privileged place for a walk, meetings and shopping, is full of sophisticated and fashionable shops, restaurants, discos, nightclubs and bars.
Set in the lush and ancient pinewood, Milano Marittima is able to combine the vivacity of his centre with peace and quiet of the natural environment, becoming the ideal and preferred location for a holiday combining quality, entertainment and professionalism.
Cervia thermal baths are located inside the millenary pinewood, and the avant-guarde establishment perfectly combines the most modern thermal science and nature. From the Salina of Cervia, a natural oasis of 827 hectares, it is extracted the "Liman" or mud of the lagoon, which is an invaluable product for health as well as the mother-water. Thanks to the presence of several species of birds, the Saline have actually become the Southern Station of the Regional Park of Delta del Po.
Along the paths crossing the pinewood it is possible to enter the Natural Park, an environment site of great interest, populated by many animals and with a typical vegetation from the maritime pinewood. In CerviAvventura Park, inside the Natural Park, you can experience nature in a new and exciting way, with five routes winding through the trees. Not far from the city centre and the pinewood there are the major sports and leisure centers where competitions, tournaments and events at the highest level take place. For example The Adriatic Golf Club, the first golf course on the Adriatic coast with 27 holes, the Stadio dei Pini "Germano Todolì ", the Cervia Tennis Club, the Tennis Center Mare e Pineta, the Boat Club and the Equestrian Center" Le Siepi ".
The beautiful Butterfly House is particularly striking, with its 500 square meters heated greenhouse containing hundreds of living butterflies, and dozens of other species of insects that come mainly from South America and South Africa.
First RAVENNA: city of art and culture and city of mosaics, 1500 years ago was three times capital: of the Western Roman Empire, of King Theodoric of the Goths, of the Byzantium empire in Europe. The discovery of Ravenna monuments, unique architectural and artistic pieces of the Byzantine age, may start from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia: built by Galla Placidia, sister of the Roman Emperor Onorio, around 425-450 BC, the mausoleum is a Latin cross-shaped building covered by vaults on the four arms and a by a dome in the centre. The exterior of the building is simple, in contrast with the rich mosaic of the interior, the oldest in Ravenna. The journey to discover the treasures of Byzantine mosaics continues inside the close Basilica of San Vitale, an important example of early Christian art especially for the beauty of its mosaics. San Vitale has a strong Eastern influence. The building consists of a centre in an octagonal layout, surmounted by a dome resting on pillars in African marble and on Greek marble columns. The Basilica of Sant'Appolinare Nuovo, in the city centre, was founded in the sixth century and was originally the Palatine Church of Teodorico. The façade is preceded by a simple and harmonious marble porch dated XVI century, close to the cylindrical bell tower, a typical local construction. The magnificent mosaics are the remaining of the ancient building, with the largest mosaic surface that has come to us from the past. The Neoniano Baptistery, the most ancient monuments of Ravenna, is a simple brick building of octagonal shape with four large niches spreading out, with the doors buried. The Baptistery was beautifully decorated with mosaics of Greek and Roman influence by Bishop Neon around 450 AD. The chapel was built as the Archbishop private oratory during the reign of Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, by Bishop Peter II, and is the only Orthodox monument built during that period. It has a cross-shaped plan and a vestibule completely covered with marble on the bottom and with mosaics on the upper part.
Leaving the old town, about 5 Km from Ravenna there is Classe , one of the most interesting archaeological sites discovered in the past decades, whose value is increased by Ravenna Antica Foundation. Classe archaeological site reveals the Roman Ravenna rich life unknown till that moment, represented by a domus of the II-III century A.D. composed of a triclinium dining room, with table and kitchen furnishings: hence its name, the Triclinium Domus, and the Domus of Stone Carpets, a small Byzantine building of the V-VI century A.D. Its splendid mosaic floors are preserved in an underground room located 3 meters below the street level. The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, dedicated to Bishop Sant'Apollinare, has three naves, with the body raised to a polygonal apse embellished by a beautiful mosaic and flanked by two chapels. Symbol of the city's cultural fervor is Ravenna Festival, one of the most evocative musical event in Ravenna, putting together the charm of a great music festival offering big names from the international opera scene, with the magic of the beautiful Byzantine basilica, the cloisters, squares, the industrial archeology, which represent the typical heritage of the city. The food tasting session Divincibo is of particular interest, as it makes Ravenna a meeting point between the different wine and food cultures Mediterranean-inspired. It includes a series of dinners and tastings conducted by the best Italian emerging chefs, with particular attention to local products, taking place among the picturesque monuments of Ravenna.
Milano Marittima is a few kilometers from Romagna Appennines and offers, as well as the sea, charming medieval towns very close and easily reachable, villages and small towns set in the beautiful hills of Romagna.
One of the most characteristic place in Romagna inland region is Bertinoro, that has maintained the typical ancient structure of the medieval citadel, partly surrounded by Byzantine and Renaissance style walls with an impressive development of steep and winding path in cobblestones, offering glimpses of past times. The unique view has earned this small town the name of "balcony of Romagna”. The heart of Bertinoro is the spacious and elegant Piazza della Libertà, which opens on one side to the plain of Romagna, with a magnificent view on the sea. On the opposite side is placed the Town Hall and the left side of the Cathedral. The beautiful medieval tower stands out on the surrounding buildings. At the end of the square lays the symbol of Bertinoro and its hospitality: the Column of the Rings. The hill is dominated by the millenary fortress, beautifully restored, which is now the head office of the University Residential Center and the Interreligious Museum.
Brisighella is another ancient medieval village, placed in the center of Lamone Valley, which lies at the feet of three artistic and characteristic rocky pinnacles, basis of a Manfrediana and Venetian fortress of XIV and XVI century, the Clock Tower from XIX century, and the Sanctuary of Monticino dated XVIII century. A labyrinth of ancient cobblestones paths, dominated by an exceptionally elevated and covered street, in an ancient fortified defense of the village, draws the visitor in a far away world, now gone forever. All around a sea of green, rocky paths, chalky stairs, ancient places of worship, houses placed in characteristic streets: it looks like a world of dream and fairy tales that reminds about knights, ladies, duels, love, poison, battles. Brisighella Feast is the annual event representing the true heart of the beautiful medieval town. It is a journey inspired by street artists whose talent is a tool to recall the past, using machines and pyrotechnic fireworks, masks and stilts, offering exciting performances thanks to a suggestive theatrical language really effective. Brisighella squares are transformed into an amazing outdoor theater, providing a realistic framework to choral performances that represent few moments of life in medieval society.
Brisighella is also an excellent starting point for excursions thanks to its location between the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. The ideal destination for a quick journey is Faenza, the town of ceramics, which is a few kilometers from Brisighella. Ceramics, its traditions and its culture are still the vital center of modern Faenza, with its International Museum of Ceramics preserving beautiful collections of items from every age and country. But Faenza is not only ceramics. It is a city enriched by important architectural and urban elements, like the magnificent Cathedral, one of the most outstanding expressions of the Renaissance art in Romagna. The artistic heritage of the town is enriched by the two central squares, the eighteenth century Palazzo Milzetti with the elegant interiors decorated with elegant neoclassical temperas, and the elegant Teatro Masini, dated the second half of the eighteenth century.
A few kilometers from the sea, about half an hour's drive from Cervia, surrounded by vineyards, fruit gardens, olive groves and located on sunny hills gently declining towards the plain and the Adriatic Sea, lies Longiano. It is one of the most popular and appreciated destination, where to enjoy the coolness of the evening shows and the breeze that rises from the sea. It is worth visiting the Castle, the Shrine of the Most Holy Crucifix, the Italian Museum of Iron and Petrella Theatre, particularly appreciated by big actors. Continuing the journey in the hinterland of Rimini it is possible to visit the medieval village of Santarcangelo, close around its beautiful fortress, which is reachable through small roads opening onto broad viewpoints overlooking the Riviera. The hill of Santarcangelo still preserves the mystery of over 200 caves carved into the tufa, whose origin is not yet known. The country fair of San Martino (or “fiera di bec”) is particularly interesting as a food and wine and cultural event: it is a large exhibition of autumn products, farm equipment, local crafts products, antiques and street performances with storytellers, taking place in early November. Furthermore the Santarcangelo Theaters event occurs every year in the month of July and brings in the most charming corners of the historic center, several theater companies from all the European countries.
The Republic of San Marino is particularly interesting, being one of the smaller states in the world and the oldest Republic in Europe, rich in natural beauty, museums, libraries and monuments. On top of Mount Titano stand the three Towers or Rocche, fortifications linked together with walkways trough walls reaching the underlying city surrounded by a triple ring of walls, with several gates, bulwarks and towers, offering a broad view on a clear day till the Adriatic coast. Within the city walls there is a fascinating mixture of ancient squares, palaces, museums, churches, medieval houses all made of stone, which preserve the appearance of a past time, as well as lots of shops where to find anything at a good price.
For those interested in a holiday “en plain air” it is worth visiting the Regional Park of Delta del Po. Established in 1989, it is the largest among regional parks, and includes the southern part of present Po delta, the long-standing delta and a large portion of wetlands southern located, particularly interesting from a naturalistic point of view (including the salt flats of Cervia). This extreme part of Po valley offers a surprising great variety of natural environments and cultural attractions. Here are left the remains of the old Mediterranean scrub and the hygrophilous forest that used to shade the ancient Padus valley; furthermore coastal lagoons, salty valleys and wetlands of sweet waters, as well as Etruscan and Roman traces, the extraordinary Byzantine mosaics and the influence of Benedictine and Estes architecture. The Park is divided into six resorts easily reachable through the Lidi Ferraresi highway, the A14 motorway direction Ravenna or Statale Romea, crossing most part of the protected area.
