Ravenna and its mosaics

In 526, construction began on San Vitale under Bishop Ecclesius; when it was consecrated in 547, Ravenna had become the Western showcase of Justinian’s court, its imperial mosaics still glowing today without major repainting. Just 80 km from Bologna via the A14, the city lines up eight UNESCO sites, from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia to the Arian Baptistery. There’s a different Italy here as well: Dante’s tomb (1321) and the quiet zone around San Francesco, where water glints beneath the nave’s floor.

Your day starts with hotel pickup in Bologna, a smooth Mercedes ride, and the car at your disposal to hop efficiently between monuments. While you tour, your driver handles parking; while you lunch, they secure the next stop so you keep momentum. With a Bologna private chauffeur, you can slot in Sant’Apollinare in Classe (8 km south) if time allows, then loop back via Cervia’s pinewoods for a coffee by the salt pans, before drop-off at your door.