After the Ravenna Marathon: Classe and the Coast

The Route: Ravenna → Classe → Marina di Ravenna or Punta Marina (1 night) → Ravenna Logistics: Local buses link Ravenna with Classe and with the coastal villages. Frequencies drop in winter, so check the timetable. A taxi or hire car makes the loop simpler. Marathon Month: November Duration: 1 night

Ravenna ──(bus or taxi, about 15-20 mins)──> Classe: Sant'Apollinare in Classe
                                                  │
                          Classis museum, pine forest of Classe
                                                  │
                          coast at Marina di Ravenna, night nearby

Classe was the harbour of the Roman fleet, one of the largest naval bases of the empire, and the sea has since retreated several kilometres. What stands there now is a very large brick basilica in a field. Sant'Apollinare in Classe was consecrated in the sixth century, and its apse holds a mosaic of green hills with sheep on them, under a gold sky.

The coast beyond it is flat and sandy, with a long beach, a pine forest and a string of resorts that go quiet after the summer. It is a gentle landscape for a day after a marathon, and the flatness is the point.

November on the Ravenna coast: the season is over. Beach clubs are shuttered, many restaurants have closed until spring, and the sea is grey. The air is damp and the light is pale. A handful of places stay open for locals, so plan meals around them.

Getting there

Take the local bus from the Ravenna station towards Classe. Check the timetable and the last bus back. If you want to see both the basilica and the coast, a taxi or hire car saves time.

Sant'Apollinare in Classe

The basilica stands apart from the town, with a round brick bell tower beside it. Inside, the nave is long and plain, and the apse mosaic is the draw. A single ticket may cover it and other monuments, and opening hours change with the season, so check.

The Classis museum

Close to the basilica, the Classis Ravenna museum tells the story of the port and the city in Roman and late antique times. It occupies an old sugar refinery. Opening days vary and it may close on certain weekdays, so confirm.

The pine forest

The Pineta di Classe is an old coastal pine wood with flat sandy paths, and Dante described a forest like it in the Purgatorio. A flat, shaded walk of an hour will suit tired legs. Check the paths for flooding after rain.

The coast

Marina di Ravenna has a harbour, a canal and a breakwater, and Punta Marina has a long beach and a seafront promenade. Both are flat. Winter walking on the sand is bracing.

Where to stay

Many coastal hotels close for the winter, and the ones that stay open are few. Check opening dates and book ahead. A room in Ravenna with a day trip out to the coast is a sensible alternative.

Getting back

Return by bus or taxi to Ravenna. Allow a margin for the last bus, since services can end early in the off season.