Marina di Ravenna Beach (Lidi Ravennati)

Marina di Ravenna Beach, on Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, is the main seaside stretch of the Lidi Ravennati on the Adriatic coast of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, about 95 km (59 miles) from Bologna. The beach is sand with a more natural and less built-up character than the big resorts to the south, and at nearby Punta Marina and Marina Romea the beaches widen and are backed by dunes and pine scrub. The sea is shallow and gently shelving, with the greenish, sediment-tinged water typical of the northern Adriatic, and conditions are usually calm. The atmosphere is relaxed and local: Ravenna residents and families make up much of the crowd, with fewer nightlife venues than Rimini or Riccione. Much of the sand is run by stabilimenti balneari that rent loungers and umbrellas and provide showers, toilets, bars and restaurants, while free stretches are available. Lifeguards operate in the bathing season. Marina di Ravenna also has a working port at the canal mouth, with a pier-side promenade and seafood restaurants, which gives the town a maritime character. The main appeal for visitors from Bologna is combining the beach with the famous early-Christian and Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna, a UNESCO World Heritage site, making it a good choice for a culture-and-sea day. Getting there involves a regional train from Bologna Centrale to Ravenna in about 1h 15min to 1h 30min, then a Start Romagna bus from Ravenna station to Marina di Ravenna in about 25-35 minutes; timetables are published at startromagna.it. The total cost is around EUR 10-14 (~$12-16) and the whole journey takes roughly 1h 45min to 2h 15min. Drivers will find paid parking near the seafront, which fills on summer weekends. The season runs from June to September, with the warmest water in July and August. A sensible plan is to see the mosaics in the morning and reach the beach for the afternoon, checking the last bus and train back before settling in for the evening.