You will fly over the lito di Chiassi (the historic pinewood of
Classe), as it was called by Dante, where other personages of
the past such as Boccaccio or the great Botticelli also found a
source of their great inspiration. You will not lose sight of the
entire wooded area as far as the sea, where the Bevano River,
the only river outlet untouched by man, flows through the depressions
behind the dunes into the Adriatic Sea.
You will understand how the great natural value and beauty
of this location, the importance of which is recognised at the
European Community level, has a considerable diversity of rare
and beautiful species of fauna. Here, right under you, where
the majestic umbrella pine reigns and offers shade to the forest
tracks suitable for walking, cycling or even horse riding,
you will catch a glimpse of the observation towers from which
you could observe the numerous species of passerine songbirds
and stopover sites of black-winged stilts.
You will appreciate what was the longest and most prosperous
monastic dominion of the pinewood, how it was considerably
reduced and how even today it moves towards an advanced
natural state.
From the pinewood to the reserve it is a short distance: after
enjoying a lengthy panorama of 7 (seven) of the most important
early Christian historic buildings, recognised by Unesco as
World Heritage, "stops" in our aerial itinerary. Here you are projected
physically in what is an authentic Byzantine savannah, the
last branch in the southern direction of the part of the natural
park known as the Po Delta Natural Park, consisting of the Valle
della Canna, from Punte Alberete and the Pinewood of San Vitale.
Even today these represent the ancient biological environment
typical of the Po Valley Plain, declared a nature reserve
since 1968 and now one of the most important in Europe.
 Follow each leg of the journey with you audio guide,
looking out the window of your Cessna, and take photos
or film, you will hear about historical events, like the work
of the Pontifi cal government in 1800 with the creation of an extensive
flood plain for collecting the alluvial deposit of the Lamone
river which fl ows into the sea at the nearby seaside resort of Marina
Romea. You will be able to appreciate how the great charm
of the land depends on the succession of natural environments
which range from clumps of ash trees to flooded grasslands.
You will probably be inspired to visit it on the ground too, accompanied
by a qualified guide and preferably late on a summer
afternoon to discover that among the rushes of the largest
heronry in Italy the pygmy cormorant, glossy ibis and other
species make their nests. The sight of these sites from high
above offers you unusual views of our territory, areas that are
still inaccessible and the desire to explore.
We could not do without a short detailed panorama of the historic
buildings of Ravenna for your flight between the pinewood of
Classe and the Po Delta natural Park, to yours resumptions
or the best photographic releases.
 An audio guide, meticulously prepared for you, will guide you
to the most interesting photo or film shots while circumnavigating
the pinewoods, the nature reserves and the early Christian
buildings of the city of art. Consulting the site and the short fi lm
will show you all the legs of the flight one after the other and
what could become your photo or film journal.
All the Unesco historic buildings of Ravenna over which we will
fly are from the early Christian period with the exception of the
Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Porto which we mention in the route
because it is very large and near to the Basilica of San Apollinare
Nuovo and because it is adjacent to the monastery of the Lateran
Monks, now home to the MAR, the City Art Museum.
While circling over the historic buildings you will be surprised by
the information concerning their history, starting with the Basilica
of San Apollinare in Classe, built in honour of the bishop Apollinare
who founded the Church of Ravenna.
Then you will pass over the Basilica of San Apollinare Nuovo,
built by Theodoric in the first quarter of the 6th century. The flight
over this site will enable you to see the many private gardens
and surrounding homes that complement the whole, including
the Public Gardens and the entire urban and historic fabric of
the city of Ravenna.
 A little further on you will see the Mausoleum of Theodoric from
the window of your Cessna and you will realise the diffi culties
experienced by the workers in placing the great cupola.
Then you will fly over the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum
of Galla Placida with more information, stories and gardens
followed by the Cathedral of Ravenna with its characteristic bell
tower, more history and information, and finally the Archiepiscopal
Chapel and Orthodox (or Neonian) Baptistery.
As we said before these are unusual views which until recently
only a few could enjoy.
Ravenna in Volo has made this service available to everyone at
an accessible price. Don't miss the opportunity to see the entire
area of Ravenna from this marvellous perspective.
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