When King Charles and Queen Camilla made a four day state visit to Italy last year, they went, of course, to Rome. But the only other city they visited – which came as a genuine surprise to most – was Ravenna.
Located in the region of Emilia-Romagna, Ravenna is famous for its magnificent basilicas boasting spectacular Byzantine mosaics, as well as being the site of Dante’s tomb.
It was always going to be a challenge to keep to the tight schedule, but it was Ravenna’s newest attraction, The Byron Museum – dedicated to the great British poet, Lord Byron, his lover, Teresa Gamba, and her husband, Count Guiccioli – that truly threw a spanner in the works.
An Englishman making Italians late, is that poetic irony?!
Broadcast 8th January 2026 on Inside Europe, DW Radio.