Situated just south of Ravenna, in the area between the town of Classe and the municipality of Cervia, the Classe Pinewood Forest, with its 900 hectares, is one of the largest green lungs and naturalistic areas of the Adriatic Riviera, an integral part of the Po Delta Park.
It is an integral part of the Po Delta Park. It is home to centuries-old trees such as holm oaks, downy oaks and hornbeams, as well as a rich undergrowth that often offers products used in local cuisine such as asparagus, privet, blackthorn, rowan and medlar.
The Mediterranean vegetation alternates with arid meadows and lowlands flooded with brackish or fresh water,
The survival of this ancient wood is due to the Camaldolese monastic community based in the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe. Since the year one thousand, the monks took care of and preserved the area, safeguarding the profitable revenues linked to the pinewood economy.
The beautiful Classe Pinewood Forest is now owned by the Municipality of Ravenna and is considered a historical institution, so much so that its tree (the stone pine) even appears in the city’s coat of arms.
