In this place full of history you will rarely meet other visitors. Here the wind that blows through  the leaves of the trees and the rustle of the cicadas in summer are the only soundtrack, all around a sense of absolute peace and solemnity.

Unknown to most people (even to locals), the War Cemetery is located in Piangipane - a small town in Ravenna countryside - in memory of those men killed in the clashes for the liberation of Ravenna and the surrounding area as far afield as Valli di Comacchio.
That was the mission of the Canadian Corps, who managed to take Ravenna to fascists in December 1944. Next to them lay the remains of British, Indian, New Zealand, South African, Australian, soldiers and the Jewish Brigade from Palestine whose soldiers were mainly enlisted as volunteers.

Since 1974 the bodies of 33 victims of the First World War have been moved here from cemeteries of the Northeast as well.
The entrance is majestic. A long avenue of lawn and hedge leads to the neoclassical entrance gate. On the right there is a crypt that contains the names registry and a panel that narrates some episodes of World War II.
The architectural project was designed by Rudyard Kipling for the fallens of World War I and it is similar to other war cemeteries in Europe.
Begonias and garlic flowers sprout out among the 988 white marble gravestones lined up on the perfect green grass, here and there there are Canadian flags, peace reigns in the shadow of the fronds of big trees.
It's moving to think of these men, of different races, cultures and religions, who are here one next to  the other as they were in the battle, men who gave their lives to free Italy from the nightmare of oppression and totalitarianism.
If you are visiting Ravenna for more than a day or two, I recommend a visit to this place full of peace which is a  tribute to the men who made history.

By car: The War Cemetery is near Piangipane, about 1 km far from SS16.
On the SS16 you find a sign "Piangipane 4 km" at km 143, turn left and go straight in Via Piangipiane. After few kms, after house number 24, you will find on the left the entrance to the cemetery .