Ravenna witches ride unveils strong womens stories

Witches night bike ride in aid of local refuge highlights powerful ladies and a great new tour

Ever since the powerful empress Galla Placidia ruled some 1500 years ago and created much of historical Ravenna, there have been powerful women revered in the city.

So many that dozens of streets have been named after brilliant local ladies – partisans, scientists, lawyers, even saints.

And last week a book was published – a topographical guide to Ravenna called "Strade alle Donne" or ‘Streets of Women’.

So when the "Night of the Witches" was arranged by local women’s refuge charity Linea Rosa, it seemed a good idea to organize a guided night bike ride around many of these streets, stopping at key places so that a local tourist guide could explain the women’s stories hidden in the walls.

The tour "Saints, Witches and powerful ladies in Ravenna, their stories told in a magical summer evening" took place on a very warm full-moon-lit 23 June.

50 locals of all sizes and ages joined the ride, and were shepherded around the dark streets by volunteers from FIAB   the local bike group.

The tour lasted a little over two hours and took in many of Ravenna’s key sights, including Galla Placidia’s mausoleum, Dante’s Tomb, St Francis Church, the Arian Baptistry and many secret sights too. Even with such a large group, progress was brisk and efficient.

The tour was good humoured, relaxed and friendly, the settings dreamily-beautiful under the full moon. The audience listened rapt to evocative stories of women’s bravery, sacrifice and courage, which were often gripping and spine-chilling told by deft storyteller and local guide Cinzia Fabbri

It was certainly a night to remember and will hopefully lead to many such evening and day bicycle tours in the future.

Underlying the commitment that the participants had in the tour and the women’s charity was a determination to see some real change for women in Italy.

The local charity Linea Rosa is at the forefront of this movement, providing counseling and emergency accommodation for local battered women. It is sad to note that some 500 women seek their assistance each year in a city of less than 160,000.

In a recent interview Alessandra Bagnara, President of Linea Rosa, told me "Here often men consider their wife as property to do with as they will – it needs more education to change this. So far, the law has changed but our culture hasn’t yet followed"

Linea Rosa now runs three establishments in the area in Ravenna, Russi and at seaside Cervia. Their ability to provide a service depends on dozens of willing and capable volunteers but like many organizations of its sort, funding is always a challenge.

Hence the "Night of the Witches" when many events are held by Linea Rosa in Ravenna’s public gardens (including the bike ride departure). Now in its fourth year, the evening’s entertainment provides much needed funds and public exposure.

Maybe the brave ladies of Linea Rosa may one day find a street named after them in Ravenna?

Valere Tjolle

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