Industry

Ravenna Civitas Cruise Port (RCCP) has launched an ambitious artistic initiative for the new cruise terminal in Porto Corsini—an infrastructure project designed not only to welcome global travelers, but also to narrate the city’s identity through visual storytelling. The terminal, set to open in 2026 and financed by Cruise Terminals International (CTI) and Royal Caribbean Group, will feature a large-scale mosaic installation created by one of four artists selected from the local scene.

While the project belongs to the maritime sector, it resonates closely with trends in the experience-driven entertainment economy: increasingly, destinations—much like studios and broadcasters—are investing in iconic visual narratives to enhance visitor engagement and cultural branding. Ravenna’s initiative parallels similar movements in the audiovisual landscape, where public spaces, theme parks, and streaming hubs leverage art and design to extend their storytelling beyond screens.

The 25-square-meter mosaic, to be installed in the main hall, will reinterpret Ravenna’s Byzantine tradition through a contemporary lens. The selected artists—Dusciana Bravura, CaCO3, Nicola Montalbini, and Sergio Policicchio—have been invited to develop proposals on the theme “The Journey and the Mediterranean.” The winning piece will be announced in January.

Architect Alfonso Femia, who designed the terminal, describes the building as a narrative in itself: a dialogue between land and sea, history and innovation. The mosaic will complement the architectural references found on the façades, including color gradients in blues, greens, and golds that evoke travel and the maritime landscape.

For RCCP, integrating a major artwork into the terminal is a strategic choice. “The development of the cruise terminal must follow the growth of Ravenna as a destination,” said Anna D’Imporzano, RCCP’s General Manager. “Choosing mosaic—the symbolic language of the city—means offering travelers and the local community an iconic space that speaks to Ravenna’s identity.”