After six years of planning, and countless brainstorming sessions with citizens and institutions, Ravenna was ready on Thursday to face the panel of experts called on to decide which Italian city will be the European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Over the course of the past week, delegations from 21 Italian cities were called to Rome to try to convince the panel of 13 experts that their city is the most cultural of them all. The European Capital of Culture initiative began 28 years ago to highlight the Continent's rich diversity, while strengthening the ties that link different cultures and traditions throughout Europe, and, hopefully, transforming the chosen cities into tourist magnets.

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com