Rick leaves sophisticated Venice to continue his journey in formerly Venetian parts of the Byzantine empire, first to Ravenna, its major Italian monumental legacy, starring San Vitale basilica. The more basic cuisine includes risotto. Next he visits Croatia, notably Split, once the Roman emperor Diocletian's retirement seat, and the Island which claims to be the birth place of Marco Polo, himself allegedly the importer of pasta to Italy. Croatian cuisine focuses on simple dishes starring a few local ingredients, from seafood and meat to wine.
