Rimini

Italy

Rimini is a resort town in Emilia-Romagna, on Italy's east coast.

There has been a settlement at Rimini since prehistoric times. Founded by the Romans in 268 B.C., Rimini boasts a 2,000-year history that has left important marks testifying to its grandeur. To the Romans, Ariminum was a link between the "Italic" and the "Gallic" lands, a stronghold on the Adriatic and a gateway to the Po valley. Three major roads converged here - Via Flaminia, Via Aemilia and Via Popilia.

Rimini today is a thriving, bustling resort on the Italian Riviera that boasts "over a thousand hotels". It is one of the least pretentious towns in Italy. This is a place where the Italians (and Russians!) go for their sea and sun, and therefore the food is excellent as well as the people being friendly and helpful. You won't find many tour buses filled with Americans or English here! This also means, however, that few speak anything but Italian (or Russian), so be sure to take your phrase book with you. The locals will work with you and are always happy to see a foreigner at least trying to communicate in their language.

  • Augustus Arch. A Roman arch built to celebrate the Roman emperor who lent it his name.
  • Tiberius Bridge. The Roman bridge that marks the beginning of the Aemilian Way.
  • Domus of the Surgeon. An impressive archeological area documenting 20 centuries of Rimini history.
  • Federico Fellini Museum, Via Clementini 2. Tu-Fr: 16:00 to 19:00, Sa- Su: 10:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 19:00. Fellini's Museum is located within Rimini's historic centre and is popular with both Italian public and foreign visitors alike. This museum covers everything related to the great film director's life and career, from the earliest days of Federico Fellini (1920 - 1993) to his greatest masterpieces, including five Oscars. The Museo Fellini hosts regular exhibitions of drawings, photographs and sketches. Free.
  • Tempio Malatestiano, 35 Via IV Novembre, +39 0541 51130. open M-Sa 8:30AM-12:30PM, 3:30PM-7PM, and Su, 9AM-1PM, 3:30PM-7PM. Bizarre burial chapel for Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, the lord of the city, together with his mistress Isotta degli Atti and the Malatesta family.
  • Museo della città di Rimini.

Augustus Arch. A Roman arch built to celebrate the Roman emperor who lent it his name.

Tiberius Bridge. The Roman bridge that marks the beginning of the Aemilian Way.

Domus of the Surgeon. An impressive archeological area documenting 20 centuries of Rimini history.

Federico Fellini Museum, Via Clementini 2. Tu-Fr: 16:00 to 19:00, Sa- Su: 10:00 to 12:00 and 16:00 to 19:00. Fellini's Museum is located within Rimini's historic centre and is popular with both Italian public and foreign visitors alike. This museum covers everything related to the great film director's life and career, from the earliest days of Federico Fellini (1920 - 1993) to his greatest masterpieces, including five Oscars. The Museo Fellini hosts regular exhibitions of drawings, photographs and sketches. Free.

Tempio Malatestiano, 35 Via IV Novembre, +39 0541 51130. open M-Sa 8:30AM-12:30PM, 3:30PM-7PM, and Su, 9AM-1PM, 3:30PM-7PM. Bizarre burial chapel for Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, the lord of the city, together with his mistress Isotta degli Atti and the Malatesta family.

Museo della città di Rimini.

Lounge on the 15km of beaches. The beachfront, known as La Marina, is by far the number one reason people go to Rimini. Visiting the beach, swimming, etc., is free, but the major part of the beach, except for a narrow and over-crowded strip closest to the sea, is occupied by sunchair-for-rent services. The beach is relatively busy, with loudspeakers shouting out commercials and vendors constantly walking around offering their services. There are some unmanaged sections of the beach (spiaggia libera) where you can lay your own towel e.g. betweeen no 94 and 95 near parco murri.

Yes, there is an old town, but this is generally ignored by most tourists, despite its major historical and cultural value, with valuable monuments dating back to Roman and medieval era.

The marina side becomes a ghost town over winter, with a lot of shops shutting until the warm season starts up again, but the city centre is open all year round offering cultural events, good restaurants and great shopping opportunities, especially during sales period (jan-feb).

The Rimini Fair hosts some important conventions and fairs with a busy autumn-winter-spring schedule Rimini Fiera. A new convention center opened near the center of the city in 2011.

Take a dip in the Adriatic Sea. The bay is warm and inviting and home to many interesting and friendly mammals.

Downtown are the best fashion boutiques, where is it possible to find the best Italian designer brands (Gucci, Prada, Armani, D&G, ...). In early 2006 the first and one of the biggest (in Romagna) shopping malls, called "Le Befane", opened. It's so big that it changed the landscape of the west side of the city. For typically tourist stuff, the beachfront has small souvenir shops. If you enjoy scandalising the family or even your home country's postal service, don't miss some of the more risqué postcards on sale at any one of a number of the little shops on the seafront.

In Rimini you can find several good places to eat. Since the city is on the seashore it is suggested to have a fish-based dish. Some of the best restaurant are: Lo Squero, Il Lurido, Da Guido, Marinelli. Usually with every dish you will get the famous "Piadina", a thin and very tasty sort of bread.

At the beach in the San Guiliano a Mare area, there are restaurants on the beach where one typically dines Al Fresco in warm weather. Although one might be wary of such establishments, the food is excellent and inexpensive. A typical dinner might cost only €5-€6 for the meal alone. Sometimes they offer a multi-plate dinner (good for 2 or even 3 persons) for €18 that includes a 1/4 litre of wine. There are also excellent restaurants just off the main streets.

  • Yummy, via Mantova 70, Rivazzurra di Rimini (close to Carnaby Club, +39 0541452838. 17:30 - 06:30. Famous for steaks, it's a combination of local Rimini style restaurant & international snack-and-burger bar. Nice and friendly atmosphere with young and multilingual staff. € 10 - 20.

Near Rimini, at the Montegridolfo Castle

  • Osteria dell'Accademia, Via Roma, 20 Montegridolfo RN, +39 0541-855335. Inside the Montegridolfo Castle, the osterie dell'Accademia is famous for the typical Italian cuisine: for example tagliatelle, cappelletti, carne alla griglia, tartufo and mushroom. A beautiful panorama in front of the sea in a medieval castle between the hills. € 30/35 drink included.

Yummy, via Mantova 70, Rivazzurra di Rimini (close to Carnaby Club, +39 0541452838. 17:30 - 06:30. Famous for steaks, it's a combination of local Rimini style restaurant & international snack-and-burger bar. Nice and friendly atmosphere with young and multilingual staff. € 10 - 20.

Osteria dell'Accademia, Via Roma, 20 Montegridolfo RN, +39 0541-855335. Inside the Montegridolfo Castle, the osterie dell'Accademia is famous for the typical Italian cuisine: for example tagliatelle, cappelletti, carne alla griglia, tartufo and mushroom. A beautiful panorama in front of the sea in a medieval castle between the hills. € 30/35 drink included.

The whole town is geared towards tourists, so the night life is very good and there are bars everywhere. Once the sun goes down, the streets of Rimini come alive with lights, colour and noise as the sunbathers of the day become the revellers of the evening. There are however no "real" clubs in Rimini; only bars with dance floors. For real clubbing you have to go to Riccione, the next town over, which is about a 15 minute drive away. There is however one club called Carnaby's which is on the outskirts of Rimini and it has a free shuttle bus; the club is also within walking distance.

  • Carnaby Club. Open every night from March to October. The Club itself is a 3 storied building, each level having a different atmosphere, music style, bars and DJs. Free shuttle service on whole Rimini Area.
  • Life club, Viale Regina Margherita 11. Lively nightclub boasting two floors. Open all summer long with a variety of music styles on both floors. Outdoor smoking area fitted with seats. Free bus to and from the club and free giveaways and drink promotions.
  • Opéra Marano, viale D'Annunzio 150, Riccione (seafront bathing area 134, +39 3384430837 (for reservations quotes and promotions call Federico). 9PM-5AM. Open from May to half September. Dance club on the beach with a tropical setting and live music (Italian music, commercial/dance and revival on Fridays, commercial/dance and house on Saturdays). A dinner menu of meat and fish is also available 9:30PM to midnight. On request shuttle service on whole Rimini Area or you can take Bus Line 11.

Carnaby Club. Open every night from March to October. The Club itself is a 3 storied building, each level having a different atmosphere, music style, bars and DJs. Free shuttle service on whole Rimini Area.

Life club, Viale Regina Margherita 11. Lively nightclub boasting two floors. Open all summer long with a variety of music styles on both floors. Outdoor smoking area fitted with seats. Free bus to and from the club and free giveaways and drink promotions.

Opéra Marano, viale D'Annunzio 150, Riccione (seafront bathing area 134, +39 3384430837 (for reservations quotes and promotions call Federico). 9PM-5AM. Open from May to half September. Dance club on the beach with a tropical setting and live music (Italian music, commercial/dance and revival on Fridays, commercial/dance and house on Saturdays). A dinner menu of meat and fish is also available 9:30PM to midnight. On request shuttle service on whole Rimini Area or you can take Bus Line 11.