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Visit Rimini

Rimini is a coastal town and seaside resort on the Adriatic sea to the east of Emilia-Romagna.

Above all Rimini is known as a beach and seaside holiday destination. More than 20 km of well-maintained sandy beaches are close to hand, and the coast is largely lined with hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. It is especially popular with Italian holidaymakers, but also with many other nationalities. Note that most of the beaches do charge for access.

There are also plenty of related amusements along the coast, especially amusement parks and aquariums, wildlife and water parks.

This does all mean that the town and coast is very crowded during the summer holidays, and pretty quiet the rest of the time. Take your pick which you are looking for!

Rimini itself suffered very greatly during the Second World War and was largely destroyed. It does retain, however, an attractive old town centre with a few notable sights. Explore the narrow, cobbled streets around the two main squares - Piazza Cavour and Piazza Tre Martiri - to see the best of the original buildings, including some Roman remains - the Arch of Augustus and the bridge, Ponte Tiberio.

The most interesting building in Rimini, and the one with the most fascinating history, is the Tempio Malatestiano. Originally a church, it was transformed in the 15th century into a monument to Sigismondo Malatesta. The converted monument is finely decorated, especially with the intertwined initials of Sigismondo and his fourth wife, and exotic pictures of elephants.

Pope Pius II didnt take kindly to all this, since Malestata was best know as a particularly despicable person - incest, rape, murder, adultery and pillaging were his specialities - and promptly burned an effigy of him and consigned him to hell. The temple contains some fine artwork, including a fresco of the man himself.