Situated on the Adriatic coast in north eastern Italy, Rimini is a popular resort that’s part of a seaside recreation area extending for more than 120kms, from Porto Garibaldi to Cattolica. This beach lovers’ paradise has been a draw with tourists that love the sun and sea for many years, and with those in search of a vibrant nightlife scene. The party scene here is non-stop.
The season runs from late June through September, and during these months, tens of thousands of young Italians and increasing numbers of foreigners come to spend their days sunning on the beach and their nights partying at the clubs and discos. Some of the most popular nightclubs in Italy are found here, and during the season most are filled to capacity all night long.
In addition to wide sandy beaches, Rimini boasts plenty of other opportunities for outdoor recreation, including visits to hot springs and mud baths, water sports and fishing. There are numerous sights of interest that shouldn’t be missed. Palaces in Rimini include Arengo and Podestà, and the ruins of Castel Sismondo are in the centre as well. Also of interest are the old Fish Market, the Fontana della Pigna and the Bridge of Tiberius.
Rimini features cultural attractionsthat are worth a visit, including the 15th century Tempio Malatestiano, built in Renaissance style, the Museo Civico, which displays 14th century Riminese art, the Lapidarium and the Dinz Rialto Museum. The city is also within reasonable driving distance of Bologna, Florence and Venice, where there’s plenty of art, culture and shopping on offer. The tiny Republic of San Marino is located 25kms to the west of Rimini, and makes for a pleasant daytrip.
The resort city is also a busy convention and trade fair centre, and offers a range in accommodation options from smaller hotels to beach resorts and convention centres having full business facilities. If you’re looking for a location where you can conduct your business affairs and enjoy the sea, sun and nightlife, Rimini could be just the place.
The original settlers of Rimini were most likely Greek, but the area was inhabited somewhat later by Celts. By 268BC, the spot was occupied by Romans, who established a colony bordering Umbria and Aemilium (Emilia-Romagna today). The settlement’s seaside location led to its development as an important economic and political centre.
In 50BC Julius Caesar spoke to his armed forces in the Piazza Ariminum, which is known today as Piazza tre Martiri. The rock on which he stood to deliver the address can be seen at the Tempietto di Sant'Antonio. The Emperor Augustus also visited Rimini and an arch was built in his honour (the Augustus Arch) in 27 AD.
Later, Byzantium became the Italic empire capital and Rimini retained allegiance to the western empire. It was a place where disputes where settled between the Byzantines and the Goths, until 567 AD when the Exarchate of Ravenna was established and Rimini became a part of the Pentapolis.
Rimini was raided by the Saracens, which was the beginning of a centuries-long era of devastation and bloodbaths perpetrated by the Lombards, the Franks, the Normans and the Swabians, all related to Rimini’s relations with the Papacy. When the Malatesta family came to power in the 13th century, Rimini was restored to its early splendour. The family dominated the city for over 300 years.
Following a killing ordered by the Malatestafamily, the Church forced the family to renounce the majority of its land holdings and significantly reduced its political power. Sigismondo Malatesta was later appointed as Capitan-general by the Church (1437-1468) and he was considered the quint essential Renaissance prince. In 1446 he commissioned the construction of Castel Sigismondo, which served as a prison until the early 1800s. Malatesta was a great patron of the arts and literature, and most learned men of the period were drawn to his court.
The Malatesta family sold their remaining lands to the Venetians in 1503. Rimini was popular with the King of Naples, and he attempted, unsuccessfully, to create an independent kingdom of Italy. Rimini was then returned to rule by the Papacy.
In 1824, structures dating from the Roman period were restored, as was the Malatesta castle. Not longer afterward, revolutionary forces in Rimini seized control, but were able to hold onto power only briefly, as Austria intervened and once again returned control of Rimini to the Papacy.
More significant clashes occurred in 1844 and again in the following year when revolutionaries under the leadership of Pietro Renzi took control of Rimini. Again, control lasted only a few days, with Switzerland intervening this time. The following decade was relatively peaceful, and then in early 1860, Rimini chose to join the Kingdom of Italy, pledging allegiance to the government in Turin.
In the administration at the outbreak of WWI, Rimini was split into those supporting intervention and those preferring neutrality. During both WWI and WWII, many local men were killed, and given the city’s location near the Maginot line, it suffered severe damage that reduced much of Rimini to ruins. The city began to rebuild itself shortly after the end of WWII, however, and has continued to develop its popularity as a seaside resort, first with Italians, and now with tourists from all around Europe.
Rimini is an enormously popular holiday destination particularly from June to September when young Europeans fill the hotels, beaches and bars.In July and August temperatures often reach 30˚C, and this is the time that the beaches and resort hotels are very crowded. Winters can be quite cold and rainy, however, and there isn’t much happening in Rimini during that time. The skies tend to be quite grey and temperatures don’t usually rise above 10˚C.
In the spring and early fall, temperatures are mild and similar to conditions in other European cities. Days are usually sunny, warm and dry, and most all attractions of interest are open. It’s much less crowded during this time, and not as hot as it is in the summertime. If you’re planning to visit Rimini, and aren’t limited to doing so during the busy summer months, then May-June and September-October are good choices.
Just across the road from the beach the location must be one of the best in Rimini, rooms were spacious and cleaned, beds made and fresh towels every day. Staff were friendly and nothing was too much ...
