Rimini

Rimini(/ˈrɪmɪni/RIM-in-ee,Italian:[ˈriːmini];Romagnol:RéminorRémne;Latin:Ariminum) is a city in theEmilia-Romagnaregion ofNorthern Italy.
Sprawling along theAdriatic Sea, Rimini is situated at a strategically-important north-south passage along the coast at the southern tip of thePo Valley. It is one of the most notable seaside resorts inEurope, with a significant domestic and international tourist economy. The first bathing establishment opened in 1843. The city is also the birthplace of the film directorFederico Fellini, and the nearest Italian city to the independentRepublic of San Marino.
Theancient Romansfounded thecoloniaofAriminumin 268 BC, constructing theArch of Augustusand thePonte di Tiberioat the start of strategic roads that ended in Rimini. During the Renaissance, the city benefited from the court of theHouse of Malatesta, hosting artists likeLeonardo da Vinciand producing theTempio Malatestiano. In the 19th century, Rimini hosted many movements campaigning forItalian unification. Much of the city was destroyed duringWorld War II, and it earned a gold medal for civic valour for itspartisan resistance. In recent years, theRimini Fierahas become one of the largest sites for trade fairs and conferences in Italy.
As of 31 December 2019, Rimini's urban area was home to 151,200 people, with approximately 325,000 living in theeponymous province, making it the twenty-eighth largest city in Italy.
The area was inhabited byEtruscansuntil the arrival of theCelts, who held it from the 6th century BC until their defeat by the Umbri in 283 BC. In 268 BC at the mouth of the Ariminus (now called the Marecchia), theRoman Republicfounded thecoloniaof Ariminum.
Ariminum was seen as a bastion againstCelticinvaders and also as a springboard for conquering the Padana plain. The city was involved in the civil wars of the first century, aligned with the popular party and its leaders, firstGaius Marius, and thenJulius Caesar. After crossing theRubicon, the latter made his legendary appeal to the legions in the Forum of Rimini.
As the terminus of theVia Flaminia, which ended in the town at the surviving prestigious Arch of Augustus (erected 27 BC), Rimini was a road junction connecting central and northern Italy by theVia Aemiliathat led toPiacenzaand theVia Popiliathat extended northwards; it also opened up trade by sea and river.
Remains of the amphitheatre that could seat 12,000 people, and a five-arched bridge ofIstrian stonecompleted by Tiberius (21 AD), are still visible. LaterGalla Placidiabuilt the church of Santo Stefano.
The evidence that Rimini is of Roman origins is illustrated by the city being divided by two main streets, the Cardo and the Decumanus.
The end of Roman rule was marked by destruction caused by invasions and wars, but also by the establishment of the palaces of the Imperial officers and the first churches, the symbol of the spread ofChristianitythat held the importantCouncil of Ariminumin the city in 359.
When theOstrogothsconquered Rimini in 493,Odoacer, besieged in Ravenna, had to capitulate. During theGothic War (535–554), Rimini was taken and retaken many times. In its vicinity the Byzantine generalNarsesoverthrew (553) theAlamanni. Under the Byzantine rule, it belonged to theDuchy of the Pentapolis, part of theExarchate of Ravenna.
In 728, it was taken with many other cities byLiutprand, King of the Lombardsbut returned to the Byzantines about 735.Pepin the Shortgave it to the Holy See, but during the wars of the popes and the Italian cities against the emperors, Rimini sided with the latter.
In the 13th century, it suffered from the discords of the Gambacari and Ansidei families. The city became a municipality in the 14th century, and with the arrival of the religious orders, numerous convents and churches were built, providing work for many illustrious artists. In fact,Giottoinspired the 14th-century School of Rimini, which was the expression of original cultural ferment.
TheHouse of Malatestaemerged from the struggles between municipal factions withMalatesta da Verucchio, who in 1239 was namedpodestà(chief magistrate) of the city. Despite interruptions, his family held authority until 1528. In 1312 he was succeeded byMalatestino Malatesta, firstsignore(lord) of the city andPandolfo I Malatesta, the latter's brother, named byLouis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, asimperial vicarofRomagna.
Ferrantino, son of Malatesta II (1335), was opposed by his cousin Ramberto and by CardinalBertrand du Pouget(1331), legate ofPope John XXII. Malatesta II was also lord ofPesaro. He was succeeded byMalatesta Ungaro(1373) andGaleotto I Malatesta, uncle of the former (1385), lord also ofFano(from 1340), Pesaro, and Cesena (1378).
His son,Carlo I Malatesta, one of the most respectedcondottieriof the time, enlarged the Riminese possessions and restored the port. Carlo died childless in 1429, and the lordship was divided into three parts, Rimini going toGaleotto Roberto Malatesta, a Catholic zealot inadequate for the position.
The Pesarese line of the Malatestas tried, in fact, to take advantage of his weakness and to capture the city, butSigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Carlo's nephew, who was only 14 at the time, intervened to save it. Galeotto retired to a convent, and Sigismondo obtained the rule of Rimini.
Sigismondo Pandolfo was the most famous lord of Rimini. In 1433,Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, sojourned in the city and for a while he was the commander-in-chief of the Papal armies. A skilled general, Sigismondo often acted ascondottierofor other states to gain money to embellish it (he was also a dilettante poet). He had the famousTempio Malatestianorebuilt byLeon Battista Alberti. However, after the rise ofPope Pius II, he had to fight constantly for the independence of the city.
In 1463, he was forced to submit to Pius II, who left him only Rimini and little more;Roberto Malatesta, his son (1482), underPope Paul II, nearly lost his state, but underPope Sixtus IV, became the commanding officer of the pontifical army against Ferdinand of Naples. Sigismondo was, however, defeated by Neapolitan forces in thebattle of Campomorto(1482).Pandolfo IV, his son (1500), lost Rimini toCesare Borgia, after whose overthrow it fell to Venice (1503–1509), but it was later retaken byPope Julius IIand incorporated into thePapal States.
After the death ofPope Leo X, Pandolfo returned for several months, and with his sonSigismondo Malatestaheld a rule which looked tyrannous even for the time.Pope Adrian VIexpelled him again and gave Rimini to theDuke of Urbino, the pope's vicar in Romagna.
In 1527, Sigismondo managed to regain the city, but in the following year the Malatesta dominion died forever.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Rimini, now a secondary town of the Papal States, was ruled by anApostolic Legate. Towards the end of the 16th century, the municipal square (now Piazza Cavour), which had been closed off on a site where the Poletti Theatre was subsequently built, was redesigned. The statue ofPope Paul Vhas stood in the centre of the square next to the fountain since 1614.
In the 16th century, the 'grand square', which was where markets and tournaments were held, underwent various changes. A small temple dedicated toSaint Anthony of Paduaand a clock tower were built there, giving the square its present shape and size.
Until the 18th century raiding armies, earthquakes, famines, floods and pirate attacks ravaged the city. In this gloomy situation and due to a weakened local economy, fishing took on great importance, a fact testified by the construction of structures such as the fish market andRimini Lighthouse.
In 1797, Rimini, along with the rest ofRomagna, was affected by the passage of theNapoleonic armyand became part of theCisalpine Republic.Napoleonic policysuppressed the monastic orders, confiscating their property and thus dispersing a substantial heritage, and demolished many churches including the ancient cathedral of Santa Colomba.
The troops ofJoachim Murat,King of Naples, marched through Rimini on 30 March 1815.In a last attempt to gain allies before his defeat in theNeapolitan War,Murat published theRimini Proclamation, one of the earliest calls forItalian unification.In 1845, a band of adventurers commanded by Ribbotti entered the city and proclaimed a constitution which was soon abolished. In 1860, Rimini and Romagna were incorporated into theKingdom of Italy.
The city was transformed after the 1843 founding of the first bathing establishment and the Kursaal, a building constructed to host sumptuous social events, became the symbol of Rimini's status as a tourist resort. In just a few years, the seafront underwent considerable development work, making Rimini 'the city of small villas'.
DuringWorld War I, Rimini and its surrounding infrastructure was one of the primary targets of theAustro-HungarianNavy. After Italy's declaration of war on 15 May 1915, the Austro-Hungarian fleet left its harbours the same day and started its assault on the Adriatic coast betweenVeniceandBarletta.The1916 Rimini earthquakes, on 17 May and 16 August, led to the demolition of 615 buildings in the city, with many historic churches severely damaged.4,174 people were displaced between Rimini andRiccione.On 19 October 1922, Riccione was separated from Rimini to form a separatecomune.
InWorld War II, Rimini suffered sustainedAlliedaerial bombardmentfrom November 1943 until its liberation on 21 September 1944.82% of Rimini's buildings were destroyed, the highest figure among Italian cities with over 50,000 inhabitants.Around 55,000 refugees fled to the north, to the hinterland, and to San Marino,where they sheltered in the country'srailway tunnels.As the Allied frontline approached the city,naval bombardmentfollowed,and remaining citizens hid in makeshift shelters or in caves by the Covignano hill.Partisan resistancewas also notable in Rimini, with official reports of 400 young people involved in resistance cells. On 16 August 1944, three partisans were hanged in Rimini's central square, which would later be renamed in their honour.TheBattle of Riminiwas a major engagement in theGothic Line.Oliver Leese, the BritishEighth Army's commander, called the advance to liberate Rimini "one of the hardest battles of the Eighth Army ... comparable toEl Alamein,Mareth, and theGustav Line(Monte Cassino)".Within 37 days of the battle, over 10,000 soldiers had died between the Allied andAxisforces.For its role in liberating Rimini, the3rd Greek Mountain Brigadewas awarded the honorific title "Rimini Brigade".1,939 Allied soldiers,of which 1,413 are British,were buried in theCoriano Ridge War CemeteryinCoriano.114 Greek soldiers were buried in a cemetery in Riccione's Fontanelle area,and an Indian cemetery with 618 burials is located on theSan Marino Highway.
Following Rimini's liberation, reconstruction work began, culminating in huge development of the tourist industry in the city.
Rimini is situated at 44°03′00″northand 12°34′00″east, along the coast of theAdriatic Sea, at the southeastern edge ofEmilia-Romagna, at a short distance fromMontefeltroandMarche. Rimini extends for 135.71 square km and borders the municipalities ofBellaria-Igea Marina,San Mauro Pascoli, andSantarcangelo di Romagnatowards NW,VerucchioandSerravalle, San Marinotowards SW,Corianotowards S, andRiccionetowards SE.
Rimini is the main centre of a 50-kilometre (31-mile) coastalconurbation, which extends fromCerviatoGabicce Mare, including theseaside resortsofCesenatico,Gatteo a Mare,Bellaria-Igea Marina,Riccione,Misano AdriaticoandCattolica.The conurbation is a result of urban sprawl as the tourist economy developed along theriviera romagnola.
Rimini's natural geography provides a strategically-important passage along theAdriatic Seaat the boundary betweennorthern Italy, characterised by the plains of thePo Valley, andcentral Italy, characterised by more mountainous terrain. For its geographical position and its climatic features, Rimini is situated on the edge between the Mediterranean and the central Europeanmicroclimates,providing an environment of notable naturalistic value.
Rimini's coastal strip, made of recent marine deposits, is edged by a fine sandy beach, 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) long and up to 200 metres (660 feet) wide, interrupted only by river mouths and gently shelving towards the sea. Along the coastline, there is a low sandy cliff, created by the rising sea in around 4000 BC, partly conserved north of Rimini, between Rivabella andBellaria-Igea Marina, approximately 1.3 kilometres (0.81 miles) from the coast.
Rimini's ancient coastline was situated much farther inland: it gradually shifted outward over centuries, with new land developed throughout the 20th century.
Rimini's city centre was founded between two rivers: theMarecchiaand theAusa. Until the 1960s, the Ausa flowed south of Rimini's city centre, running between the present-day Rimini Sud junction of theA14 tolled highwayand theArch of Augustus, where it turned north-east along the old city walls to empty at Piazzale Kennedy. From the 1960s, the Ausa was diverted to flow parallel to theSS16[it]state road along cemented banks, and empty into the Marecchia.The diversion was completed in 1972, with the Ausa's former route reduced to a sewage outlet,and redeveloped into a series of public parks.
The Marecchia itself, which flows north of Rimini, was also deviated to empty into the Adriatic Sea further north, between San Giuliano Mare and Rivabella. The deviation was prompted because the river was subjected to periodic, destructive floods near its mouth, where the riverbed became narrow after various bends. The ancient riverbed is still used as Rimini's harbour.
Rimini's southern boundary with the municipality of Riccione is marked by the Rio dell'Asse, a minor stream.
To its southwest, Rimini is surrounded by several rolling hills: Covignano (153 metres (502 feet) altitude), Vergiano (81 metres (266 feet) altitude), San Martino Monte l'Abbate (57 metres (187 feet) altitude) and San Lorenzo in Correggiano (60 metres (200 feet) altitude). The hills are widely cultivated, with vineyards, olive groves and orchards, and historic villas.
Rimini's city centre, bounded by theMalatestacity walls, was divided in the medieval era into fourrioni. Clodio, in the city's north, was popular and a peculiar urban structure tied with the Marecchia. Pomposo, in the city's east, was the largest district, and included largeorchardsandconvents. Cittadella, in the city's west, was the most important district, including the municipal palaces,Castel Sismondo, and the Cathedral of Santa Colomba. Montecavallo, in the city's south, is characterised today by bowed, irregular streets of medieval origins, by the Fossa Patara creek and a small hill called Montirone.The boundaries of theserioniare not known, but it is assumed that they followed the current Corso d'Augusto, Via Garibaldi, and Via Gambalunga.
Outside Rimini's city centre were four ancient boroughs: San Giuliano, San Giovanni, San Andrea, and Marina. These were entirely incorporated to the city by the urban sprawl in the early 20th century:
San Giovanni and Sant'Andrea were developed in the 15th century; they burned in a fire in 1469 and were rebuilt in the 19th century,relocating small industries and manufactures, including abrickfactory and a phosphorusmatchesfactory.
Rimini's municipality includes the coastal districts ofTorre Pedrera[it], Viserbella, Viserba, Rivabella, and San Giuliano Mare to the city centre's north. To the city centre's south are the coastal districts of Bellariva, Marebello, Rivazzurra, andMiramare. These coastal districts are characterised by their tourist economy, with hotels and entertainment venues.
Along the Via Emilia, to Rimini's northwest, is the suburb of Celle and Santa Giustina, just before the border with Santarcangelo di Romagna. North of Santa Giustina are the villages of Orsoleto andSan Vito. Along the Via Marecchiese, to Rimini's east, are the suburbs of Marecchiese, Villaggio Azzurro, Padulli, and Spadarolo, and the rural village of Corpolò. On the road to San Marino is the village of Grotta Rossa. On the road to Ospedaletto is the suburb of Villaggio 1° Maggio and the rural village of Gaiofana. Along the Via Flaminia, to Rimini's southeast, are the suburbs of Colonnella and Lagomaggio.
Rimini has ahumid subtropical climate(Köppen:Cfa)moderated by the influence of theAdriatic Sea, featuring autumn and winter mean temperatures and annual low temperatures among the very highest inEmilia-Romagna.
Precipitations are equally distributed during the year, with a peak in October and minimums in January and July.In spring, autumn, and winter, precipitations mainly come from oceanic fronts, while in summer, they are brought bythunderstorms, coming from theApenninesor thePo Valley.
Humidity is high all year round, averaging a minimum of approximately 72% in June and July and a maximum of approximately 84% in November and December. Prevailing winds blow from west, south, east, and northwest.Southwesterly winds, known aslibeccioor garbino, arefoehn winds, which may bring warm temperatures in each season. On average, there are over 2,040sunshinehours per year.
As of 2019, Rimini has 150,951 inhabitants, with a density of about 1,100 inhabitants per square kilometre within the city limits.
In 1861, by the time of the first Italian census, the population was around 28,000; in 1931 it was more than double, 57,000.
With the increasing tourism development, population rapidly grew between 1951 and 1981, the fastest growing period for Rimini in the 20th century, when the city's population grew from 77,000 to over 128,000.
During the 20th century, two former districts of Rimini got administrative autonomy, causing two distinct temporary drops in population totals:Riccionein 1922 andBellaria-Igea Marinain 1956.
Foreign population is 18,396,(12.5% of the total), mainly fromEastern Europe,East AsiaandNorth Africa. Between 1992 and 2014, foreign population grew from around 1,800 to over 18,000 units. The most important foreign communities are Albanians (3,479), Romanians (2,904), Ukrainians (2,409), Chinese (1,197) and Moldovans (1,023).Other notable foreign groups in the city are Senegalese, Moroccans, Macedonians, Tunisians, Russians, Bangladeshis and Peruvians.
Rimini's population is mostlyCatholic. The city is the seat of theDiocese of Rimini, a suffragan of theArchdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia.
The first cathedral of the diocese was the former Cathedral of Santa Colomba until 1798, when the title was transferred to the church of Sant'Agostino. Since 1809, Rimini's cathedral is theTempio Malatestiano.
Besides Roman Catholic churches, there are alsoOrthodox,EvangelicalandAdventistchurches. Between the 13th and 14th century, Rimini had a flourishing Jewish community, which built three distinct synagogues, all destroyed, formerly located around the area of Piazza Cavour, Via Cairoli and Santa Colomba.
In its post-war history, Rimini has largely voted for left-wing parties. In the1975 regional elections, theItalian Communist Partywon 49.9% of votes in Rimini, its best-ever electoral result.
For much of Rimini's modern history, the city's municipal government has been politically subordinate to other cities inRomagna. From 1540 until 1797, with a brief restoration in 1815, Rimini was part of thePapal States'Legation of Romagna, headquartered inRavenna. In 1797, theCisalpine Republicincorporated Rimini into the Rubicon Department, headquartered inForlì. With the return of the Papal States in 1816, Rimini came under the Legation of Forlì. In 1850, Rimini came under the reformed Legation of Romagna, now withBolognaas its capital. Finally, on 27 December 1859, with Romagna's annexation into theKingdom of Italy, Rimini became part of theProvince of Forlì.
On 16 April 1992, for the first time in its modern history, Rimini became a provincial capital with the formation of theProvince of Rimini.
Rimini is a major internationaltouristdestination andseaside resort, among the most well known inEuropeand theMediterraneanbasin,thanks to a long sandy beach, bathing establishments, theme parks and opportunities for leisure and spare time. The economy of the city is mainly based on tourism, whose development started in the first half of the 19th century and increased afterWorld War II.In 2017, the city welcomed over 57 million tourists.
Rimini's origins as a seaside resort date to the foundation of the first bathing establishment, the oldest on the Adriatic Sea, in 1843.The width of the beach, the gentle gradient of the sea bed, the equipment of bathing establishments, the luxurious hotels, the mildness of the climate, the richness of curative waters, the prestigious social events, made Rimini a renowned tourist destination among the Italian and European aristocracy during theBelle Époque.
Tourism in Rimini started as therapeutic stay (thalassotherapy, hydrotherapy and heliotherapy), evolving into elite vacation in the late 19th century, into middle-class tourism during the fascist era and finally into mass tourism in the postwar period.
The touristic season in Rimini includes the annualNotte rosa[it](Pink Night), a weekend cultural festival held in early July that includes exhibitions,music concerts, andfirework displays.The festival is held across theriviera romagnola,over which it is estimated to attract two million visitors and revenues exceeding€200 million.Italy's third and fourth oldesttheme parkswere opened in Rimini:Fiabilandia[it]in Rivazzura (1965) andItalia in Miniatura, aminiature parkin Viserba (1970).
Rimini concentrates about a quarter ofEmilia-Romagna's hotels, with over 1,000 hotels, more than 220 of which are open all year round,aside from apartment hotels, apartments, holiday homes, bed & breakfast and campings. Tourism is mainly based on seaside holidays, but also includes events, nightlife, culture, wellness, food and wine.
Rimini is among Italy's leadingtrade fairand convention sites.Relocated in 2001 to the city's west,Rimini Fieracomprises sixteen pavilions with 129,000 m(1,390,000 sq ft) of exhibit floor,and hosts trade fairs, sporting events, and musical performances, as well as the annualRimini Meeting, a religious and cultural festival organised byCommunion and Liberation, a lay Catholic movement.The majority of Rimini's hotels reopen for the conference season, which provides a flow of visitors to the city outside of the summer beach season.The dates of conferences are also used to set municipal regulations on the touristic season along the riviera.
The Fiera's previous site, on Via Monte Titano, was redeveloped in 2011 into Rimini Palacongressi, a smaller conference space.In 2015, the Fiera and Palacongressi were estimated to be worth about a tenth of the province of Rimini's gross domestic product.
The city's other economic sectors, such as services, commerce, construction industry, have been influenced by the development of tourism.Commerceis one of the main economic sectors, thanks to the presence of a large wholesale center, two hypermarkets, department stores, supermarkets and hundreds of shops and boutiques.Industry, less developed than tourism and services, includes various companies active in food industry, woodworking machineries, building constructions, furnishing, clothing and publishing. Notable companies areBimota(motorcycles), SCM (woodworking machines), Trevi S.p.A. (electronic goods). Rimini is also seat of a historic railway works plant.
Agricultureandfishingwere the city's main economic sources until the early 20th century. The most common crops, in terms of surface area, arealfalfa,wheat,durum wheat,grape vine,olive tree,barleyandsorghum. Among fruit trees dominatesapricot,peachandplumtrees.Important are the traditional productions ofwine(Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Rebola, Pagadebit, Albana wines) andextra virgin olive oil. The fishing industry can count on a fleet of about 100 fishing boats, the most consistent of Rimini's fishing department, which includes the coast betweenCattolicaandCesenatico.
The City Museum (Museo della Città), is Rimini's main and oldest museum. It was inaugurated in 1872 as the Archaeology Gallery, at the ground floor of Palazzo Gambalunga, thanks to Riminese historian Luigi Tonini, who researched and studied the city's archaeological heritage.The Archaeology Gallery was conceived as a collection ofEtruscan civilizationandRomanantiquities, found in Rimini and in the surrounding countryside. In 1923, it moved to the monastery of San Francesco, and was expanded with a section of medieval art in 1938. Its collections avoided the destruction of the Second World War after they were moved to shelters in Spadarolo andNovafeltria.In 1964, the collections moved to Palazzo Visconti and finally, from 1990, to theCollegio dei Gesuiti, a largeJesuitconvent designed by Bolognese architectAlfonso Torreggiani, built in 1749.
In the Archaeological department are exhibited grave goods fromVillanoviantombs ofVerucchioand Covignano, architectural pieces, sculptures, mosaics, ceramics, coins ofRepublicanandImperialeras, and the exceptional medical kit from the Domus del Chirurgo. The collection of the Roman Lapidary, exhibited in the inner courtyard of the convent, has funerary monuments, epigraphies andmilestones.
The Medieval and Modern Art departments include collections ofpaintings,sculpturesandart objectsby artists fromRomagna(Giovanni da Rimini,Giuliano da Rimini,Guido Cagnacci),Emilia(Guercino,Vittorio Maria Bigari),Tuscany(Domenico Ghirlandaio,Agostino di Duccio) andVeneto(Giovanni Bellini), from 14th to 19th century. The City Museum arranges temporaryexhibitionsand promotes researches, study and restoration activities of the city's historical and artistic heritage.
TheFellini Museum, dedicated toFederico Fellini, houses exhibitions ofdocuments,drawings,scenographiesandcostumesrelated to the Riminese film director. It opened in 2021 and is spread across the Castel Sismondo, Piazza Malatesta, and Fulgor Palace.
The Museum of Glances (Museo degli Sguardi) is housed in Villa Alvarado, on the Covignano hill. It was inaugurated by explorer Delfino Dinz Rialto on 9 September 1972, then known as the Museum of Primitive Arts (Museo delle Arti Primitivi), and hosted in thePalazzo del Podestà[it].In 2005, it was rededicated as one of Italy's main museums on the cultures ofAfrica,Oceania, and thepre-ColumbianAmericas. 600 works are exhibited in the museum, whose collections number over 7,000 objects.
The Maritime and Small Fishing Museum (Museo della Piccola Pesca e della Marineria), in Viserbella, exhibits Rimini's nautical history through a collection ofboats,fishingtools,photographsand a largeseashellscollection, with pieces from all over theMediterranean Sea.
The Multimedia Archaeological Museum (Museo Archeologico Multimediale) underneath theAmintore Galli Theatreshowcases excavations from the theatre's renovation that uncovered a Romandomus,Byzantinefinds, and the ancientMalatestacity walls underneath the theatre.The theatre also includes spaces dedicated to the history ofItalian theatre, the architecture of the Galli Theatre, and the life and music ofGiuseppe Verdi.
There are two private museums outside the city centre: the Aviation Museum (Museo dell'Aviazione) in Sant'Aquilina, close to the Sammarinese border, and the Motorcycling National Museum (Museo Nazionale del Motociclo) in Casalecchio.
Founded in 1619 following abequestby Riminese lawyerAlessandro Gambalunga[it],theBiblioteca Civica Gambalungaholds over 300,000 physical exhibits, including 293,879 books.Among notable exhibits include an 11th-centuryEvangelarium,an early 12th-century codex ofHonorius Augustodunensis, a codex byHugh of Saint Victor, and letters fromGiovanni Bianchi. A collection fromAdolphe Noël des Vergersrecords the French project for a collection of Latinepigraphyand other 19th-century archaeological ventures.
Other libraries in Rimini include a library of theUniversity of Bologna, a school library in San Giuliano Mare, a bioethics institute's library, the diocesan library inSan Fortunato, and a medical-scientific library in Rimini's hospital.
The first stable theatre in Rimini is documented since 1681, when the city council decided on the transformation of thePalazzo dell'Arengo[it]'s main hall into a large theatre hall,hosting shows of amateur dramatics companies and the youngCarlo Goldoni, who was studying philosophy in Rimini at that time.Between 1842 and 1857, theTeatro Nuovo Comunale, now the Amintori Galli Theatre, was built to aneoclassicaldesign byLuigi Poletti; it is considered one of his architectural masterpieces.On 16 August 1857, the theatre hosted the world premiere ofGiuseppe Verdi'sAroldo,which was a major event in the city, attracting many foreign visitors.During theSecond World War, the theatre was severely damaged byAlliedbombardment.Following a complete restoration in the 2010s,the theatre reopened on 28 October 2018.
Rimini appeared on the movie screen for the first time in some early footages, such as the documentary "Rimini l'Ostenda d'Italia" (1912), and in various Istituto Luce's newsreels in the Thirties. The film directorFederico Fellini, was born and raised in Rimini, portrayed characters, places and atmospheres of his hometown through his movies, which however were almost entirely shot inCinecittà's studios inRome:I Vitelloni,8 e ½(Oscar award in 1964),I clowns,Amarcord(Oscar award in 1975). Other Italian movies filmed in Rimini includes "La prima notte di quiete" byValerio Zurlini, "Rimini Rimini" bySergio Corbucci, "Abbronzatissimi" byBruno Gaburro, "Sole negli occhi" by Andrea Porporati, "Da zero a dieci" byLuciano Ligabueand "Non pensarci" byGianni Zanasi.
The earliest musician from Rimini was Saint Arduino (10th century);a musical tradition of some distinction was witnessed in the following century by the presence of a music school, named "Scuola cantorum", at the Cathedral of Santa Colomba. French composerGuillaume Dufaystayed in Rimini, at Malatesta's court until 1427. In 1518Pietro Aaronbecame the first choirmaster of the Cathedral's chapel. In 1690Carlo Tessarini, violinist and composer, was born in Rimini.The city also gave birth to the musician Benedetto Neri, professor at the Academy of Music inMilan.On 16 August 1857, Rimini'sNew Municipal Theatrehosted the world premiere ofGiuseppe Verdi'sAroldo.
Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many social events and dance parties took place at the Bathing Establishment, hosting celebrities such as sopranoElena Bianchini-Cappelliand tenorEnrico Caruso.
In recent years, the city inspired the homonymous music album byFabrizio De André, released in 1978, and it is cited in various popular Italian and foreign songs byFabrizio De André,Francesco Guccini,Nino Rota,Elvis Costello,Fred Buscaglione. Also born in Rimini were the songwriterSamuele Bersaniand the composer and music producerCarlo Alberto Rossi, author of some ofMina's songs.
Rimini's cuisine is simple and characterized by intense flavours and it is indissolubly related to the traditions of rural culture, influenced by the city's location—between the sea and the hills and near the border betweenRomagnaandMarche.
The traditional first course ispasta, which includes regular pasta, pasta in broth and baked pasta, prepared in many different shapes. Almost all pasta dishes require a base of "sfoglia", a dough of eggs and flour, handmade with a rolling pin. First courses includecappelletti,passatelliin broth,lasagne,cannelloni, nidi di rondine,ravioli,tagliatelle,garganelli,maltagliati,gnocchiandstrozzapreti,seasoned withbolognese sauceor adressingofbutterandsage.
Second courses include meat dishes, such aspollo alla cacciatora, rabbit inporchetta, meat-filledzucchini,sausagesand mixed grilled meats, and fish dishes, likebarbecuesofatlantic mackerels,sardines,rotisseriesofoily fishes,sepiaswith peas, friedsquidsandgianchetti(known here as "omini nudi").
Piadais a flatbread of ancient traditions, thin and crumbly, obtained from a dough of flour, water, lard and salt, and baked on a scorching "testo" of terracotta or cast iron. It is often accompanied by grilled meats or fishes, sausages, gratinée vegetables, salami, prosciutto, fresh cheeses and country herbs.Cassoni are stuffed flatbreads similar topiada, with various fillings: country herbs, potatoes and sausages, tomato and mozzarella. Side dishes include mixed salads, gratinée vegetables, roasted potatoes, sautée bladder campion leaves, marinatedoliveswith dill, garlic and orange zest.
Traditional desserts areciambella, Carnevale's fried fiocchetti and castagnole,zuppa inglese(a rich dessert with custard, savoiardi and liqueurs), caramelizedfigs,peachesin white wine andstrawberriesin red wine.Native to Rimini,piada dei mortiis asweetfocacciatopped withraisins,almonds,walnuts, andpine nuts,traditionally eaten in November forAll Souls' Day.
Typical local products aresquacquerone(a fresh cheese) and saba, a grape syrup used to prepare desserts. Qualityextra virgin olive oilis traditionally produced in Rimini area since ancient times.The wines includeSangiovese,Trebbiano, Pagadebit,Rebola,Cabernet SauvignonandAlbana,a dessert wine of Roman origins.
Rimini has a varied historical and artistic heritage which includes churches and monasteries, villas and palaces, fortifications, archaeological sites, streets and squares,as a result of the succession of various civilizations, dominations and historical events through its history, from theRomansto theByzantines, the medievalcomune, theMalatestaseignory, theVenetian Republicand thePapal Statesdominations.
The city has always been a key gate to theOrientand the southern areas of theMediterraneanfor thePo Valley, thanks to its geographical position and its harbour, and a meeting point between cultures ofNorthernandCentral Italy.
Rimini has monuments of different eras, with important examples of architecture from the Roman age, such as theArch of Augustus, theTiberius Bridge, the Amphitheatre and the Domus del Chirurgo; from the Middle Ages, such as the Palazzo dell'Arengo, the church ofSant'AgostinoandCastel Sismondo; from the Renaissance, with theTempio Malatestiano, masterpiece ofLeon Battista Alberti.
Rimini's archaeological heritage includes somedomusof Republican and Imperial age, characterized by polychrome or black and whitemosaics, necropolis and sections of the pavement of the ancient Roman streets. The city, along with its boroughs and the seaside district of Marina Centro, also preserves buildings from the Baroque, the Neoclassical and Art Nouveau periods, with churches, palaces, hotels and mansions which reveal its role of cultural and trading centre and seaside resort.
The city centre has a Roman structure, partly modified by following medieval transformations. Urban evolution, through the renovation of theMalatesta, earthquakes and the suppressions of monasteries, has led to a stratification of historic sites and buildings. The bombings ofWorld War IIcaused extensive destruction and damage, compromising the monumental heritage and the integrity of the city centre, which has been reconstructed and restored in order to valorize its historic places and buildings.
Rimini has an extensive parks system, with 1.3 million square metres of parks and gardens inside the urban areaand a total of 2.8 million square metres of green areas inside the city limits,including river parks, sport facilities and natural areas.
The city's park system includes a series of large urban parks, created along the formerMarecchiaandAusariverbeds, neighbourhood parks and gardens and tree-lined boulevards.
The main parks of the city areXXV AprilePark, Giovanni Paolo II Park, Alcide Cervi Park, Fabbri Park, Ghirlandetta Park, Federico Fellini Park, Pertini Park in Marebello and Briolini Park in San Giuliano Mare. Every Saturday, XXV Aprile Park hosts one of the Italy's thirteen (as of 2022)parkruns.
In Rimini there are about 42,000 public trees, belonging to 190 different species, predominantlylime,planes,maples,poplars,pinesandoaks.23 of these are old trees, protected as "monumental trees" for their age and their naturalistic value, such as theLondon planeof piazza Malatesta, thedowny oakof Giovanni Paolo II Park, thecypressesof Sant'Agostino, theelmof Viale Vespucci and thelimetrees of San Fortunato.
The city's cycling network is articulated inside the main parks and boulevards, linking the most important monuments, tourist attractions, beaches, meeting places, offering various opportunities to different use categories, including urban travels, mountain bike and cyclotourism.
The urban cycling network is connected, through XXV Aprile Park, to the cycle route which links Rimini and Saiano, along the riverMarecchia.
Rimini is the seat of a campus ofUniversity of Bologna, attended by 5,800 students,which include bachelors and masters belonging to eight Faculties: Economics, Statistical Sciences, Pharmacy, Literature and Philosophy, Industrial Chemistry, Sport Sciences, Medicine and Surgery.
The city has public schools of all levels, including 13 nurseries, 12 kindergartens, 39 primary schools, 5 secondary schools and 11 high schools (4 Lyceums, 3 Technical Institutes, 3 Professional Institutes and an Institute of Musical Studies).The city's oldestlyceum, theClassical Lyceum"Giulio Cesare", founded in 1800, was attended byAmintore Galli,Giovanni Pascoli, andFederico Fellini.
Rimini is an important road and railway junction due to its geographic position at the southern tip of thePo Valley, where Adriatic coastal routes meet those extending northwest along the plains.
Rimini is the terminus of threeancient Romanroads: theVia Flaminia, which runs southeast along theAdriatic Sea, turning atFanum Fortunae(Fano) to finish inRoma(Rome); theVia Aemilia, which runs northwest to reachPlacentia(Piacenza); and theVia Popilia, which runs north along the Adriatic Sea to reachAtria(Adria), where it joined theVia Annia. Modernstate roadsreplicate these roads:
Provincial roadsconnect Rimini to towns in its hinterland, includingCorianoandMontescudo.Two other state roads provide connections to Rimini's hinterland:
The tolledA14 Adriatic motorwayruns fromBolognatoTarantothrough Rimini,relieving the SS9 and SS16. Rimini has two exits on the A14: Rimini North, in the locality ofSan Vito, and Rimini Sud, nearer the city centre, close to where the SS72 meets the SS16.Both exits opened on 13 August 1966 as part of theCesena–Rimini section.Rimini's municipal government supports a new A14 exit onto the SS9 near Santa Giustina to relieve arterial roads nearRimini Fiera; the junction is included in the regional mobility development plan.
Rimini railway stationis at the midpoint of theBologna–Ancona railway, and the terminus of theFerrara–Rimini railway[it]. Regional and national trains of all categories call at the station.
Rimini was formerly the terminus of two disused lines:
Rimini has four minor railway stations that are served by regional trains: Torre Pedrera and Viserba on the Ferrara–Rimini railway; andRimini FieraandRimini Miramareon the Bologna–Ancona railway.
The city is served byRimini Fellini Airport, in the southern suburb ofMiramare. The airport is a crucial nexus in the local economy, particularly for tourists visiting theriviera romagnola.It recorded 215,767 passengers in 2022, rendering it the second-busiest airport in Emilia-Romagna.The airport is mainly served bylow-cost carriersandcharter traffic.
The airport was built in 1929 as anaerodrome,on the site of the formerRimini-Riccione Defence Section[it]of the army's Aeronautical Service.It ranked among Italy's busiest airports during the 1960s, supported by international tourists visiting Rimini's beaches.Its passenger use declined with the opening of theA14 tolled highwayin 1966.Since the end of theCold War, Fellini Airport has been specially popular among tourists from the countries of the formerSoviet Union.Russian and Ukrainian passengers together represented 61% of Fellini Airport's passengers before the2022 invasion,which was projected to lose the airport 300,000 passengers annually.Alongside its civilian history, the airport has a notable military history: it was the home of the5th Aerobrigade[it]of theItalian Air Forcebetween 1956 and 2010,and during theCold War, it was identified by theWarsaw Pactas a strategic target in the event of an all-out war,housing several thousand Italian andNATOsoldiers and thirtyB61 nuclear bombs. Helicopters belonging to the7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega"remain at the airport.
After Fellini Airport, the closest major airports areLuigi Ridolfi AirportinForlì,Raffaello Sanzio AirportinAncona, andGuglielmo Marconi AirportinBologna.A coach service operated by Shuttle Italy Airport connects Rimini with Bologna Airport.
Between 1959 and 1969, ahelicopterservice flew between Rimini's port and aheliportnext toBorgo Maggiore's cablecar terminus in San Marino.Operated by Compagnia Italiana Elicotteri, the service ran several times per day,using a fleet of four-seaterBell 47J Rangersand a three-seaterAgusta-Bell AB-47G,which were serviced at Rimini's airport.In 1964, the line was extended toSan Leo.Tickets would cost up to 12,500 lire,including the cablecar to the City of San Marino and a shuttle to theLeonine fortress. The service would take fifteen minutes to reach Borgo Maggiore and twenty-five minutes to reach San Leo.
Rimini and Riccione's combinedbusnetwork, operated by Start Romagna SpA, includes twenty-two suburban lines and twenty-six interurban lines. As well as serving the city's suburbs, the lines connect Rimini to towns and villages in the hinterland and to neighbouringcomunialong the Adriatic coast.
Rimini's trolleybus systemcomprises two trolleybus lines that connect the city centres of Rimini and Riccione; both are run by Start Romagna SpA.Route 11 runs from Rimini's railway station to Riccione Terme along the principal seafront avenue, serving the touristic seafront.The line originated as a horse-drawn omibus service in 1844,running between Rimini and the present-day Parco Federico Fellini.It was converted to ahorse-drawn tramin 1877,and electrified in 1921.Between 1921 and 1927, it was progressively extended southwards to reach Riccione,and converted to a trolleybus line in 1939.
The newer trolleybus route,Metromare, launched on 23 November 2019, provisionally using motorbuses because of a delay in the delivery of the trolleybus fleet.The 9.8-kilometre (6.1 mi)bus rapid transitline runs on a segregated track adjacent to the Bologna-Ancona railway between the stations of Rimini and Riccione. Intermediate stops serve the Fiabilandia amusement park in Rivazzurra, Miramare's railway station, and Federico Fellini International Airport.The trolleybuses entered service on the line on 28 October 2021.A 4.2-kilometre (2.6-mile) northern extension to Rimini Fiera has been approved, with construction starting in summer 2024.
Rimini is served by sixFlixBusstops; its principal stop, on Via Annabile Fada, is served by international routes.Local companies, including Bonelli Bus, Autolinee Benedettini, and Adriabus, provide regular and seasonal coach services to other Italian cities, San Marino, and regional historic sites such asUrbinoandGradara.
HERA Group(Gruppo HERA), amulti-utilitycompany based inBologna, is responsible for theprovince of Rimini's gas, water, energy, andwaste management.
Rimini has three ecological stations (stazioni ecologiche) forwaste sorting: Rimini Viserba, between the coastline andItalia in Miniatura; Rimini Via Nataloni, west of the city centre; and Rimini Via Macanno, south of Le Befane shopping centre.
Rimini is served by thewastewater treatment plantof Rimini-Santa Giustina, which serves eleven municipalities and theRepublic of San Marino. The plant has a water flow rate of 23,281,000 cubic metres (822,200,000 cubic feet), and capable of treating the equivalent of 560,000 inhabitants in the summer and 370,000 inhabitants the winter.The purification plant was inaugurated on 31 May 1972,and doubled in capacity between 2013 and 2015,to become Europe's largest purifier.
In 2013, the municipal government, HERA, and Romagna Acque instituted an eleven-year, 154-million-euro Optimised Bathing Protection Plan (Piano di Salvaguardia della Balneazione Ottimizzato). The plan sought to reducesewagedischarges into the sea after rainfall or thunderstorms, which would lead to temporary bathing bans along Rimini's coastline, hurting its tourist economy. Arainwater collectiontank, with a 14,000-cubic-metre (490,000-cubic-foot) capacity, and a lamination tank, with a 25,000-cubic-metre (880,000-cubic-foot) capacity, was installed under Piazzale Kennedy. As part of the plan, Rimini'ssewage systemwas remodelled between 2014 and 2020.
The main football team of the city isRimini Calcio. It played for nine years (between 1976 and 2009) inSerie B, the second-highest division in the Italian football league system. Its better positioning was the fifth place of the2006–07season (when Rimini was also undefeated in both games againstJuventus).
Rimini has also a notable basketball team, theBasket Rimini Crabs, which played for several years in Serie A and two times in the EuropeanKorać Cup. About baseball,Rimini Baseball Clubwon 12 national championships and it was also European champion three times.
Every Easter weekend, Rimini hostsPaganello, abeach ultimatetournament.First held in 1991, the event takes place over a 500-metre (1,600 ft) stretch of beach, between beaches 39 and 47.In 2023, the competition included 136 teams and 1,600 athletes.The tournament runs betweenMaundy ThursdayandEaster Monday,and is accompanied by cultural shows along Rimini's beach.There are two competitions: a Frisbee tournament, and the Freestyle, which is more acrobatic.
Rimini istwinnedwith:
Its twinning with Saint-Maur-des-Fossés was inaugurated on 5 June 1972, and its twinning with Ziguinchor on 8 June 1974.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Diocese of Rimini".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.