Italy is a country with a rich cultural heritage, so it attracts the attention of a huge number of tourists. Rome, Venice and Florence, of course, lead in popularity, but there are many other interesting cities in the country. For example, Rimini. It is located in the northeast and is considered the largest settlement in Italy on the Adriatic coast. And although the resort is primarily famous for its pristine sandy beaches, there are many wonderful places that will be interesting to see. In this article we will talk about the sights of Rimini and the reviews of tourists about them.
Vacation in Rimini
Rimini is a major resort center in northern Italy, and it is often the locals who choose it for recreation, not tourists. First of all, it is famous for its sandy beaches, so it is chosen for a relaxing vacation by the sea. And in their free time from swimming and sunbathing, travelers preferspend on shopping trips, which are also plentiful in the city. And very few guests pay attention to the sights of Rimini. And reviews about them, as a rule, there are only good ones. In them, tourists emphasize that the city has managed to preserve the medieval romance of coastal towns. Rimini can also be an inexpensive place to stay if you want to explore the major cities of Italy, but do not overpay for accommodation. For example, from here you can easily get to San Marino, Florence or Venice.
Rimini is a very old city, the first mention of which appeared in the ancient Roman period. Therefore, most of its attractions are historical. The best time to visit the city is in summer, late autumn or spring. In the high season, walking around Rimini can be combined with swimming in the sea. And in May or September, the flow of tourists subsides, which is in the hands of travelers who do not like crowded gatherings.
Best attractions in Rimini
Before traveling to Italy, of course, it is best to study the most popular places to visit in advance. Rimini is primarily a beach resort, so the number of attractions here is much less than, for example, in Rome and Florence. But this is not a very big city, so tourists do not have to spend time on a long journey. In addition, most of the architectural monuments are concentrated in the central part, so you can see them in a day or two. And tourists consider this a significant advantage, because the rest of the vacation can be spent on traveling to othercities.
What to see in Rimini on your own? The sights here are available for visiting almost all year round, so it is not necessary to hire a guide or buy an excursion to get acquainted with the monuments of the city. In our article we will talk about the most significant of them.
Place Cavour
Tourists traditionally start sightseeing in Rimini from Piazza Cavour. Not in vain, because it is she who is the cultural and historical center of the city. And although the square is not large, there are many architectural monuments on its territory. First of all, it is, of course, an ensemble of palaces built in the 13th-16th centuries. The oldest of them - Palazzo del Arengo - symbolizes the freedom of the city, which for a long time was a separate commune and retained its independence. The palace was often rebuilt, but in 1926 it was returned to its original appearance. At the same time, tourists can look not only at the old facade of the building, but also at the interior. Here, for example, a fresco created in the 14th century has been preserved.
No less old is the Palazzo del Podesta. It was built in the 30s of the XIV century. It was erected specifically for the rulers of the city, which was traditionally chosen by the people. However, now the municipality is located in the Garampi Palace, which is also located on this square. Another significant building is the local Teatro Communale. And although its facade has not yet been restored after the Second World War, performances are held in the building.
A distinctive feature of the square are monuments to the RomanPope Paul V. Next to it is an old fountain built in the 16th century. Surprisingly, the water is so pure that you can drink it.
Cavour Square is the city's most popular tourist attraction. In their reviews, they indicate that they liked this place. But among the minuses, they also talk about crowding. There are always a lot of locals and tourists here, so it is very difficult to take beautiful pictures against the backdrop of palaces or a fountain.
Arch of Emperor Augustus
Only the Arch of Augustus, located in the southeast of Rimini, can compete with Piazza Cavour in terms of attendance. This attraction is really worth a visit, as it is considered the most ancient Roman arch erected in Italy. Its construction was completed in 27 BC. At the same time, the arch served as the southern gate of the city for a long time.
Now it is an architectural monument, so its condition is carefully monitored. The arch is very well preserved, in its upper part there are even inscriptions that say that it was erected in honor of Emperor Caesar Octavian Augustus.
The arch in the past was part of the fortifications, but there is practically nothing left of the nearby walls - only ruins. Once it was also decorated with a statue of the emperor, but after the earthquake it was replaced with more practical battlements. From ancient Roman times on the arch, not only the inscription has been preserved, but also images of the gods: Jupiter, Neptune, Apollo and Minerva. This attractioncan be viewed at any time. However, there is no charge for visiting it.
Tiberius Bridge
Another ancient Roman sight of Rimini, which is worth paying attention to, is the bridge of Tiberius. It is also located just a few blocks from Place Cavour, so it will not be difficult to get to it even on foot. The construction of the bridge began quite a long time ago - in 14 AD. Its construction was completed in 21.
It got its name in honor of the emperor Tiberius, who ruled Rome in those days. The bridge in its appearance resembles similar ancient Roman structures. It consists of five arches and connects the two banks of the Marecchia River.
In the VI century, the bridge was almost completely destroyed by the barbarians, however, through the efforts of Pope Innocent XI, it was restored and put into operation, but only in 1680. The bridge still works great today. Not only curious tourists walk along it, but cars and other vehicles often pass by. By the way, travelers can see the bridge at any time on their own, and for free.
Palazzo Brioli
Cavour is not the only square in the city of Rimini in Italy. Sights can be seen on the small and old Tri-Martiri. This square is famous for the fact that Julius Caesar himself once delivered a speech on it. In its place, the ancient Roman forum was once located, but now only a few columns remain of it. Much more interesting for tourists is the Palazzo Briaoli,built centuries ago.
Then the building alternately belonged to several influential families of Rimini, and in the XVIII century the building housed a scientific observatory. Also a distinctive feature of the palace is the Clock Tower located next to it, which was built in 1562. It got its name from an old clock called the "Perpetual Astrological Calendar". They were made especially for the palace in 1750.
Miniature Italy
The main attractions are concentrated not only in the city center. Near Rimini, for example, there are several theme parks. Let's talk about the most interesting of them - "Italy in miniature".
He got such an interesting name for a reason. It contains small copies of the most popular attractions in Italy. Guests of the park can look at the impressive figures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Milan Cathedral or the Roman Colosseum. Separately, it is also worth mentioning the exposition "Venice in miniature", which contains 119 copies of the palaces and buildings of this city.
The theme park covers an impressive area of 85,000 square meters. You can get around all the miniature monuments on foot, tourists can also ride a mini-train or even take a boat ride. The park has rides, halls with slot machines. Themed and costume shows are also held from time to time. Tourists note in the reviews that they especially like walking in the park.small children.
Tempio Malatestiano
Fans of monumental attractions in the city of Rimini should definitely see the Cathedral of Tempio Malatestiano, which is both a temple and a mausoleum. It was built in the XIII in the medieval Gothic style. The project was developed by the famous Italian architect of that time, Leon Alberti, who is often compared with Leonardo da Vinci. In the middle of the 15th century, the temple was turned into a mausoleum by the ruler of the city of Sigismondo Malatesta. Now it houses not only church equipment, but also old paintings. For example, tourists can look at the fresco "Crucifixion", which was created by the artist Giotto di Bondone in 1312.
Rubicon River
If you want to see the sights around Rimini, then pay attention to the small river Rubicon, located on the outskirts of the city. It is famous not for its natural landscapes, but for the historical events that took place near its shores many centuries ago. Scientists believe that it was the Rubicon that was the river that Julius Caesar himself once crossed, advancing on a campaign against Rome. It was from here that his conquest began, since it was in Rimini that the border between Italy and Gaul used to pass. Now only a small sign with the name of the river reminds of this famous event, next to which tourists are very fond of taking pictures.
Sigismondo Castle
Sigismondo Malatesta immortalized his name not only with a mausoleum, but also with a castle that waserected near Place Cavour in 1446. The building now houses several museums. One of them is devoted to the study of ethnography, and the other to non-European cultures. Here you can see exhibitions dedicated to Asian, African and American art.
Like other sights of the city of Rimini, the castle is available for tourists to visit almost daily. It can be viewed both independently and as part of an excursion group.
Mirabilandia Park
Rimini must-visit attractions include another theme park. It is very popular with tourists because it is considered the third largest in Europe.
There are 37 modern attractions on its territory. Themed show programs are often held here, including performances of the Russian theater on ice and car stunt shows. The park is located near between Rimini and Ravenna. It is approximately 40 km away.
Reviews of tourists about the sights of Rimini, Italy
Rimini has a rather controversial reputation among tourists. Some people liked its sights very much, while others, for example, believe that other cities in Italy offer much more interesting cultural and architectural monuments. In their reviews, tourists write that most of all they like the compact location of attractions. In Rimini, most of them are within walking distance. TravelersIt is recommended to definitely visit Piazza Cavour and the Arch of Augustus, the Tiberius Bridge and the Cathedral of Tempio Malatestiano located next to it, besides, this can be done within one day. The disadvantage of these cultural monuments is the large number of their visitors. Tourists have to crowd among the crowded crowd and spend a long time in lines. Taking good photos is also quite problematic.
But the tourists were delighted with the theme parks. They recommend setting aside a separate day for their visit and be sure to bring small children with you. Impressions from a walk in the parks, in their opinion, remain simply unforgettable.
