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The 'Splendours'of the Malatesta
Roaming around in the open air
A great variety of different landscapes distinguish this part of Romagna, which is well equipped with good roads that normally run parallel to the Rivers Uso, Marecchia, Marano and Conca. The traditional hospitality provided by the inhabitants, who invented modern holidaymaking in the mid-19th century, invites visitors to discover natural and cultural environments of strong appeal, where accommodation facilities of every kind abound.
History and Culture
Rimini is a city rich in history, works of art and beautiful monuments. It has many different aspects. There is a Roman Rimini, with the famous Arch of Augustus, erected in 27 B.C. in honour of the emperor, or the Bridge of Tiberius, with its great Istrian stone arches, which marks the start of the Via Emilia. But there is also a Medieval Rimini, with churches that house frescos of the famous Trecento Rimini Giotto school and the mighty Sigismondo Castle, a home and fortress of the Malatesta family. Splendid is the Renaissance Rimini, with that architectural masterpiece, the Malatesta Temple, the facade of which is the work of Leon Battista Alberti. This houses the crucifix by Giotto, the bas-reliefs by Agostino di Duccio and the fresco by Piero della Francesca portraying the Lord of Rimini, Sigismondo Malatesta. A 16th-century and Baroque Rimini also exists however and the city offers visitors institutions that house heritages of priceless value such as the City Museum, the Gambalunga Library and the "Dinz Rialto" museum of non-european cultures.
The powerful Signoria of the Malatestas has left major signs of its power throughout the area. Fortresses, castles and enormous fortifications are to be found in nearly all the hill villages, almost always in strategic positions.
Events
Rimini is a place of encounter where numerous major international events are staged, such as the Sagra Musicale Malatestiana (Malatesta Music Festival), the Adriaticocinema festival, the Meeting per l'Amicizia dei Popoli (Meeting for friendship among peoples) and the International Study Days organised by the Pio Manzù Centre. Nor must we forget the Associazione Fellini (Fellini Association) which organises international conventions on the great film director, who was born in Rimini and whose films are inspired by the city. For the past ten years, in September, Rimini has also hosted Mondo Natura, Italy's major open-air tourism exhibition. The surrounding countryside contains splendid Malatesta fortresses, many of which host summer events that attract visitors from all over the world, and Medieval villages that celebrate their history and traditions in a thousand different ways. In July, at Santarcangelo, the Experimental Theatre Festival is staged.
Medieval atmospheres are revived at Verucchio in the Parata d'Agosto, Rocca, Fanti, Donne e Mercanti event (August Parade, Fortress, Infantrymen, Women and Merchants). |
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Sea and Nature
Rimini is more than just its shallow sea and sandy beach; it is also hinterland, with valleys carved out by the Rivers Marecchia, Marano and Conca and a singular landscape in terms of crops and tree species – a place where vineyards and wheat fields coexist with oaks and Spanish broom, olives and chestnuts. The identity of the Marecchia Valley, conditioned by history and the age-old battles between the Houses of Malatesta and Montefeltro, led to the formation of the larger centres with their mighty strongholds. Nature here is at the same time harsh and gentle, but always highly appealing. Here the woodland is home to rare animals and the landscape is sculpted by the rocks that dominate the entire valley.
In the Conca Valley, the castles and villages tend to be built on top of panoramic outcrops that once overlooked the scenes of bloody battles. Dropping down towards the plain, the countryside becomes even gentler and nature coexists harmoniously with agriculture.
The biggest surprises of this valley appear in the Rimini area – old-town centres rich in monuments and a number of smaller hidden valleys, incredibly beautiful and pristine, where the plants and animals and the rural environment represent an occasion to experience the countryside and hills amid peace and quiet, only a short way from the busy coast.
Fragrances and Flavours
Along the coast, fish accompanies famous pasta dishes such as tagliolini alle canocchie, an egg pasta with shellfish sauce; traditional passatelli can also be enjoyed in fish broth, as can strozzapreti. The hills on the other hand favour dishes tied to herbs, cheeses, honey, oil and wine, all of which readily available in the many scenic restaurants that dot the area. Visitors can choose between refined creative restaurants, where the quality of the products is a source of pride or simpler eating places – trattorie – where generous plates of pasta and grilled meat are always accompanied by young local wines such as white Trebbiano or red Sangiovese.
Open-air activities
Many are the tourist cycling or mountain bike trails that cross the hills, which also provide trekking routes through major nature reserves. Numerous horse-riding facilities organise riding trips through the countryside. The beach is a real open-air gymnasium with sports for all tastes, from beach basketball to boules and fitness activities in the water or on the sand. Not to speak of sailing and scuba diving to discover the sea bottom. For those who want to take a stroll on the green, golf facilities are to be found everywhere. At night, you can dance to your heart's content on the beach.
Click the itineraries above to discover the Province of Rimini amidst art, culture and nature.
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