Sights of Rimini: what to see in the city and the surrounding area

The popular resort of Rimini, located on the Adriatic coast, attracts the attention of many tourists not only with magnificent beaches, modern entertainment facilities and luxury shops, but also with very interesting historical and architectural objects. Sights of Rimini are located both in the city itself and in its environs. For those who first arrived at the resort and do not know what to see in Rimini, BlogoItaliano compiled a TOP list of the most interesting sights of the city.

1.Cavour Square

The main city square of Rimini - Cavour, has long received the status of the historical and cultural center of the city. Here are concentrated many interesting architectural sights of Rimini from different eras - several palaces, a theater, a fountain. Despite the fact that buildings and structures were erected at different times, they make up a completely harmonious composition. To those who don’t know what to see in Rimini, First of all, they recommend going here.

Rimini Cavour - the center of interesting architectural monuments

Three palaces go to Piazza Cavour at once: the Palazzo del Podesta, intended for the ruler of the city, the Palazzo del Arengo and Garampi, in which the city municipality is now located. During its existence, palaces have undergone restructuring more than once, since they had to survive both earthquakes and fires. Another famous building located on Cavour Square is the Teatro Kommunale. The theater was opened in 1857 and immediately became the center of Rimini's creative life. In 1916, the building was partially destroyed by an earthquake, during the Second World War - by bombing, so only the facade of the theater was preserved in its original form.

The center of the square is decorated with a monument to Pope Paul V, installed at the beginning of the 17th century, and the famous Pigna fountain made of white marble. The fountain, crowned with a marble cone, appeared on the square in the 16th century.

2.Arch of Augustus

Arch of Augustus, considered the main attraction of Rimini, is one of the few ancient Roman buildings that have survived to this day. The majestic arch of Istrian stone was built in 27 BC. during the reign of Guy Flaminia - it became the crown of the Via Flaminia road, connecting Rome with the cities of the Adriatic coast. The construction was dedicated to the son of Julius Caesar, Emperor Augustus, as evidenced by the inscription on it.

Arch dedicated to the son of Julius Caesar Emperor Augustus

In the Middle Ages, the arch became part of the fortifications of Rimini, acting as the southern city gate. Almost nothing remained of the fortress walls surrounding the city - only an arch with several spans left and right and fragments of fortifications in the Alcide Cervi park. Once the arch was crowned by a sculpture of the emperor Augustus, but during the earthquake, the upper part of the structure was destroyed and later replaced by a wall with battlements. On the outside of the arch are the ancient Roman gods Neptune and Minerva, on the inside - Jupiter and Apollo, symbolizing the strength and greatness of the Roman Empire and its emperors. Today, the Arch of Augustus serves as a conditional border between the roadway and the pedestrian zone.

3.Tempio Malatestiano

Tempio Malatestiano Cathedral is located in the historic part of Rimini. The first building on the site of the temple was the Church of the Virgin Mary, built in the 9th century. In the 13th century, the church of St. Francis was erected in its place. And only in the XV century, the ruler of Rimini Sigismondo Malatesta decided to turn a small church into a family mausoleum. The construction was entrusted to the famous architect Matteo de Pasti. According to the project, the temple was to crown a dome resembling the dome of the Roman Pantheon - it was to become the largest dome in Italy. Grandiose plans were not realized due to financial difficulties that arose as a result of political disagreements between the ruler of Rimini and the pope.

Cathedral of Tempio Malatestiano (1450)

The main construction and finishing works were completed only at the beginning of the 16th century, but part of the facade and interior interiors were never completed. The main decoration of the cathedral was the crucifix by Giotto, a fresco by Piero della Francesca depicting Sigismondo Malatesta, as well as a picturesque panorama of Rimini of the 15th century located in the Chapel of the Planets.

4. Tiberius Bridge

The Tiberius Bridge, connecting the banks of the Marecchia River, is a powerful five-arch structure, whose age is more than 2000 years. The construction of the bridge began in the year 14 C.E. under the emperor Augustus, and completed under Tiberius in 21 CE Thanks to the unique technology of mixing lime and volcanic ash, the design turned out to be very strong and durable. The bridge is often called the Devil's Bridge: they say that during the construction, the completion of which was always hindered by something, the emperor Tiberius turned to Satan for help. This is allegedly indicated by grooves on the railing, similar to hoof marks. In fact, these grooves are designed to secure the pulley when lifting the load.

The bridge of Tiberius is estimated at 2 millennia

Over a long history, the bridge was destroyed only once - in 580, then it was rebuilt and to this day has remained in excellent condition - today this Rimini landmark open for both pedestrians and vehicles.

5. Park "Italy in miniature"

The unique theme park "Italy in Miniature", opened in 1970, is a landmark that you should definitely see in Rimini. On an area of 85 thousand square meters. meters are located more than 270 architectural landmarks of the country, executed on a scale from 1:25 to 1:50. Visitors to the park can see what the main attractions of Italy look like, appreciate the work of architects and artists, and also decide how relevant it is for them to visit the originals.

On an area of 8.5 hectares - copies of the most famous sights of Italy

In addition to sightseeing, guests of the park are invited to visit a scientific exhibition, various attractions for adults and children, as well as various restaurants and cafes. You can move around the park both on foot and by train.

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