What to visit in Rimini

In Italian mass culture, Rimini is the city that evokes the ideal of summer, fun, sea and carefree leisure. A key location, along with Riccione, of the Romagna Riviera, it embodies everything that evokes beach fun and vacation time. However, beneath this veneer of levity, Rimini is also – and above all – a city with a rich and ancient history, endowed with an artistic and cultural heritage that is in no way inferior to that of Italy’s major art cities.

Itinerary for a walking tour of Rimini

Rimini is perfect for exploring on foot, wandering through its alleys, and letting your intuition take you on a whimsical discovery of wonders, great and small. ItaloTreno, however, wants to make sure you see all the best attractions in the historic center, so we have compiled an itinerary for you, so you don’t miss the best of Rimini.

• The Malatesta Temple

A mandatory stop on any visit to Rimini, we begin our itinerary from the Malatesta Temple. In spite of its name, which suggests a pagan heritage, this imposing structure is the Cathedral of Rimini, an eminent church dedicated to St. Colomba. The term “temple” derives from its classical forms, while the term “Malatesta” refers to its patron, Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. Completed in 1503, it is one of the works of the famous architect Leon Battista Alberti.

• Arch of Augustus and Pizza Tre Martiri

We descend into the oldest part of Rimini, Piazza Tre Martiri. Today dedicated to three young partisans killed here by the Nazis in 1944, in Roman times this was the forum of the city. Dating from 27 B.C. is the Monumental Arch of Augustus, an impressive legacy of the great Roman emperor, decorated with reliefs depicting Jupiter, Apollo, Neptune, and the Goddess Rome. Also not to be missed is the Clock Tower, dating back to 1547.

• Domus del Chirurgo (the Surgeon’s House) and City Museum

Discovered by pure chance in the late 1980s during road works, the Surgeon’s House is a complex of Roman origin that, over time, has been used for various purposes, including cemeteries (even today, it is still possible to see 30 tombs with the original skeletons). The highlight, however, is the room used in Roman times as an outpatient clinic, decorated with beautiful mosaics and inside which ancient surgical instruments can be observed.

We recommend following the visit to the Surgeon’s Domus by continuing to the Museum of the City of Rimini, located near the archaeological site.

• Piazza Cavour

Together with Piazza Tre Martiri, Piazza Cavour is one of downtown Rimini’s liveliest spots. Many buildings of historical importance are located here, such as the Palazzo dell’Arengo, the Palazzo del Podestà, and the Municipal Theater, in full neoclassical style. Qui, inoltre, si trova la famosa Fontana della Pigna, edificata nel XVI secolo e anticamente sormontata da una Statua di San Paolo, sostituita poi nell’Ottocento con la pigna che possiamo vedere ancora oggi. An interesting fact: until 1912 this fountain was the only source of drinking water in all of Rimini.

• Castel Sismondo

This imposing fortress was the residence of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, lord of Rimini, from 1432 to 1468. The building, which stands out for its geometric shape emphasized by the large square towers, conveys a sense of power, strength, and rigor. The effigies and epigraphs suggest that Sigismondo himself was the creator and architect of the castle; however, we know with certainty that he was assisted by experts in the field, among whom stands out – in particular – the great Filippo Brunelleschi.

We have mentioned only the main sites among Rimini’s attractions, but a trip to Rimini is not complete without visiting the Ponte di Tiberio and a stroll in the Borgo San Giuliano and Pescheria Vecchia.

To continue your journey, do not miss our guide to the most beautiful villages of Emilia Romagna.

How to get to Rimini

The fastest way to reach Rimini from every corner of Italy is by train: discover all the ItaloTreno options to travel to your summer holidays on board the high-speed train.

For information on schedules, stops and the latest news on the Italo trains to Rimini, click here.