The town of Rimini is an ancient one, founded as Ariminum by the Romans in 268BC. Its combination of Roman ruins, seascape and good seafood make it an interesting choice for a day trip from Bologna.
Roman Rimini
Rimini is at one end of the Via Emilia which passes through the centre of Bologna and finishes in Piacenza, or Placentia in Latin. This road was completed in 187BC and follows more or less a straight line for 260km. One of the most impressive sites in Rimini is the original Roman bridge, completed in the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. This 2,000 year old structure still carries daily road traffic.
Nearby is the set of ruins known as the “Surgeon’s House”. The name comes from a comprehensive set of over 150 surgical instruments which were found in the course of excavations of one of the houses on the site in the years after its discovery in 1998.
Some time around the 5th century, the site was used as a Christian cemetery.
Nearby is the Museo della Città or City Museum where some of the finds, including the surgical instruments and mosaics, are held.
At the end of the Corso d’Augusto in the centre of town you’ll find one of the oldest surviving Roman Arches, completed in 27BC. It stood at the end of the Via Flaminia that led to Rome. It was encased in the medieval wall, demolished in the fascist period.
The beach
Rimini is well known as a seaside resort and is very crowded in the peak holiday season of August. In the photo below you can see the very organized nature of Italian beaches where you have to pay for a space with umbrella and chairs.
Off season, the beach is almost deserted.
The very famous Grand Hotel was built in 1908. It has suffered from a fire as well as damage during World War Two, but is still functioning today. It featured prominently in the film “Amacord” by Frederico Fellini.
Rimini is the home town of Fellini and after he became successful, he often stayed at the Grand Hotel in a suite that is popular with visitors. The city holds exhibitions related to him and his time and a Fellini Museum is planned.
Dining
For lunch, you’ll find any number of good seafood restaurants. One where we’ve eaten more than once is “Il Pescato dal Canevone”
Getting there
Rimini can be reached by train from Bologna in 53 minutes at a cost of around €13 each way. There are frequent trains on this route.
Bologna on Foot 
Great Blog Paul 👍👍
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Thanks Phill.
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First, sorry for my english, i’m italian.
Great post and amazing blog.
Did you also see medieval and renaissance Rimini? For example medieval frescoes in Sant’Agostino church, or the Tempio Malatestiano?
There are also a lot of amazing place pn the Covignano hill, very near to the city.
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Hi Martin, thanks very much for your kind comments. No, I haven’t visited the places you mentioned. Normally I would do more research for a post, but I haven’t been able to go to Italy for over a year now. I’m using photos that I have from trips back over the years to write the occasional post.
Chi lo sa quando mia moglie ed io possiamo tornare in Italia, abitiamo in Australia. Forse resta impossible anche quest’anno . Quando torno, vado a Rimini un’altra volta per vedere i posti che hai nominato.
I think your English is better than my Italian !
Thanks
Paul
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LOVE Il Pescato dal Canevone. Too bad they don’t deliver to America 🙂 I’ve been ordering seafood online lately (our fave is https://lummiislandwild.com SO good) and trying to recreate dishes we’ve loved from restaurants in the past. A fun quarantine activity!
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This blog has been a find for me! I only returned from Bologna in September and am going again in a few weeks. It’s such a well written well researched blog with lovely photos. I see you are Australian and really hope you’ll get back to Bologna next year!
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Hi Stephanie thanks very much for your comment. I write the blog precisely for people like you and I’m glad it’s been of use. We do hope to be able to return soon.
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