Rimini

Rimini lies about 120 km (75 miles) south-east of Bologna on the Adriatic coast of Emilia-Romagna and combines Roman monuments, a Renaissance temple and one of Italy's best-known beach resorts. Fast trains from Bologna Centrale take about 55 minutes and cost roughly EUR 18-30 one way, while regional trains take 1h 20min to 1h 40min for about EUR 11-13; driving via the A14 takes about 1h 15min. The station is close to the seafront and about 15 minutes on foot from the old town. In the historic centre, the Arch of Augustus, dating from 27 BC, is among the oldest surviving Roman arches, and the Tiberius Bridge, completed in the 1st century AD, still carries traffic over the Marecchia canal. The Tempio Malatestiano on Via IV Novembre, a church reworked by Leon Battista Alberti in the 15th century, is the main artistic highlight. Piazza Cavour and the nearby fish market are lively at lunchtime, and the Borgo San Giuliano, a former fishermen's quarter, is known for its painted house fronts and the cinema memory of Federico Fellini, who was born in Rimini. In summer, the wide sandy beaches and promenade fill with bathers, with lidos renting umbrellas and sunbeds. A suggested one-day arc is the Arch of Augustus, the Tempio and the market in the morning, a seafood lunch with piadina or fried calamari, then an afternoon on the beach or a walk along the seafront, with an evening train back. Rimini is also the usual gateway for San Marino, so the two can be paired for a longer day. May to September is best for the beach, while the old town is pleasant year-round and winter is quiet, with many seaside venues shut. Weekends in July and August are very crowded.