A Trip Via Rimini - The Past and Present3192137
If Sigismondo Malatesta a famous 15th Century Lord of Rimini came back, what would he make of Rimini today? Apart from some of the apparent differences between the renaissance city of Malatesta and the contemporary city these days, (Malatesta's castle is nonetheless standing) the presence of cars, contemporary buildings and electrical lighting would probably amaze him. The most amazing factor though apart from the above would most likely be Rimini's move to the coast.
The city of Rimini in Malatesta's era had its defences inland which ran about what is these days recognized as the centro storico. When Sigismondo Malatesta came to power he decided a change was in order and promptly embarked on a vast developing programme which integrated the Tempio
Malatesta - 1 of the finest examples of neo-classical architecture in Europe - and his huge and extremely modern fortress, the Rocca Malatesta. The city of Malatesta was built on top of the current city - in other words on the site of the Roman city of Ariminum which was founded in the year 286 B.C. Malatesta used the existing Roman monuments at the time, such as the well-known Ponte di Tiberio and Arco d'Augustoand incorporated them into his city. These famous monuments can still be seen these days on your trip to Rimini.
Taking a stroll about Rimini today, Malatesta would find the beautiful sandy beaches and their magnetism fairly puzzling throughout the summer months. Back in Malatesta's day the practice of lying in the sun on the beach and going for a dip would have been strange if not harmful as the beaches back then had been locations for smuggling and brigandry as they had been away from the city of Rimini's primary defences. Italian cities just like
Rimini had been often at war with each other and were in continuous conflict with their neighbours. Malatesta, all through his life was in a continuous energy struggle with Federico da Montefeltro, Lord of Urbino and also the Pope.We also know that Pope Pius II excommunicated Sigismondo in 1460 declaring him a heretic.
So when did Rimini begin to become a city that is, for Italians and the numerous tourists from the globe more than, synonymous with sun, sea, and sand? In his fascinating study of the history of sea bathing in Rimini - Una costa lunga due secoli (Panozzo Editore), Professor Feruccio Farina, of the University of Urbino, sheds light on 1 of the first tourist to take a dip in the beautiful sea in Rimini. Her name was Elisabeth Kenny, and she was the young Irish wife of a Roman noble. Professor Feruccio Farina says that she is recorded as having visited the city of Rimini in the summer time month of August of 1790 (more than 300 years following the death of Sigismondo Malatesta), and stayed for over two weeks to advantage from the wonderful sea air and waves.
Rimini is one of those classic holiday destinations for Italians and tourist alike. Rimini has been blessed with sun, sand and sea as well as culture. The classic beach vacation and culture holiday coexist right here in Rimini much to the delight of all that arrive here. Rimini is easily reached by numerous direct flights from numerous cities about Europe.
