A Trip Via Rimini - The Previous and Present8182763
If Sigismondo Malatesta a well-known 15th Century Lord of Rimini came back, what would he make of Rimini today? Apart from some of the obvious differences in between the renaissance city of Malatesta and the modern city these days, (Malatesta's castle is nonetheless standing) the presence of vehicles, contemporary buildings and electrical lighting would most likely amaze him. The most incredible factor although 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 around what is today known as the centro storico. When Sigismondo Malatesta came to power he decided a change was in order and promptly embarked on a vast building 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 constructed on leading 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 utilized 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 today on your trip to Rimini.
Taking a stroll around Rimini today, Malatesta would discover the beautiful sandy beaches and their magnetism quite puzzling during the summer time 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 dangerous as the beaches back then had been places for smuggling and brigandry as they were away from the city of Rimini's primary defences. Italian cities just like
Rimini had been frequently at war with each other and had been in continuous conflict with their neighbours. Malatesta, throughout 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 turn out to be a city that is, for Italians and the many tourists from the world over, 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 one of the initial tourist to take a dip in the stunning 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 month of August of 1790 (more than 300 years following the death of Sigismondo Malatesta), and stayed for over two weeks to benefit from the fantastic sea air and waves.
Rimini is one of these classic holiday destinations for Italians and tourist alike. Rimini has been blessed with sun, sand and sea as nicely as culture. The classic beach holiday and culture holiday coexist here in Rimini much to the delight of all that arrive here. Rimini is easily reached by numerous direct flights from numerous cities around Europe.
