| |
|
Riccione and its surrounding area
|
Riccione began life as all but a small group of houses on the Via Flaminia, an ancient Roman road that leads to Rome.The name Riccione probably derives from the expression ”salire in arcione” the ancient term for “saddle”.
In 1260 the florentine family the Agolanti related to the family Malatesta settled in Riccione. You can see the remains of their castle on the town hill. The origins of tourism go back to the end of the eighteenhundreds when elegant villas were built due to the arrival of the railway track Bologna-Ancona.
|
|
|
The Ceccarini family made a decisive impact on the town-particularly Signora Maria Boorman Ceccarini, who contributed towards the rebuilding of the port channel, the building of the hospital and many other social initiatives.
In 1934, Benito Mussolini purchased a villa in Riccione which became his summer residence for 10 years. From that time and especially after the war Riccione became one of the top tourist resorts of the Romagnola Riviera for young people and families. |
|
L'entroterra
The hills around Riccione and Rimini are most picturesque, The Marecchia and The Conca being the two main rivers. It is a fertile land with lots of little roads connecting up all the small villages and leading to the nearby regions.
Because of its being placed between the Appennines and the sea it has always seen a lot of thoroughfare-different cultures but has also been the subject of contest and battle.
In fact,in the mid 1400s this land was ruled by Sigismondo Malatesta and Federico da Montefeltro.The many towers ,castles and fortresses which dot the towns and countryside bear witness to three hundred years of the history of these families. |
Gradara is an ancient town standing 142 metres above sea level. It dates back to perhaps Roman times. The Malatesta, who lived there around 1260, built the castle,surrounding it with two high walls. You can visit it.
In 1631 the castle together with the towns of Pesaro and Urbino became property of the Pontefice State. In 1983, after being privately owned for over 60 years it became property of the Italian state. Gradara’s fame is undoubtedly due to Dante’s poem, which narrates the tragic story of the two lovers Paolo and Francesca. |
|
|
 |
Montefiore This is the medioeval capital of the Conca valley being one of the most intact and fascinating Malatesta castles. The castle dates back to 1300 and dominates the surrounding woods and countryside. It is a favourite venue for concerts, country fairs, exhibitions and art courses. |
|
|
Nearby there is the famous sanctuary ” MADONNA BONORA”, dating back to 1400 and even today bears witness to a fervid devotion.
( www.santuariodibonora.it) |
|
|
Santarcangelo ”City of Art” was built in Roman times,the first settlements dating back to 268BC. The construction of the great Via Emilia encouraged trade and the increase in population. Over the centuries it has become one of the most charming and interesting towns in the area. The historical centre is very lively-with well looked after houses and buildings, and narrow streets which lead to little squares each more enchanting than the last. Here you can see the Chalk grottoes and the Malatestian castle. |
|
|
 |
Verucchio Between the ninth and seventh centuries BC there lived an evoluted people of Etruscan origin who left behind them incredibly refined works of art. This population was called the Civiltà Villanoviana and numerous archaeological digs have brought to light many artefacts and manufacts which can be seen in the Archaeological Museum in the monastery of Sant’Agostino.
The exquisite quality of these objects has brought the museum international fame. |
 |
San Leo was built on top of a huge cliff face. The historical centre (1600s) is made up of an old romanesque church (9th cent.) a cathedral (12th cent.), a bell tower, a convent (12th cent.)and the magnificent castle where Cagliostro was imprisoned. These buildings make san Leo a truly wonderful “City of Art”. |
|
| |
|
|
|
