Posted by RIMINI
We left Ravenna early and travelled the short distance to Rimini on our way to San Marino but It took a bit of fiddling about to get top our destination, but we finally got to the Ponte d’Tiberius and parked the car. This AD 21 bridge is in perfect condition, still standing strong, all 62 Meters of it and has weathered multiple invasions, civil and territorial wars along with bombing and facists all over it, so it was great to see its resilience. With inscriptions and reliefs along with an epigraph commemorating the opening of the bridge it is one of the best preserved Roman structures in Italy.
The town was originally right on the coast as seen in the map relief above but the region has sillted up massivley over the years and the town expanded eastward. Wandering around we moved from the original Roman centre to the medievial centre where the castello Sismondo stands solid and proud overlooking the Piazza Malatesta and links to the real cetre hub of Piazzacavour where a vibrant market was open and was celebrating French food this day for all to enjoy.
The castello was also the home of theFellini museo which was not open when we got there but Rimini is Fellini’s town so there are refertences everywhere, and monuments for thelocations where movies were shot in virually every street.
The town was a buzz and plenty of activity for a sunday biut as we moved towards to outer edges of theOld Town and the original Roman walls it got a bit quieter and everyone was going home for lunch by the look of it.
This statue below is one of my favourite religious staues ever!! That face and that finger are saying “stuff you all , this is all my precious gems, go find your own, you are all peasants anyway” . Well that is what i think i heard himsay in the annuls of time.
At the other end of the Corso d’Augusto stands the impressive Augustus Arch and a bit of the original walls, at one end it the bridge and the other the arch so good old Augusto/Tiberius was clearly the man of the moment in the history of Rimini. I could not resist the opportunity to utilise this fabulous metal ring scupture and the corresponding floor treatment to the piazza,
REGGIO EMILIA
Reggie as we called it was a smaller version of Bologna and we did a day trip here from Viano, and so glad we did. The town has a quiet vibe and a relaxed feel to it with the pink Verona Marble and red bricks being dominate. The Boulevards and Piazzas dont have the grandness of other regional cities but there is a quiet confidence in the feel and the way people move here.
Probably one of the quietest cities we have been in so not many people in the photos as you can see.
There are plenty of architectural gems to be found and the Venetian influence is stronger here than in towns nearby. Its a great walking city and easy to get in and out of and parking was a breeze.
We were lucky to kind this truly amazing Japanese resturant “KEKO” right in the centre on Piazza del Cristo with an all you can eat menu that had us exploding with delight. absolutley amazing food and service in a stunning setting.
