rimini was once a quaint seaside resort, whose innocent charms were celebrated in the early film of federico fellini, the director born and raised here.
today it is the largest beach resort in europe.
the seafront, which continues unbroken for almost 15km. (9 miles), is lined with clubs, restaurants and bars.
the crowded beaches are clean and well groomed, though entrance fee are charged at the private beaches.
rimini's old quarter, by contrast, is pleasantly quiet. its charming cobbled streets gather around piazza cavour dominated by the 14th century palazzo podesta'.
the town's finest building is the tempio malatestiano, built as a franciscan church but converted in 1450 by leon battista alberti, the great florentine architect, into one of italy's great renaissance monuments.