Rimini

Set on the Adriatic Coast of Northern Italy, Rimini is a city that wows with its exuberance. The city is best known for its splendid stretch of golden sand and scintillating nightlife, its youthfulness a contrast to an age-old tryst with politics, culture and the arts. Originally established by the Romans in 268 BCE, Rimini laid its foundations as a key communications link of the Empire, embellished with monuments like the Arch of Augustus and the Tiberius Bridge. The Renaissance saw the city come to the forefront of art and architecture, benefiting from the patronage of the House of Malatesta. The most notable of the monuments from this period is Leon Battista Alberti's incomplete Tempio Malatestiano. Through the course of the 19th Century and World War II, Rimini stood strong, the valor of its people distinguishing it as a stalwart of united Italy. Hometown of the famous movie director, Federico Fellini, Remini's colorful history informs its contemporary reincarnation as a seaside holiday resort for Italian and international tourists alike. While you may find it tough to pull away from the lure of its sun-kissed coast, a tour of the old town puts Rimini's storied past in perspective.